Aquarium of the Pacific Corporation
Aquarium of the Pacific Corporation reported $59.3 million in revenue and $53.8 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $85.63 went to program services, $9.18 to management and general costs and $5.19 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 79.0% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $519,664 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 34 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 37% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $54MFor 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 $59MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 85.6% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.2% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.2% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.67 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 7.0% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 79.0% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $519,664 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.97% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 34 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 19.3 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 27 of 28 | 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 expenseAnimal care - the husbandry department manages the care, feeding, and life support systems for more than 14,924 animals representing over 787 species across 100+ exhibits, including interactive touch tanks. Animals cared for include sea lions, sea otters, sharks, rays, diving birds, sea jellies, corals, turtles, and diverse fish species from temperate to tropical habitats. Care includes feeding sustainable, high-quality seafood; monitoring water quality and life support systems, conducting medical exams and procedures, and maintaining appropriate exhibit and behind-the-scenes environments
The aquarium's conservation work extends across the institution including the husbandry teams, veterinary services, education department and volunteer services. In 2024 the aquarium continued its mountain yellow-legged frog, white abalone, and sea otter surrogacy programs by releasing individuals to their native habitats. The sunflower sea star program expanded with a formal partnership across the state. Aquarium staff responded to emergency events including rehabilitating and releasing three injured sea turtles
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 & CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $461,655 | $0 | $58,009 | $519,664 |
| COO/CFO (UNTIL 5/2024) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $358,165 | $0 | $26,946 | $385,111 |
| CHIEF OF AQUARIUM OPERATIONS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $283,770 | $0 | $56,844 | $340,614 |
| VP HUMAN RESOURCE Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $245,095 | $0 | $43,044 | $288,139 |
| VP OF MARKETING/CORPORATE Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $255,585 | $0 | $26,281 | $281,866 |
| VP DEVELOPMENT Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $227,931 | $0 | $33,738 | $261,669 |
| DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $183,008 | $0 | $46,907 | $229,915 |
| INTERIM CFO (FROM 5/2024) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $213,416 | $0 | $8,241 | $221,657 |
34 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Aquarium of the Pacific Corporation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.1M (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–1b28 · 27 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 4No
- 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 5485
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,979
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MEDIASPOT INC Advertising | $1,777,899 |
| SMG FOOD AND BEVERAGE LLC Special event services | $543,357 |
| TG CONSTRUCTION INC General contractor | $460,943 |
| MID-WEST WHOLESALE LIGHTING CORP Lighting contractor | $435,000 |
| BLUE GATOR LLC Consulting | $354,600 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 65 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
39 private foundations reported grants to Aquarium of the Pacific Corporation totaling $820K 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 Aquarium of the Pacific Corporation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Aquarium of the Pacific Corporation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Aquarium of the Pacific Corporation spent in 2024, $85.63 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsSan Francisco, CA · revenue $58M · programs 85.4% · FY2025
- San Antonio Zoological SocietySan Antonio, TX · revenue $61M · programs 88.8% · 2024
- Indianapolis Zoological SocietyIndianapolis, IN · revenue $58M · programs 88.1% · 2024
- Audubon Nature InstituteNew Orleans, LA · revenue $61M · programs 67.9% · 2024
- New England Aquarium CorporationBoston, MA · revenue $55M · programs 77.4% · 2024
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Aquarium of the Pacific Corporation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Aquarium of the Pacific Corporation reported that 85.6% of its $53.8 million in expenses went to program services, 9.2% to management and general and 5.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Aquarium of the Pacific Corporation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Aquarium of the Pacific Corporation reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $519,664, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Aquarium of the Pacific Corporation get its money?
Of $59.3 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 7.0% came from contributions and grants (including 0.3% from government grants) and 79.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Aquarium of the Pacific Corporation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 33-0532354 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 202523109349303462 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202413189349311076 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202303189349316535 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202223199349317182 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202103169349306505 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202003179349306930 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 33-0532354: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.