Sea Research Foundation
Sea Research Foundation reported $34.0 million in revenue and $32.4 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $79.38 went to program services, $12.02 to management and general costs and $8.60 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 72.3% of the total. Government grants made up 14.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $558,031 (PRESIDENT/ CEO). 26 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 27% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $32MFor context, the median across 245 covered animal-related charities: $83.96 programs, $9.42 management, $6.62 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $34M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$9.52 $3.2M
- Government grants$14.12 $4.8M
- Program service revenue$72.16 $25M
- Investment income$4.20 $1.4M
Other revenue was negative: −$51,691. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 79.4% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.0% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 8.6% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.35 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 23.7% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 14.1% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 72.3% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $558,031 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.72% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 26 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 18.3 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 21 of 22 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseThe organization operates an aquarium which is open to the general public, programs include animal husbandry and rehabilitation for marine mammals, penguins, fishes and aquatic invertebrates. During 2025 there were approximately 742,000 visitors that came to the aquarium
The organization also supports education and research programs at the aquarium, and through traveling teachers' programs to students and their schools. During the calendar year 2025 approximately 106,000 students benefited from the education and research programs
Highest reported compensation
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT/ CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $548,466 | $0 | $9,565 | $558,031 |
| COO/CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $378,961 | $0 | $38,052 | $417,013 |
| SVP, ZOOLOGICAL OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $334,449 | $0 | $16,002 | $350,451 |
| VP DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $339,487 | $0 | $3,796 | $343,283 |
| SR VP OF FACILITIES AND CAPITAL PROJECT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $226,518 | $0 | $25,776 | $252,294 |
| DIR. OF ANIMAL CARE AND WELFARE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $201,260 | $0 | $29,341 | $230,601 |
| VP FINANCE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $195,492 | $0 | $30,165 | $225,657 |
26 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Sea Research Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $957K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b22 · 21 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5345
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,180
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| A MISSING LINK Hr consulting | $236,860 |
| OVATIONS FOOD SERVICE Food service | $166,776 |
| BIRCH HORTON BITTNER & CHEROT Legal services | $137,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
9 private foundations reported grants to Sea Research Foundation totaling $299K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Sea Research Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Sea Research Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Sea Research Foundation spent in 2025, $79.38 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Mule Deer FoundationClearfield, UT · revenue $33M · programs 97.9% · FY2025
- Tennessee AquariumChattanooga, TN · revenue $34M · programs 70.9% · 2024
- Dane County Humane SocietyMadison, WI · revenue $32M · programs 66.5% · 2025
- Karuna FoundationCheyenne, WY · revenue $34M · programs 99.9% · 2025
- Michigan Humane SocietyDetroit, MI · revenue $32M · programs 76.1% · FY2025
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Connecticut
Questions people ask
How much of Sea Research Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Sea Research Foundation reported that 79.4% of its $32.4 million in expenses went to program services, 12.0% to management and general and 8.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Sea Research Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Sea Research Foundation reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $558,031, for the role of PRESIDENT/ CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Sea Research Foundation get its money?
Of $34.0 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 23.7% came from contributions and grants (including 14.1% from government grants) and 72.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Sea Research Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 06-1480300 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202632649349301323 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202502039349300300 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202422819349301022 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202302529349300200 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202242799349300724 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202132029349300513 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202023189349308727 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 06-1480300: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.