South Carolina Aquarium
South Carolina Aquarium reported $20.3 million in revenue and $17.3 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $75.28 went to program services, $15.30 to management and general costs and $9.42 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 65.4% of the total. Government grants made up 5.2%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $389,749 (President and CEO). 13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 39% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $17MFor 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 $20MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 75.3% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 15.3% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.4% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.31 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 25.6% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 5.2% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 65.4% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $389,749 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.25% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 13 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 33.3 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 40 of 40 | 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 expenseFacilities program services include all costs associated with the maintenance, security, and operation of a 20+ year-old Aquarium facility, exhibits, and animal life support systems. The 93,000 square foot facility offers a state-of-the-art environmental learning center that encompasses the entire spectrum of the southeast Appalachian watershed as found in South Carolina: mountain, piedmont, coastal plain, coast and the ocean. In 2016, the Aquarium completed a major energy performance project to replace current natural gas and electric power infrastructure, which resulted in significant…
Guest program services include admissions and environmental services. Providing new and exciting exhibits and installations to enhance the visitor experience, the SCA both educates and entertains. From interactive daily programming with hands on experiences to upgraded technology throughout the Aquarium, we have developed an exciting interpretive journey to guide guests from the mountains to the sea. The Aquarium today is the Charleston region's most visited attraction, with an average annual attendance of 500,000 (including approximately 22,000 students).2024 was a productive year which…
Animal care (husbandry) program services are designed to continuously collect and maintain animals for the exhibits that are displayed in the Aquarium facilities. Currently the Aquarium cares for approximately 5,000 specimens of animals within 250 species.The professional biologists and aquarists at the South Carolina Aquarium deliver excellent care for every animal, maintaining a population that encompasses the diversity of wildlife in our state. The Aquarium's staff and volunteers demonstrate a passion for, and responsibility to, these animals, providing comfort, nourishment, and enrichment…
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 and CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $368,410 | $0 | $21,339 | $389,749 |
| Chief Advancement Officer Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $229,282 | $0 | $17,937 | $247,219 |
| Executive Vice Pres & COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $217,089 | $0 | $9,508 | $226,597 |
| Chief Financial Officer Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $195,832 | $0 | $2,464 | $198,296 |
| VP Creative & Exhibits Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $161,022 | $0 | $20,060 | $181,082 |
| Chief Infrastructure Officer Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $153,349 | $0 | $24,164 | $177,513 |
| VP Conservation Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $143,889 | $0 | $10,675 | $154,564 |
| Chief People Officer Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $136,815 | $0 | $15,314 | $152,129 |
13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from South Carolina Aquarium (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.3M (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–1b40 · 40 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 5293
- Volunteers Part I, line 6323
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Trident Construction LLC Infrastructure | $9,386,917 |
| John Ciccarelli Architect LLC Architecture | $187,611 |
| Blackbaud Software and training | $103,868 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
43 private foundations reported grants to South Carolina Aquarium totaling $768K 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina Aquarium, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 South Carolina Aquarium spent in 2024, $75.28 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Peaceful Valley Donkey RescueSan Angelo, TX · revenue $20M · programs 64.2% · 2025
- Nebraska Humane SocietyOmaha, NE · revenue $20M · programs 84.6% · 2024
- Oklahoma Humane SocietyOklahoma City, OK · revenue $20M · programs 76.8% · 2024
- American Association of Zoological Parks and AquariumsSilver Spring, MD · revenue $21M · programs 86.2% · 2024
- Tennessee Wildlife Resources FoundationNashville, TN · revenue $20M · programs 77.3% · 2024
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in South Carolina
Questions people ask
How much of South Carolina Aquarium's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, South Carolina Aquarium reported that 75.3% of its $17.3 million in expenses went to program services, 15.3% to management and general and 9.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does South Carolina Aquarium pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation South Carolina Aquarium reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $389,749, for the role of President and CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does South Carolina Aquarium get its money?
Of $20.3 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 25.6% came from contributions and grants (including 5.2% from government grants) and 65.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is South Carolina Aquarium a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 57-0961897 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 202502259349301240 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202401649349301650 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202313189349311566 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233189349308493 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202122719349301507 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202012469349301611 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 57-0961897: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.