Texas State Aquarium Association
Texas State Aquarium Association reported $19.1 million in revenue and $18.8 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $73.54 went to program services, $25.45 to management and general costs and $1.01 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 85.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $403,862 (PRESIDENT/CE). 10 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 6% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $19MFor 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 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $19MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 73.5% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 25.4% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.0% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.16 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 6.3% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 85.9% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $403,862 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.15% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 10 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 56.7 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 32 of 32 | 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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseIt all began in 1969 with the dream of what corpus christi could be. Visionary community leaders had a bold, yet simple purpose with the Texas State Aquarium - create educationally enriching and entertaining exhibits and programs to connect people with nature, and inspire them to care for, and ultimately help conserve, the gulf of mexico and the caribbean sea. Today, after being open to the public for more than 30 years and having educated and entertained more than 16 million visitors, the Texas State Aquarium is the leading attraction in south texas, an economic driver of the coasted bend…
At the heart of the aquarium's mission is environmental education. Hundreds of thousands of students have experienced the aquarium over the years through our outreach and distance learning programs, field trips, camps, and on-site programs. In 2024 alone, more than 24,000 grade level students engaged in learning initiatives through the immersive and engaging programs provided by the aquarium. These educational programs and experiences aim to foster the next generation of inspired scientists, ocean explorers, and STEM professionals
Highest reported compensation
2024 · 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/CE Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $383,122 | $0 | $20,740 | $403,862 |
| SENIOR VP/CF Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $293,682 | $0 | $12,643 | $306,325 |
| CHIEF OPER O Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $229,595 | $0 | $14,803 | $244,398 |
| GOVT & MKTG Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $226,864 | $0 | $14,803 | $241,667 |
| DIRECTOR OF Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $161,266 | $0 | $13,644 | $174,910 |
| CONSERVATION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $154,602 | $0 | $10,394 | $164,996 |
| DIRECTOR ANI Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $143,538 | $0 | $11,198 | $154,736 |
| DIRECTOR OF Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $129,770 | $0 | $11,922 | $141,692 |
10 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Texas State Aquarium Association (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $710K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · 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–1b32 · 32 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 5232
- Volunteers Part I, line 689
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MDR ADVERTISING Advertisg/media | $946,828 |
| TURNER RAMIREZ ARCHITECTS Design contract | $667,250 |
| THE ATKINS GROUP Mkt & advertisi | $394,865 |
| PIVOT ENGINEERS Contractor | $175,193 |
| THE SSA GROUP LLC Catering serv | $160,084 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 10 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
10 private foundations reported grants to Texas State Aquarium Association totaling $187K 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 Texas State Aquarium Association's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Texas State Aquarium Association, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Texas State Aquarium Association spent in 2024, $73.54 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Rodeo AustinAustin, TX · revenue $19M · programs 83.5% · FY2025
- Connecticut Humane SocietyNewington, CT · revenue $19M · programs 72.2% · 2024
- SPCA of TexasDallas, TX · revenue $19M · programs 79.2% · 2024
- Animal Legal Defense FundWashington, DC · revenue $20M · programs 70.2% · FY2025
- The Humane Society of Rochester & Monroe County for the Prevention of Cruelty toFairport, NY · revenue $19M · programs 79.5% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Texas State Aquarium Association's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Texas State Aquarium Association reported that 73.5% of its $18.8 million in expenses went to program services, 25.4% to management and general and 1.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Texas State Aquarium Association pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Texas State Aquarium Association reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $403,862, for the role of PRESIDENT/CE (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Texas State Aquarium Association get its money?
Of $19.1 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 6.3% came from contributions and grants and 85.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Texas State Aquarium Association a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-7044950 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202533219349328928 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202500359349300000 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202303209349300910 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233199349327278 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202113199349330161 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202013219349317386 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-7044950: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.