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Florida Aquarium Inc

EIN 59-2807815 · Tampa, FL

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM'S MISSION FOCUSES ON OUR SHARED PURPOSE OF A COMMITMENT TO SAVE MARINE WILDLIFE, WITH A VISION TO BE FLORIDA'S LEADING CONSERVATION-BASED AQUARIUM. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)

Income
$37.2 million
Spending
$38.5 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
475
Volunteers
933
Highest pay
$523,732, president/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 31 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 (3)
  1. $14.4 million spent. AQUARIUM 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 AQUARIUM IS WORKING TO PROTECT AND RESTORE OUR BLUE PLANET THROUGH CONSERVATION EFFORTS THAT INCLUDED GROUND-BREAKING RESEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS THAT HELP RESTORE FLORIDA'S CORAL AND SEA TURTLE POPULATIONS.
  2. $12.3 million spent. 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 INCORPORATE CONSERVATION MESSAGING AND ACTION OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT OUR AUDIENCES TO MARINE WILDLIFE, EXPAND THEIR AWARENESS OF THE AQUARIUM'S CONSERVATION COMMITMENTS AND EFFORTS, CULTIVATE THEIR UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY TOO CAN TAKE IMPACTFUL STEPS TO HELP BUILD A POSITIVE FUTURE, AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE THEIR CONSERVATION ACTION ENGAGEMENT. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM HAS IDENTIFIED FOUR CONSERVATION PRIORITIES: * SAFEGUARDING IMPERILED WILDLIFE * GENERATING HEALTHY HABITATS * REDUCING SINGLE-USE PLASTIC CONSUMPTION AND POLLUTION * ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS OPERATIONS. WITHIN THESE PRIORITIES, WE MAINTAIN A PORTFOLIO OF CONSERVATION PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS, SUCH AS OUR CORAL PROPAGATION AND RESTORATION PROGRAM AND SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION PROGRAM.
  3. $3.6 million spent. 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 PEOPLE HAVE BENEFITED FROM ITS SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS. AQUA CAMPS, EDUCATIONAL DAY CAMPS OFFERED DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AND SUMMER BREAK EACH YEAR, CONSISTENTLY SELL OUT DUE TO COMMUNITY DEMAND AND SERVE OVER 1,000 STUDENTS EACH YEAR. THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM'S EDUCATORS ALSO TRAVEL UP TO 75 MILES TO PROVIDE IN-PERSON OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN COMMUNITY SPACES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) FINALLY, OUR EDUCATORS LIKE TO HAVE FUN WITH OUR GUESTS TOO THROUGH SLEEPOVERS, BIRTHDAY PARTIES, ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS, AND VISITS FROM AQUARIUM MASCOTS, TANGO AND ROCKY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 October 13, 2026.

  2. 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2018.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 21, 2026.

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