Nonprofit · EIN 57-0961897
SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM
Tax-exempt · CHARLESTON, SC 29401
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $20,285,821 | $17,339,795 | $2,946,026 | $50,879,862 | $2,820,831 | $48,059,031 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $20,993,805 | $16,394,210 | $4,599,595 | $48,426,081 | $3,461,335 | $44,964,746 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $5,186,538
- of which government grants
- $1,044,821
- Program service revenue
- $13,276,079
- Investment income
- $840,383
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $1,848
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$144,715
- Other revenue
- $982,821
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $13,100
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $1,324,985
- Other salaries and wages
- $7,749,284
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $10,970,956
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $525
- Accounting fees
- $24,857
- Occupancy
- $1,221,976
- Travel
- $135,538
- Depreciation
- $1,227,323
- Program services (functional)
- $13,053,179
- Management and general (functional)
- $2,653,779
- Fundraising (functional)
- $1,632,837
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $48,426,081
- Total assets, end of year
- $50,879,862
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $2,820,831
- Net assets, end of year
- $48,059,031
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $28,649,389
- Publicly traded securities
- $7,946,904
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $43,631,405
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $4,427,626
- Gross receipts
- $40,964,271
- Employees
- 293
- Volunteers
- 323
- Year formed
- 1992
- State of legal domicile
- SC
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Mills | President and CEO Officer | 40 | $368,410 | $21,339 |
| Courtenay B Lewandowski | Chief Advancement Officer Key employee | 40 | $229,282 | $17,937 |
| John L Higgins | Executive Vice Pres & COO Officer | 40 | $217,089 | $9,508 |
| Jason Oddo | Chief Financial Officer Officer | 40 | $195,832 | $2,464 |
| Kevin Kampwerth | VP Creative & Exhibits Key employee | 40 | $161,022 | $20,060 |
| Brian Brasher | Chief Infrastructure Officer Key employee | 40 | $153,349 | $24,164 |
| Sara McDonald PHD | VP Conservation Highest-paid employee | 40 | $143,889 | $10,675 |
| Paul Nunez | Chief People Officer Highest-paid employee | 40 | $136,815 | $15,314 |
| Amie Yam-Babinchak | Chief Marketing Officer Highest-paid employee | 40 | $117,207 | $26,259 |
| Brian Thill | Chief Experience Officer Highest-paid employee | 40 | $105,499 | $26,218 |
| Jamie Torres DVM | Veterinary Care Highest-paid employee | 40 | $112,214 | $10,622 |
| Jonathan M Zucker | Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| Jessica Brewer | Vice Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| John A Hill | Vice Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| J Donald Higgins | Treasurer/Dir. Emer. Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
38 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Wright | Vice Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 |
| Mason Holland | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Dan Battista | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Rongrong Chen PHD | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Robert C Crawford III | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Suzanne Dickerson | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Steve Durkee | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| W Andrew Gowder Jr Term Ended | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Lee Hurzeler Term Ended | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Sandy Khan | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Danny Kassis | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Palmer E Krantz III | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Harry Lesesne | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Stacie Marksbury | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Judge Daniel E Martin Jr | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Gary McLaurin | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Guy Maurice Meares III | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Dominique Milton | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| William M Patterson PhD | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Cara J Richard | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Jan Roosenburg | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Scott Snider | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| George P Watt Jr | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Pam Wilson | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| David Wood | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Marcus Jones | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Melvin Brown | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| John Danahy | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Larry Colshan | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Anne W Cleveland | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Pedro De Armos | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Steve Gray | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Lars Munson | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Michael Naioti | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Joel Neale | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Susan Rohr | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Debra White | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Valerie Howell | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 45 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KEVIN MILLS | PRESIDENT & Officer | 40 | $362,299 | $20,091 |
| COURTENAY B LEWANDOWSKI | CHIEF ADV. O Key employee | 40 | $214,324 | $19,930 |
| JOHN LHIGGINS | EXEC. VP & C Officer | 40 | $214,067 | $9,135 |
| JASON ODDO | CFO Officer | 40 | $193,835 | $1,819 |
| KEVIN KAMPWERTH | DIR. AQ. EXP Highest-paid employee | 40 | $158,394 | $18,459 |
| SARA MCDONALD PHD | DIR. OF CONS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $142,839 | $10,104 |
| PAUL NUNEZ | DIR. TEAM DE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $127,903 | $12,386 |
| AMIE YAM-BABINCHAK | CHIEF MARKET Highest-paid employee | 40 | $117,536 | $17,704 |
| BRIAN BRASHER | DIR. OF FACI Highest-paid employee | 40 | $117,707 | $17,155 |
| JONATHAN M ZUCKER | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| JESSICA BREWER | VICE CHAIRMA Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN A HILL | VICE CHAIRMA Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| J DONALD HIGGINS | TREASURER/DI Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| TOM WRIGHT | VICE TREASUR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DEE FORTSON | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MASON HOLLAND | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN BATTISTA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RONGRONG CHEN PHD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LARRY COLSHAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT C CRAWFORD III | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN DANAHY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SUZANNE DICKERSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVE DURKEE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| W ANDREW GOWDER JR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DWAYNE GREEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| VALERIE HOWELL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LEE HURZELER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SANDY KHAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DANNY KASSIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| PALMER E KRANTZ III | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| HARRY LESESNE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| STACIE MARKSBURY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JUDGE DANIEL E MARTIN JR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| GARY MCLAURIN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| GUY MAURICE MEARES III | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DOMINIQUE MILTON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| TOM S MULLIKIN ESQ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| WILLIAM M PATTERSON PHD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CARA J RICHARD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JAN ROOSENBURG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SCOTT SNIDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| EMILY SWANSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| PAM WILSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| GEORGE P WATT JR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID WOOD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 100 AQUARIUM WHARF, CHARLESTON, SC 29401-6300
- In care of
- % JAMES L FERQUSON
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Kevin Mills, 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, SC 29401
- Signed the 990
- Kevin Mills, President & CEO
- Phone
- (843) 577-3474
- Website
- www.scaquarium.org
- Return prepared by
- Glaser and Company LLC
Mission
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.
Program accomplishments
- Facilities program services include all costs associated with the maintenance, security, and operation of a 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.The Aquarium's state-of-the-art Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery Center provides guests with an interactive learning experience so they can observe the care and rehabilitation and education related to these threatened and endangered species.Expenses $3,099,284 · revenue $9,904,706
- Guest program services include admissions 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 an 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 500,000 (including approximately 22,000 students).2024 was a productive year which emphasized our ongoing engagement of our mission and the diverse array of projects that make our institution so unique. We saw record numbers in revenue, including incredible success of our holiday lights experience within our walls, Aquarium Aglow.An expanded partnership with the local tri-county library system brought almost 8,000 additional community members into the Aquarium free of charge in 2024.The Aquarium continues to enjoy "best of class" scores among peer Aquariums in the categories of hospitality and cleanliness. In a 2022 study, it was estimated by the College of Charleston Office of Tourism Analysis that the Aquarium's presence in the community directly and indirectly generates more than $379 million to the local economy ($414 million statewide) each year.Expenses $3,864,798
- 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. The Aquarium's staff and volunteers demonstrate a passion for, and responsibility to, these animals, providing comfort, nourishment, and enrichment for each species in accordance with accrediting standards established by the association of zoos and Aquariums (AZA).Expenses $2,623,065
- 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. Last school year, the Aquarium welcomed approximately 5,600 students through this program and trained 111 SC teachers.In addition, the Aquarium invested in our distance learning program, hosting virtual programs that have reached over 50,000 participants. A robot has allowed young patients in the MUSC and Prisma Children's hospitals to engage with our staff and exhibits from their hospital room. Meanwhile, our rovers outreach program continued to bring science to life for students throughout South Carolina, reaching 15,435 participants in schools, libraries and adult retirement homes across the state who otherwise may not have had the opportunity to visit the Aquarium in person.Throughout the year, our adult learning program engaged more than 520 participants in critical conversations related to conservation and research. Our paid High School Internship program continues to engage budding scientists exploring careers in environmental education and marine science.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. As the primary sea turtle hospital in the state of South Carolina, our Sea Turtle Care Center rehabilitates sick and injured sea turtles from across the state, educates the public about conservation of endangered and threatened sea turtles, and has released 441 rehabilitated sea turtles since its inception in 2000. During 2024, the Aquarium admitted 49 sea turtle patients and successfully released 43 sea turtles back into the ocean after they were rehabilitated in the Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery. This was a record-breaking year for the number of local patients admitted, as well as the number of patients released in a single year. 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 community engagement (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. Once again, the Aquarium held its annual JuLionfish Derby and Festival, where divers competed to remove as many invasive lionfish as possible from reefs.The Aquarium's sustainable seafood program, Good Catch, encourages consumers and business to purchase local (harvested between NC and FL), sustainable seafood. The Good Catch Seafood Connection is a collaborative effort that provides free, local and sustainably harvested seafood to food insecure neighbors in the Lowcountry.Membership:Membership includes unlimited admission for nearly 11,000 member households. Members also receive additional benefits including access to exclusive member programs and events like Fish or Treat, early morning toddler programs, yoga for adults, and hands-on offsite experiences like seining and beachcombing. Members receive 20% off Aquarium Aglow tickets, discounted general admission tickets, discounts at local area attractions and businesses, and onsite discounts at the gift shop, snack bar, souvenir photos and VR experience. In 2024, members made up over 25% of Aquarium attendance.Expenses $3,466,032 · grants $13,100 · revenue $3,522,490
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | Not on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 57-0961897
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1993
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Animal-related (D500)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $50,879,862
- Income (IRS master file)
- $40,964,271
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | $20,285,821 | $17,339,795 | $50,879,862 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $20,993,805 | $16,394,210 | $48,426,081 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $28,179,213 | $14,100,205 | $43,713,929 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 57-0961897).
Questions about SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM
- What is the EIN of SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM is 57-0961897.
- Is SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1993.
- Are donations to SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
- Who is the principal officer of SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names Kevin Mills.
- Who are the officers and directors of SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 53 people; 11 received compensation from the organization, the highest $368,410 (Kevin Mills, President and CEO).
- How much revenue does SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $20,285,821, expenses of $17,339,795 and total assets of $50,879,862 at year end.
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