South Carolina Aquarium is located in Charleston, SC. The organization was established in 1993. According to its NTEE Classification (D50) the organization is classified as: Zoos & Aquariums, under the broad grouping of Animal-Related and related organizations. As of 12/2021, South Carolina Aquarium employed 162 individuals. This organization is an independent organization and not affiliated with a larger national or regional group of organizations. South Carolina Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) and as such, is described as a "Charitable or Religous organization or a private foundation" by the IRS.
For the year ending 12/2021, South Carolina Aquarium generated $21.3m in total revenue. This represents relatively stable growth, over the past 7 years the organization has increased revenue by an average of 8.8% each year. All expenses for the organization totaled $11.1m during the year ending 12/2021. While expenses have increased by 0.1% per year over the past 7 years. They've been increasing with an increasing level of total revenue. You can explore the organizations financials more deeply in the financial statements section below.
Form
990
Mission & Program ActivityExcerpts From the 990 Filing
TAX YEAR
2021
Describe the Organization's Mission:
Part 3 - Line 1
OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE CONSERVATION OF THE NATURAL WORLD BY EXHIBITING AND CARING FOR ANIMALS, BY EXCELLING IN EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, AND BY PROVIDING AN EXCEPTIONAL VISITOR EXPERIENCE.
Describe the Organization's Program Activity:
Part 3 - Line 4a
FACILITIES PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF THE 20-YEAR-OLD AQUARIUM FACILITY, EXHIBITS, AND ANIMAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS. THE 93,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY OFFERS A STATE-OF-THE-ART ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER THAT ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM OF THE SOUTHEAST APPALACHIAN WATERSHED AS FOUND IN SOUTH CAROLINA: MOUNTAIN, PIEDMONT, COASTAL PLAIN, COAST AND THE OCEAN. IN 2016, THE AQUARIUM COMPLETED A MAJOR ENERGY PERFORMANCE PROJECT TO REPLACE CURRENT NATURAL GAS AND ELECTRIC POWER INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT ENERGY AND COST SAVINGS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
GUEST PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE ADMISSIONS, SECURITY STAFF, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES. PROVIDING NEW AND EXCITING EXHIBITS AND INSTALLATIONS TO ENHANCE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE, THE SCA BOTH EDUCATES AND ENTERTAINS. FROM INTERACTIVE DAILY PROGRAMMING WITH HANDS ON EXPERIENCES TO UPGRADED TECHNOLOGY THROUGHOUT THE AQUARIUM, WE HAVE DEVELOPED A NEW AND EXCITING INTERPRETIVE JOURNEY TO GUIDE GUESTS FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE SEA. THE AQUARIUM TODAY IS THE CHARLESTON REGION'S MOST VISITED ATTRACTION, WITH AN AVERAGE ANNUAL ATTENDANCE OF 470,000. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
3.ANIMAL CARE (HUSBANDRY) PROGRAM SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO CONTINUOUSLY COLLECT AND MAINTAIN ANIMALS FOR THE EXHIBITS THAT ARE DISPLAYED IN THE AQUARIUM FACILITIES. CURRENTLY THE AQUARIUM CARES FOR APPROXIMATELY 5,000 SPECIMENS OF ANIMALS WITHIN 250 SPECIES. THE PROFESSIONAL BIOLOGISTS AND AQUARISTS AT THE SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM DELIVER EXCELLENT CARE FOR EVERY ANIMAL, MAINTAINING A POPULATION THAT ENCOMPASSES THE DIVERSITY OF WILDLIFE IN OUR STATE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
EDUCATION: OVER THE YEARS, THE EDUCATION PROGRAM HAS SERVED MORE THAN ONE MILLION STUDENTS WITH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND ENRICHED THE CAREERS OF MORE THAN FIVE THOUSAND TEACHERS. THE SCA SERVES AS A COMPLEMENTARY SCIENCE EDUCATION INSTITUTION PROVIDING HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS OF ALL AGES. THEMED INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS ARE PRESENTED DAILY BY THE STAFF, AND ARE INFORMATIVE AND FUN FOR ALL VISITORS. THE AQUARIUM HAS DEVELOPED A STANDARDS-BASED STRUCTURE SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS K-12 STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES TO REINFORCE THE STANDARDS-BASED CONCEPTS INTRODUCED IN THE CLASSROOM. DUE TO RESTRICTIONS BROUGHT ON BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AVAILABILITY OF ON-SITE CLASSES IN 2021 WERE RESTRICTED AND THE AQUARIUM BEGAN TO OFFER VIRTUAL SCHOOL PROGRAMS. THE AQUARIUM WELCOMED APPROXIMATELY 5,000 STUDENTS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, THE AQUARIUM INVESTED IN OUR DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM, HOSTING VIRTUAL PROGRAMS THAT HAVE REACHED OVER 39,000 STUDENTS. MEANWHILE, OUR ROVERS OUTREACH PROGRAM CONTINUED TO BRING SCIENCE TO LIFE FOR STUDENTS THROUGHOUT SOUTH CAROLINA, REACHING 6,500 STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE WHO OTHERWISE MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE AQUARIUM IN PERSON. HOLLAND LIFELONG LEARNING, OUR ADULT EDUCATION SERIES, CELEBRATED ITS SIXTH SEASON. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE ENGAGED MORE THAN 800 PARTICIPANTS IN CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS RELATED TO CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH. CONSERVATION: THE AQUARIUM IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE THE PUBLIC TO CONSERVE AND PROTECT SOUTH CAROLINA'S RICH AND VAST BIODIVERSITY, AND ITS VULNERABLE SPECIES AND THEIR VANISHING HABITAT. OUR SEA TURTLE CARE CENTER REHABILITATES SICK AND INJURED SEA TURTLES, EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT CONSERVATION OF ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SEA TURTLES, AND HAS RELEASED NEARLY 338 REHABILITATED SEA TURTLES SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2000. DURING 2021, THE AQUARIUM ADMITTED 40 SEA TURTLE PATIENTS AND SUCCESSFULLY RELEASED 24 SEA TURTLES BACK INTO THE OCEAN AFTER THEY WERE REHABILITATED IN THE ZUCKER FAMILY SEA TURTLE RECOVERY. THE SCA IS WORKING TO REDUCE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF PLASTICS ON OUR ENVIRONMENT BY COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL PARTNERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVOCATE FOR BANS OF SINGLE-USE PLASTICS AND BY PROVIDING THE TOOLS AND SUPPORT TO EMPOWER VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE STATE TO ORGANIZE, TRACK AND REPORT ON LOCAL LITTER SWEEPS AND CONSERVATION INITIATIVES. THE AQUARIUM'S RESILIENCE INITIATIVE FOR COASTAL EDUCATION (RICE) CONTINUED ITS WORK TO INFORM COMMUNITIES OF THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND SEA LEVEL RISE, AND TO PROVIDE STAKEHOLDERS WITH DATA AND TOOLS TO PLAN FOR A MORE RESILIENT FUTURE. THE AQUARIUM CONTINUED ITS REEF RESEARCH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. WE STUDIED THE EFFECTS OF REMOVING INVASIVE LIONFISH IN ARTIFICIAL REEFS LOCATED IN MARINE PROTECTED AREAS OF THE COAST. IN 2021, THE AQUARIUM HELD ITS FIRST ANNUAL JULIONFISH DERBY AND FESTIVAL, WHERE DIVERS COMPETED TO REMOVE AS MANY INVASIVE LIONFISH AS POSSIBLE FROM REEFS. MEMBERSHIP: MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES UNLIMITED ADMISSION AND ALL ACTIVITIES OFFERED TO OUR APPROXIMATELY 9,400 MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS. THIS INCLUDES ANYTHING FROM LARGE EVENTS SUCH AS FISH OR TREAT AND AQUARIUM AGLOW MEMBER PREVIEW TO MOVIE NIGHTS AND SEINING OPPORTUNITIES. IN 2021, MEMBERS MADE UP NEARLY 20% OF AQUARIUM ATTENDANCE.
Name (title) | Role | Hours | Compensation |
---|---|---|---|
Kevin Mills President & | Officer | 40 | $318,266 |
John Lhiggins Exec. VP & C | Officer | 40 | $192,262 |
Courtenay Lewandowski Cao | Officer | 40 | $163,381 |
Kevin Kampwerth Dir. Aq. Exp | 40 | $135,583 | |
Brian Brasher Dir. Capital | 40 | $109,796 | |
Paul Nunez Dir. Of Team | 40 | $108,585 |
Vendor Name (Service) | Service Year | Compensation |
---|---|---|
Trident Construction Llc Infrastructure | 12/30/21 | $467,796 |
Blackbaud Software | 12/30/21 | $116,486 |
Statement of Revenue | |
---|---|
Federated campaigns | $0 |
Membership dues | $0 |
Fundraising events | $469,689 |
Related organizations | $0 |
Government grants | $5,638,954 |
All other contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts not included above | $4,645,266 |
Noncash contributions included in lines 1a–1f | $84,417 |
Total Revenue from Contributions, Gifts, Grants & Similar | $10,753,909 |
Total Program Service Revenue | $9,560,030 |
Investment income | $469 |
Tax Exempt Bond Proceeds | $0 |
Royalties | $0 |
Net Rental Income | $232,620 |
Net Gain/Loss on Asset Sales | -$5,288 |
Net Income from Fundraising Events | -$92,891 |
Net Income from Gaming Activities | $0 |
Net Income from Sales of Inventory | $0 |
Miscellaneous Revenue | $0 |
Total Revenue | $21,254,119 |
Statement of Expenses | |
---|---|
Grants and other assistance to domestic organizations and domestic governments. | $0 |
Grants and other assistance to domestic individuals. | $0 |
Grants and other assistance to Foreign Orgs/Individuals | $0 |
Benefits paid to or for members | $0 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $793,108 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $442,279 |
Compensation to disqualified persons | $0 |
Other salaries and wages | $4,779,070 |
Pension plan accruals and contributions | $131,753 |
Other employee benefits | $826,619 |
Payroll taxes | $399,040 |
Fees for services: Management | $0 |
Fees for services: Legal | $7,393 |
Fees for services: Accounting | $56,700 |
Fees for services: Lobbying | $0 |
Fees for services: Fundraising | $0 |
Fees for services: Investment Management | $0 |
Fees for services: Other | $109,907 |
Advertising and promotion | $326,477 |
Office expenses | $264,331 |
Information technology | $412,098 |
Royalties | $0 |
Occupancy | $977,992 |
Travel | $36,901 |
Payments of travel or entertainment expenses for any federal, state, or local public officials | $31,564 |
Conferences, conventions, and meetings | $0 |
Interest | $74,930 |
Payments to affiliates | $0 |
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization | $853,003 |
Insurance | $286,470 |
All other expenses | $16,792 |
Total functional expenses | $11,064,753 |
Balance Sheet | |
---|---|
Cash—non-interest-bearing | $3,463,358 |
Savings and temporary cash investments | $4,445,179 |
Pledges and grants receivable | $2,421,640 |
Accounts receivable, net | $69,844 |
Loans from Officers, Directors, or Controlling Persons | $0 |
Loans from Disqualified Persons | $0 |
Notes and loans receivable | $0 |
Inventories for sale or use | $16,863 |
Prepaid expenses and deferred charges | $280,695 |
Net Land, buildings, and equipment | $13,879,234 |
Investments—publicly traded securities | $5,323,207 |
Investments—other securities | $0 |
Investments—program-related | $0 |
Intangible assets | $0 |
Other assets | $0 |
Total assets | $29,900,020 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $693,405 |
Grants payable | $0 |
Deferred revenue | $1,372,974 |
Tax-exempt bond liabilities | $1,125,000 |
Escrow or custodial account liability | $0 |
Loans and other payables to any current Officer, Director, or Controlling Person | $0 |
Secured mortgages and notes payable | $178,483 |
Unsecured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Other liabilities | $87,721 |
Total liabilities | $3,457,583 |
Net assets without donor restrictions | $20,107,069 |
Net assets with donor restrictions | $6,335,368 |
Capital stock or trust principal, or current funds | $0 |
Paid-in or capital surplus, or land, building, or equipment fund | $0 |
Retained earnings, endowment, accumulated income, or other funds | $0 |
Total liabilities and net assets/fund balances | $29,900,020 |
Over the last fiscal year, we have identified 3 grants that South Carolina Aquarium has recieved totaling $16,000.
Awarding Organization | Amount |
---|---|
Wood Foundation Canal Winchester, OH PURPOSE: SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Island Farm Foundation Charleston, SC PURPOSE: FUNDING FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS | $5,000 |
Elliot And Eleanor Foundation Kiawah Island, SC PURPOSE: GENERAL SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS | $1,000 |
Beg. Balance | $463,133 |
Ending Balance | $463,133 |
Organization Name | Assets | Revenue |
---|---|---|
Atlanta-Fulton County Zoo Inc Atlanta, GA | $96,858,254 | $33,379,671 |
South Carolina Aquarium Charleston, SC | $29,900,020 | $21,254,119 |
North Carolina Zoological Society Inc Asheboro, NC | $47,767,222 | $18,648,155 |
Hollywild Animal Park Inc Wellford, SC | $321,827 | $666,863 |
Chestatee Wildlife Preserve Inc Dahlonega, GA | $376,010 | $306,935 |
Georgia Zoological Society Inc Madison, GA | $293,072 | $294,617 |