Aquarium of the Pacific

Analysis

Aquarium of the Pacific is a registered charity in United States, based in Long Beach, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in November 1992, 34 years ago. Its declared purposes cover animal-related, which this site groups under animals. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Aquarium of the Pacific reported income of $57.0m and spending of $50.4m, spending 88% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $43.2m to $57.0m (+32%), an average of +7.2% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 127%. Over the whole period it spent 84% of the income it received.

Among 14,470 United States charities whose main cause is animals and that reported income, Aquarium of the Pacific sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile, and in the 99th percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include National Aquarium Inc ($55.6m), Denver Zoological Foundation Inc ($61.8m) and Detroit Zoological Society ($54.3m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 9.6% and program service revenue 77% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $1.2m (2.3% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $19.7m. At year end it held assets of $90.3m against liabilities of $9.3m, net assets of $81.0m. It reported 494 employees.