National Aquarium

What it reported doing in 2025

Aquarium experience: the national aquarium is located in the heart of the inner harbor in baltimore, Maryland. Situated on two city piers with the chesapeake bay on either side, the aquarium features three pavilions and a living collection that includes more than 10,000 animals from more than 500 species of fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals in award-winning habitats. The national aquarium is Maryland's largest paid tourist attraction, welcoming more than 1.2 million visitors annually. More than 60 million guests have visited the aquarium since it opened in 1981, and aquarium staff members are committed to going to extraordinary lengths to delight guests and inspire them to act to conserve the world's aquatic treasures. As an organization accredited by the association of zoos and aquariums (aza), the national aquarium maintains the highest possible standards of excellence in all aspects of animal care in order to advance animal health, husbandry and welfare practices. In addition to providing the best possible care for all animals at the aquarium, staff conduct scientific research and field work to support species and habitat conservation, with a strong emphasis on the chesapeake bay. Current exhibits at the national aquarium include amazon river forest, atlantic coral reef, atlantic to pacific, australia: wild extremes, blacktip reef, dolphin discovery, jellies invasion, harbor wetland, living seashore, Maryland experience, shark alley, surviving adaptation, tropical rainforest, harry and jeanette weinberg waterfront park, and the 4d immersion theater.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 77.5%; rating input score 77
• Program expense ratio: 69.5%; rating input score 69
• Fundraising efficiency: $2.36 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 6; 6th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.4%; rating input score 94; 28th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 87.1%; rating input score 87; 27th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 95.2%; rating input score 95; 29th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -11.4%; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.52; rating input score 40; 40th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.39; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.9%; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 1.5% per year; rating input score 100; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.8% per year; rating input score 100; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -0.4% per year; rating input score 0; 5th percentile among comparable filings