Oregon Coast Aquarium
Oregon Coast Aquarium reported $18.3 million in revenue and $13.6 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $76.37 went to program services, $20.25 to management and general costs and $3.38 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 56.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $258,684 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 146% 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 $14MFor 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 $18MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 76.4% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 20.2% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.4% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.07 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 36.1% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 4.2% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 56.1% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $258,684 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.90% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 2 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 48.2 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 12 of 12 | 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 expenseAnimal care: the aquarium maintains and cares for over 500 species of animals in stunning indoor and outdoor exhibits at its 30-acre marine facility. Current exhibitions include passages of the deep, seals & sea lions, sea otters seabird aviary, turkey vultures and indoor galleries: sandy coast, rocky coast, connected coasts, and pacific jellies. The primary function of the animal care department is to provide care and a healthy environment for the marine animals. The department is responsible for all aspects of animal husbandry, life support, rehabilitation, animal collection, transport, and…
Visitor services and marketing: the aquarium provides information and related services to visitors, students, researchers, scholars, and others interested in the aquarium's exhibits, programs, and other activities. In addition, the aquarium conducts broader efforts to communicate with the general public about marine life and oregon's coastal ecosystems and promote the aquarium's educational programs and services
Mission engagement: the aquarium offers onsite, online and outreach education programs, including classroom programs, virtual field trips and career explorations. Additionally, we are now engaging scout groups and college clubs in field based community science projects. The aquarium partners with lincoln county school district (lcsd) on an ocean literacy initiative - creating field experiences aligned with lcsd's newly adopted science curriculum. The aquarium has a youth volunteer program includes summer interpreters and a newly developed marine science club in conjunction with local schools.…
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, 40.00 hrs/week | $240,781 | $0 | $17,903 | $258,684 |
| DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL CARE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $105,308 | $0 | $12,484 | $117,792 |
| DIR. OF FINANCE Officer, 30.00 hrs/week | $87,656 | $0 | $9,226 | $96,882 |
| CHEIF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $77,085 | $0 | $11,739 | $88,824 |
2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Oregon Coast Aquarium (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $384K (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–1b12 · 12 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 5171
- Volunteers Part I, line 6306
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ANDERSON CONSTRUCTION Construction services | $8,258,565 |
| QUALITY CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION CO Construction contractor | $584,810 |
| EHDD ARCHITECTURE Architecture | $503,374 |
| PAYROC Payment processing platform | $264,776 |
| ARTULA INSTITUTE FOR ARTS & ENVIROMENTAL Art exhibit rental | $178,147 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 9 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
19 private foundations reported grants to Oregon Coast Aquarium totaling $1.4M 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 Oregon Coast 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 Oregon Coast Aquarium, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Oregon Coast Aquarium spent in FY2025, $76.37 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Progressive Animal Welfare SocietyLynnwood, WA · revenue $18M · programs 72.7% · 2024
- Friends of the Topeka ZooTopeka, KS · revenue $18M · programs 73.4% · 2024
- Wisconsin Humane SocietyMilwaukee, WI · revenue $18M · programs 77.9% · FY2025
- Big Dog Ranch RescueLoxahatchee Groves, FL · revenue $19M · programs 89.0% · 2024
- Atlantic Salmon Federation (US)Calais, ME · revenue $18M · programs 81.0% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Oregon Coast Aquarium's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Oregon Coast Aquarium reported that 76.4% of its $13.6 million in expenses went to program services, 20.2% to management and general and 3.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Oregon Coast Aquarium pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Oregon Coast Aquarium reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $258,684, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Oregon Coast Aquarium get its money?
Of $18.3 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 36.1% came from contributions and grants (including 4.2% from government grants) and 56.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Oregon Coast Aquarium a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 93-0877807 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
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, object 202611909349301711 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202501429349300035 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202430399349300633 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202300599349301100 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202240249349300244 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202110199349301451 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 93-0877807: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.