New England Aquarium Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM IS A CATALYST FOR GLOBAL CHANGE THROUGH PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION, COMMITMENT TO MARINE ANIMAL CONSERVATION, INNOVATIVE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, AND EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY FOR A VITAL AND VIBRANT OCEAN.
- Income
- $54.6 million
- Spending
- $55.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 64%
- Employees
- 407
- Volunteers
- 575
- Highest pay
- $671,882, president/chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 24% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 39 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 19 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $29.6 million spent. EXHIBITION: THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM IS A MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER 180 NON-PROFIT CORPORATION FORMED FOR THE PURPOSE OF OPERATING A PUBLIC AQUARIUM IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. THE MISSION OF THE AQUARIUM IS TO BE A CATALYST FOR GLOBAL CHANGE THROUGH PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, COMMITMENT TO MARINE ANIMAL CONSERVATION, LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION, INNOVATIVE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, AND ADVOCACY FOR A VITAL AND VIBRANT OCEAN. IN ADDITION TO ITS EXHIBITS, THE AQUARIUM OPERATES THE SIMONS THEATRE, GIFT SHOP, ON-SITE DINING OUTLETS, CATERED EVENTS, AND PROGRAMMING IN MARINE RESEARCH, CONSERVATION, AND EDUCATION. THE AQUARIUM RELIES ON REVENUE FROM ADMISSIONS, RETAIL SALES, AND EVENTS; PRIVATE GIFTS AND GRANTS; AND FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING FOR MOST OF ITS OPERATIONS. THESE REVENUES AND SUPPORT ARE PRIMARILY DERIVED FROM VISITORS AND DONORS FROM THE GREATER BOSTON AREA, THE NEW ENGLAND REGION, AND NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS TO THE CITY.WELCOMING NEW ANIMALS, UNVEILING ENGAGING NEW EXHIBITS THAT INSPIRE VISITORS, CONDUCTING IMPACTFUL RESEARCH, AND ADVOCATING FOR THE OCEAN FROM LOCAL TO INTERNATIONAL LEVELS ARE JUST A FEW OF THE WAYS THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM CONTINUED TO PROTECT THE BLUE PLANET IN 2024.2024 NOTABLE HIGHLIGHTS OF EXHIBITS AND VISITOR EXPERIENCE:THE AQUARIUM OPENED "HEALTHY CORALS, HEALTHY REEFS," A 15-FOOT, NEARLY 5,000-GALLON EXHIBIT THAT IS HOME TO A VARIETY OF LIVE CORALS NATIVE TO THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION AND FEATURES SPECIES NEW TO THE AQUARIUM, SUCH AS WRASSES, SURGEONFISH, BUTTERFLYFISH, AND REEF-DWELLING INVERTEBRATES. THE AQUARIUM ALSO EXPANDED ACCESS TO ITS EXHIBITS THROUGH A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON. IT JOINED FIVE OTHER INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE CITY OFFERING FREE ADMISSION TO BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS (BPS) STUDENTS AND UP TO THREE OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS ON THE FIRST TWO SUNDAYS OF EVERY MONTH THROUGHOUT 2024. IN TOTAL, 14,718 VISITORS CAME TO THE AQUARIUM THROUGH THIS BPS SUNDAYS PROGRAM.DURING MASSACHUSETTS' FEBRUARY SCHOOL VACATION WEEK, THE AQUARIUM CREATED A CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR AQUARIUM VISITORS OF ALL AGES IN SUPPORT OF THE SEA TURTLE RESCUE ASSISTANCE AND REHABILITATION ACT (STRAA) AND COLLECTED 1,740 SIGNATURES TO SHARE WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL. STRAA WOULD ESTABLISH A FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT FACILITIES THAT RESCUE AND REHABILITATE SEA TURTLES ACROSS THE U.S., INCLUDING THE AQUARIUM'S SEA TURTLE HOSPITAL IN QUINCY, MA.ADDITIONALLY, THE AQUARIUM CELEBRATED WORLD OCEAN DAY IN JUNE WITH FREE, ALL-AGES ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMMING AROUND THE THEME OF "CONNECTING COMMUNITIES, EMPOWERING ACTIONS FOR OUR OCEAN." THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, THE COALITION FOR A RESILIENT AND INCLUSIVE WATERFRONT (CRIW), OF WHICH THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM IS A FOUNDING MEMBER, OFFERED A ROSTER OF WELLNESS ACTIVITIES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. THE AQUARIUM ALSO PARTNERED WITH SEVERAL LOCAL NON-PROFITS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO HIGHLIGHT COMMUNITY WELLNESS INITIATIVES DURING THE YEAR. THE AQUARIUM'S LOWELL LECTURE SERIES HOSTED NINE SPEAKERS IN 2024, WHOSE TALKS COVERED A RANGE OF TOPICS ALIGNED WITH THE AQUARIUM'S MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES. THE LECTURES ARE PRESENTED FREE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE FUNDING SUPPORT FROM THE LOWELL INSTITUTE.
- $6.9 million spent. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND ADVISING:IN 2024, THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM ('THE AQUARIUM") CONTINUED CONDUCTING APPLIED OCEAN SCIENCE RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL ADVISING/MARKET-BASED SOLUTIONS TO HELP DELIVER ON ITS MISSION TOWARD A VISION FOR A VITAL AND VIBRANT OCEAN FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. MUCH OF THIS WAS EXECUTED BY THE AQUARIUM'S DEDICATED OCEAN SCIENCE RESEARCH DIVISION, THE ANDERSON CABOT CENTER FOR OCEAN LIFE (ANDERSON CABOT CENTER").SELECT 2024 NOTABLE HIGHLIGHTS OF ANDERSON CABOT CENTER:THE BLUESWELL PROGRAM, AN OCEAN INNOVATION START-UP INCUBATOR COMPLETED ITS FOURTH COHORT OF OCEAN TECH START-UPS, AND INITIATED ITS FIFTH COHORT, DURING 2024. AS CO-FOUNDER AND PARTNER IN THIS PROGRAM, THE AQUARIUM (VIA TECHNICAL CONSULT FROM ANDERSON CABOT CENTER EXPERTS) GUIDES THESE TECH START-UPS IN ADOPTING OCEAN-FRIENDLY PRACTICES AND METRICS, AIDS IN THE DILIGENCE PROCESS, AND SERVES AS THE FISCAL ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE PROGRAM. UPSWELL, ANOTHER INITIATIVE THAT THE AQUARIUM CO-FOUNDED, FOCUSED ON EXPANDING THE AMOUNT OF ANGEL INVESTMENT IN BLUE TECHNOLOGY STARTUPS THAT BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT AND CREATE NEW JOBS, HOSTED A DISCUSSION ON COASTAL RESILIENCE FEATURING A PANEL OF EXPERTS AND PUBLISHED ITS THIRD WHITEPAPER, MARINE CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL: INVESTING IN SCIENCE AND INNOVATION TO BUILD A RESPONSIBLE INDUSTRY.THE AQUARIUM'S MARINE CONSERVATION ACTION FUND (MCAF) CELEBRATED 25 YEARS OF SUPPORTING LOCALLY-LED OCEAN CONSERVATION ACROSS THE GLOBE. IN 2024, MCAF AWARDED OVER $240,000 TO 27 PROJECTS IN 17 COUNTRIES SPEARHEADED BY LOCAL LEADERS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. THESE PROJECTS INVOLVED COLLECTING CRITICAL DATA ON IMPERILED OCEAN SPECIES, PROMOTING LOCAL AND INDIGENOUS-LED MARINE MANAGEMENT, FOSTERING CAPACITY SHARING WITH COMMUNITIES, AND SPONSORING OCEAN LEADERS' PARTICIPATION AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES. IN 2024, ANDERSON CABOT CENTER RESEARCHERS CONDUCTED BOAT-BASED RESEARCH OVER THREE MONTHS TO SURVEY THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE IN THE GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE. THE TEAM SIGHTED 62 OF THE ESTIMATED POPULATION OF 372 INDIVIDUALS, COLLECTED 23 BLOW SAMPLES, AND THREE FECAL SAMPLES FOR ANALYSIS. THEY ALSO REMOVED 19 SETS OF LOST, ABANDONED, OR DISCARDED FISHING GEAR AN ESSENTIAL PART OF PREVENTING FUTURE ENTANGLEMENTS. DURING FIELDWORK IN THE GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE AS WELL AS IN CAPE COD BAY, ANDERSON CABOT CENTER RESEARCHERS DEPLOYED THE LATEST DRONE TECHNOLOGY TO STUDY RIGHT WHALES. THE DRONE OFFERS A NON-INVASIVE METHOD TO GATHER SAMPLES OF BLOW AND IS USED FOR PHOTOGRAMMETRY MEASUREMENTS THAT ALLOW RESEARCHERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE HEALTH STATUS OF INDIVIDUAL WHALES AND THE POPULATION IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND INFORMATION TO GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY DECISIONMAKERS. ANDERSON CABOT CENTER RESEARCHERS ALSO CONTINUED CONDUCTING FIELDWORK NEEDED TO INFORM CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT. IN 2024, THEY TAGGED MORE THAN 250 SHARKS, TUNAS, AND FISHES (18 TOTAL SPECIES) OVER 120 DAYS AND 4,860 VESSEL HOURS IN LOCATIONS RANGING FROM CAPE COD BAY TO NORTH CAROLINA TO PUERTO RICO. THEY ALSO FLEW AERIAL SURVEYS TOTALING 600 HOURS IN THE NEW ENGLAND REGION TO DOCUMENT THE ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF MARINE MAMMALS AND TURTLES, IDENTIFYING OVER 140 UNIQUE RIGHT WHALES. EXPERTS ACROSS THE AQUARIUM, MANY OF WHOM ARE IN THE ANDERSON CABOT CENTER, PUBLISHED 28 TOTAL PEER-REVIEWED PAPERS/BOOK CHAPTERS IN SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS/BOOK VOLUMES IN 2024, WITH AN ADDITIONAL FIVE PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS IN COLLABORATION WITH FELLOWS AND PROJECT LEADERS FROM THE MCAF PROGRAM.
- $4.3 million spent. 2024 NOTABLE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SEA TURTLE PROGRAMS:THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM HAS TWO DISTINCTIVE PROGRAMS WITH SEA TURTLES: WE RUN ONE OF THE LARGEST SEA TURTLE RESCUE OPERATIONS IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES AND WE ARE PART OF A FIRST-RESPONDER NETWORK FOR LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLES THAT GET ENTANGLED IN FISHING LINES. BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS HELP MAINTAIN SEA TURTLE POPULATIONS AND PRODUCE RESEARCH. THE AQUARIUM'S SEA TURTLE HOSPITAL IN QUINCY, MA TREATED 518 RESCUED SEA TURTLES RECOVERED FROM BEACHES ALONG CAPE COD BAY DURING THE 2024 COLD STUN STRANDING SEASON. IN ADDITION TO ADMINISTERING TO CRITICALLY ENDANGERED KEMP'S RIDLEY TURTLES (TOTAL OF 417), OUR SEA TURTLE HOSPITAL TREATED THREATENED LOGGERHEAD (62) AND GREEN (39) TURTLES SUFFERING FROM LIFE-THREATENING MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING PNEUMONIA, SEPSIS AND DEHYDRATION. THE HOSPITAL CONTINUES TO OPERATE UNDER NEW POPULATION MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED CONDITIONS AS THESE CONTINUE TO SHOW RESULTS THAT ARE AS GOOD AS, IF NOT BETTER THAN, PRE-PANDEMIC SURVIVAL RATES. THESE ALLOW FOR THE TEAM TO EFFICIENTLY STABILIZE TURTLES BEFORE TRANSPORTING THE MOST STABLE TO SECONDARY FACILITIES WHERE THEY CONTINUE THEIR REHAB PROCESS OR CAN BE RELEASED BACK INTO WARMER WATERS. WE MAINTAINED 82 OF THE MOST CRITICALLY ILL TURTLES FOR FULL REHABILITATION AT OUR HOSPITAL. LAST YEAR, WE REPORTED A PILOT STUDY ON ACOUSTIC IMPLANTS IN SEVERAL OF OUR REHABILITATED COLD-STUNNED LOGGERHEADS. IN 2023, THE PAPER WAS ACCEPTED AND PUBLISHED. HERE IS THE CITATION: INNIS, C.J., KENNEDY, A., KNEEBONE, J. ET AL. A PILOT STUDY ON SURGICAL IMPLANTATION AND EFFICACY OF ACOUSTIC TRANSMITTERS IN FIFTEEN LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLES (CARETTA CARETTA), 2021/2022. ANIM BIOTELEMETRY 11, 37 (2023). HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1186/S40317-023-00349-8. THROUGHOUT 2024, THE TAGS WERE STILL FUNCTIONING, AND WE CONTINUED TO GET REGULAR HITS ON SEVERAL ACOUSTIC ARRAYS OF VARIOUS TURTLES. WE CONTINUED OUR WORK ON ENDANGERED LEATHERBACK TURTLES ENTANGLED IN FISHING GEAR. WE TYPICALLY EVALUATE, DISENTANGLE, AND OUTFIT THE TURTLES WITH ELECTRONIC TAGS THAT ALLOW RESEARCHERS TO ASSESS SURVIVORSHIP OVER THE 30 DAYS AFTER DISENTANGLEMENT, AND TRACK MIGRATION PATTERNS.
- $2.1 million spent. WE CONTINUED TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS AT BOSTON HARBOR CITY CRUISES ("BHCC") TO OFFER THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM WHALE WATCH, OPERATED BY BHCC. THIS COMBINED EFFORT GENERATED INCREASED WHALE WATCH ATTENDANCE AND SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED THE REACH OF OUR WHALE CONSERVATION PROGRAMMING AND OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, OVERALL.TOTAL OTHER COSTS REPRESENT THE REMAINING PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES PER PART IX THAT WERE NOT ATTRIBUTABLE TO EXHIBITION, RESEARCH, OR EDUCATION. TOTAL OTHER REVENUE REPRESENTS PROGRAMATIC CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS INCOME PER PART VIII THAT WERE NOT ATTRIBUTABLE TO EXHIBITION, RESEARCH, OR EDUCATION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1960.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.