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Seward Association for the Advancement of Marine Science

EIN 92-0132479 · Seward, AK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ALASKA SEALIFE CENTER GENERATES AND SHARES SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING AND STEWARDSHIP OF ALASKA'S MARINE ECOSYSTEMS.

Income
$12.6 million
Spending
$13.7 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 39%
Employees
149
Volunteers
148
Highest pay
$222,955, ceo & president

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 30 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (5)
  1. $4.1 million spent. VISITOR AND EDUCATION PROGRAM: INNOVATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS BRING MARINE SCIENCE, CURRENT RESEARCH, AND REHABILITATION PROJECTS TO LEARNERS OF ALL AGES, BOTH ON-SITE, ACROSS ALASKA, AND BEYOND, THROUGH HANDS-ON EXHIBITS, GUIDED TOURS, CAMPS, AND CLASSROOM PARTNERSHIPS. LIVE, INTERACTIVE DISTANCE LEARNING VIDEOCONFERENCES CONNECT STUDENTS STATEWIDE TO THE CENTER'S ANIMALS AND CURRENT RESEARCH THROUGH INQUIRY-BASED, TEACHER-SUPPORTED LESSONS.
  2. $3.4 million spent. FACILITIES: THE 115,000-SQUARE-FOOT PUBLIC AQUARIUM IS THE PHYSICAL FOUNDATION THAT MAKES THE ORGANIZATION'S FULL MISSION POSSIBLE, HOUSING THE SPECIALIZED COLD-WATER EXHIBIT HABITATS, QUARANTINE SPACES, AND LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS NEEDED TO CARE FOR RESIDENT MARINE LIFE AND TREAT STRANDED WILDLIFE. EACH YEAR, MORE THAN 165,000 VISITORS COME TO THE CENTER FROM AROUND THE WORLD, EXPLORING EXHIBITS WHILE GETTING A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT THE MARINE RESEARCH AND ANIMAL CARE HAPPENING ON-SITE, ALLOWING TRANSLATION OF THE CENTER'S SCIENTIFIC WORK INTO ACCESSIBLE LEARNING EXPERIENCES.
  3. $2.1 million spent. ANIMAL CARE: THE ANIMAL CARE TEAM PROVIDES EXPERT DAILY HUSBANDRY TO ITS RESIDENT COLLECTION OF MARINE MAMMALS, SEABIRDS, FISH, AND INVERTEBRATES. CARE STAFF MANAGE DAILY DIET PREPARATION, WATER QUALITY MONITORING, AND ENRICHMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT EACH ANIMAL'S PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. AS ONE OF VERY FEW AQUARIUMS IN NORTH AMERICA TO HOUSE STELLER SEA LIONS, THE CENTER HAS ALSO SUPPORTED SUCCESSFUL BIRTHS WITHIN ITS RESIDENT POPULATION, CONTRIBUTING TO THE COLLABORATIVE MANAGEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING OF THIS ENDANGERED SPECIES.
  4. $728,397 spent. RESEARCH PROGRAM: A COLD WATER MARINE RESEARCH FACILITY THAT CONDUCTS RESEARCH INTO THE BIOLOGY, PHYSIOLOGY, AND ECOLOGY OF MARINE MAMMALS, SEABIRDS, AND FISH IN ALASKA'S ARCTIC AND SUBARCTIC WATERS, WITH THE GOAL OF GENERATING SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE THAT INFORMS RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION POLICY. THE CENTER'S UNIQUE COMBINATION OF COLD-WATER RESEARCH FACILITIES, LIVE ANIMAL COLLECTIONS, AND SPECIALIZED STAFF ENABLES SCIENTISTS TO USE BOTH EXPERIMENTAL AND FIELD-BASED METHODS TO INVESTIGATE THE PHYSIOLOGICAL AND ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES AFFECTING MARINE ANIMAL POPULATIONS. THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE ACTIVITIES OF THE NORTH PACIFIC MARINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE.
  5. $476,101 spent. REHABILITATION PROGRAM: THE ONLY PERMANENT MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE AND REHABILITATION CENTER IN ALASKA. THE CENTER REMAINS READY YEAR-ROUND TO RESPOND TO STRANDED, INJURED, OR ORPHANED MARINE ANIMALS AND UNUSUAL EVENTS SUCH AS OIL SPILLS, DEPLOYING MOBILE TREATMENT UNITS WHEN NEEDED. BEYOND DIRECT ANIMAL CARE, EACH RESCUE CONTRIBUTES EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH AND VALUABLE SCIENTIFIC DATA TO FEDERAL AGENCIES AND RESEARCHERS THAT ADVANCES UNDERSTANDING OF MARINE MAMMAL HEALTH AND SUPPORTS THE CONSERVATION OF ALASKA'S THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES.

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 July 1991.

    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.

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.