National Aquarium
National Aquarium reported $54.4 million in revenue and $60.5 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $69.49 went to program services, $19.27 to management and general costs and $11.24 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 63.4% of the total. Government grants made up 9.4%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $677,165 (PRESIDENT & CEO (THRU 11/28/25)). 21 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 8% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $61MFor 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 $54MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 69.5% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 19.3% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 11.2% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.42 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 29.5% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 9.4% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 63.4% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $677,165 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.12% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 21 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 11.1 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 20 of 21 | 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 expenseAquarium experience: the National Aquarium is located in the heart of the inner harbor in baltimore, maryland. Situated on two city piers with the chesapeake bay on either side, the aquarium features three pavilions and a living collection that includes more than 10,000 animals from more than 500 species of fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals in award-winning habitats. The National Aquarium is maryland's largest paid tourist attraction, welcoming more than 1.2 million visitors annually. More than 60 million guests have visited the aquarium since it opened in 1981, and aquarium staff…
Conservation & education: the National Aquarium is a nonprofit organization focused on changing the way humanity cares for the ocean. What began over 40 years ago as a visitor attraction has evolved into a conservation organization that operates a world-class aquarium. Through unparalleled exhibits, science-based education programs and hands-on field initiatives, we are creating a global community of hopeful conservationists, united to restore our planet, driven by our mission to connect people with nature to inspire compassion and care for our ocean planet. We are at the forefront of efforts…
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 (THRU 11/28/25) Officer, 34.00 hrs/week | $464,429 | $0 | $212,736 | $677,165 |
| SVP, COO/CFO Officer, 39.00 hrs/week | $348,076 | $0 | $29,546 | $377,622 |
| SVP/CMO/INTERIM CEO Officer, 34.00 hrs/week | $317,008 | $0 | $40,223 | $357,231 |
| SVP/CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER Key employee, 39.00 hrs/week | $278,628 | $0 | $21,012 | $299,640 |
| SVP/CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $252,068 | $0 | $12,905 | $264,973 |
| VP OF HR AND ADMINISTRATION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $161,819 | $0 | $34,174 | $195,993 |
| VP OF FINANCE AND CONTROLLER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $162,840 | $0 | $19,477 | $182,317 |
| VP OF FINANCIAL PLANNING & ANALYSIS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $164,729 | $0 | $7,225 | $171,954 |
21 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from National Aquarium (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.5M (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–1b21 · 20 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5412
- Volunteers Part I, line 63,058
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| IMPACTS EXPERIENCE LLC Online advertising campaign | $2,600,000 |
| WOHLSEN CONTSTRUCTION COMPANY Construction services | $2,044,303 |
| ARAMARK SERVICES INC Custodial services | $1,349,556 |
| WHHLS LLC Media placement services | $1,169,090 |
| JOHNSON CONTROLS BUSINESS SOLUTIONS LLC Hvac, security and fire and life-safety | $1,044,330 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 30 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
40 private foundations reported grants to National Aquarium totaling $843K 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 National Aquarium's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for National Aquarium, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 National Aquarium spent in 2025, $69.49 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Seattle Aquarium SocietySeattle, WA · revenue $54M · programs 77.7% · 2024
- New England Aquarium CorporationBoston, MA · revenue $55M · programs 77.4% · 2024
- The Saint Louis Zoo AssociationSaint Louis, MO · revenue $54M · programs 83.6% · 2025
- Indianapolis Zoological SocietyIndianapolis, IN · revenue $58M · programs 88.1% · 2024
- Friends of the Zoo Inc. of Kansas City Missouri C/O Linda FalkKansas City, MO · revenue $54M · programs 93.0% · 2024
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Maryland
Questions people ask
How much of National Aquarium's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, National Aquarium reported that 69.5% of its $60.5 million in expenses went to program services, 19.3% to management and general and 11.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does National Aquarium pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation National Aquarium reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $677,165, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (THRU 11/28/25) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does National Aquarium get its money?
Of $54.4 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 29.5% came from contributions and grants (including 9.4% from government grants) and 63.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is National Aquarium a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-1121163 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 202602609349301125 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202522849349300007 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202402649349300410 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202343109349302114 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202232779349301038 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202142739349300819 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202022449349300002 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-1121163: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.