The Florida Aquarium
The Florida Aquarium reported $37.2 million in revenue and $38.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $78.59 went to program services, $18.06 to management and general costs and $3.35 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 76.2% of the total. Government grants made up 6.2%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $523,732 (PRESIDENT/CEO). 20 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 138% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $39MFor 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
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $37MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 78.6% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 18.1% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.3% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.30 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 11.4% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 6.2% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 76.2% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $523,732 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.36% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 20 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 16.8 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 31 of 31 | 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
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseAquarium visitation admissions - with a keen focus on delivering world-class animal care to thousands of animals, the Florida Aquarium welcomes visitors (over 1 million guests for the first time ever in both 2023 and 2024, 950,000 in 2025) to experience a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial animals with the goal of building awareness and inspiring action for species and habitat conservation. For edutainment, guests will also explore complex ecosystems, engage with interactive and informational exhibits and search for wild dolphins in tampa bay. More than a must-see attraction, the Florida…
Conservation, research and animal programs - the Florida Aquarium is dedicated to using a science-based, impact-driven approach to meet its vision and shared purpose. With conservation being our foremost business focus we infuse our shared purpose throughout the aquarium, from messaging, to sustainable business practices, to science, to action. We strategically focus on conservation initiatives that advance our conservation priorities, amplify our expertise, leverage and promote our partnerships, and maximize our ability to serve as florida's leading conservation-based aquarium. We…
Education and community programs - the Florida Aquarium's learning center provides technology-rich spaces for innovative learning opportunities, including camps, field trips, and on-site programs for learners of all ages. Our outreach programs bring hands-on environmental science learning experiences into a variety of community spaces. We impact even more students through our professional development workshops for teachers and virtual class programming. In 2024, almost 70,000 participated in the aquarium's learning programs. Over the course of the Florida Aquarium's history, over 2 million…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · 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, 40.0 hrs/week | $489,370 | $0 | $34,362 | $523,732 |
| COO (UNTIL APRIL 2025) Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $256,625 | $0 | $33,066 | $289,691 |
| CFO Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $256,596 | $0 | $11,148 | $267,744 |
| SR VP OF ANIMAL CARE & HEALTH Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $211,137 | $0 | $30,487 | $241,624 |
| SR. VP OF CONSERVATION Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $198,075 | $0 | $11,495 | $209,570 |
| CPO Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $192,545 | $0 | $10,360 | $202,905 |
| SR. VP OF ENGAGEMENT & LEARNING Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $170,694 | $0 | $32,088 | $202,782 |
| SR. VP OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $171,154 | $0 | $10,172 | $181,326 |
20 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Florida Aquarium (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.2M (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
FY2025 · 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–1b31 · 31 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 5475
- Volunteers Part I, line 6933
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| DUMBARTON SECURITY SERVICES Security services | $683,206 |
| IT AUTHORITIES It managed services | $646,768 |
| B MORROW PRODUCTIONS Event theming and design | $352,154 |
| COACT LLC Advertising services | $265,390 |
| TVS Architectural services | $265,376 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 14 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
16 private foundations reported grants to The Florida Aquarium totaling $652K 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 The Florida 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 The Florida Aquarium, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Florida Aquarium spent in FY2025, $78.59 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Dallas Zoo ManagementDallas, TX · revenue $37M · programs 89.1% · FY2025
- African Wildlife FoundationWashington, DC · revenue $37M · programs 83.1% · FY2025
- American Humane AssociationWashington, DC · revenue $37M · programs 74.6% · FY2025
- John Ball ZooGrand Rapids, MI · revenue $37M · programs 89.4% · 2024
- Dove Lewis Emergency Animal HospitalPortland, OR · revenue $36M · programs 89.6% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of The Florida Aquarium's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, The Florida Aquarium reported that 78.6% of its $38.5 million in expenses went to program services, 18.1% to management and general and 3.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Florida Aquarium pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Florida Aquarium reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $523,732, for the role of PRESIDENT/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Florida Aquarium get its money?
Of $37.2 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 11.4% came from contributions and grants (including 6.2% from government grants) and 76.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Florida Aquarium a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 59-2807815 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. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, object 202632239349300018 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202512239349302201 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202412269349302126 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202322269349301062 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202242279349302739 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202102289349302670 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 59-2807815: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.