Mississippi Aquarium
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO DO ANY AND ALL THINGS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF AN AQUARIUM AND PROVIDING, MAINTAINING, AND ENCOURAGING THE USE OF QUALITY PUBLIC FACILITIES AND WORKS WHICH WILL OFFER SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, EDUCATIONAL, AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AND MAINTAINING AND CARING FOR A VARIED AND EXTENSIVE INVENTORY OF AQUATIC LIFE IN A HUMANE, HEALTHY, AND SANITARY ENVIRONMENT FOR A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SUCH AQUATIC LIFE.
- Income
- $7.7 million
- Spending
- $9.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- -5.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 93%
- Employees
- 163
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $225,000, president/ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 13 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 136% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 41 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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, 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 (4)
- $1.3 million spent. ANIMAL CARE - TO DELIVER AN AWE-INSPIRING ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE WHICH SUPPORTS ANIMAL RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION, INSPIRES LEARNING AND INSTILLS A PASSION FOR THE AQUATIC WORLD.
- $3.1 million spent. FACILITY OPERATIONS - TO PROVIDE A WINDOW TO THE WATERS OF MISSISSIPPI, THE GULF COAST AND BEYOND, WHILE FOSTERING A SENSE OF APPRECIATION BY ENCOURAGING GUESTS TO EXPLORE MAJESTIC ENVIRONMENTS AND PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION EFFORTS.
- $579,761 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH - TO REACH THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF ALL GUESTS BY CONNECTING THEM WITH THE PLANET'S MOST PRECIOUS ECOSYSTEMS IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM'S EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
- $2.3 million spent. MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM WILL TELL THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF ALL OF MISSISSIPPI'S AQUATIC RESOURCES FROM THE DELTA TO THE COASTLINE AND THE REMARKABLE CONNECTION THAT TIES ALL OF THE STATE'S NATURAL RESOURCES UNIQUELY TOGETHER.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2018.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.