National Aquarium Inc logo

National Aquarium Inc

Grantmaker Baltimore, MD EIN: 52-1121163 Website

To connect people with nature to inspire compassion and care for our ocean planet

Key facts about National Aquarium Inc

In short: National Aquarium Inc gave $20.1M across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $20.1M), mostly in Maryland. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.

EIN
52-1121163
Latest 990 filing
Form 990 filing, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$20,144,092
Grants made (2024)
1
Average grant
$20,144,092
Median grant
$20,144,092
Total assets
$101,493,868
Primary geography
Maryland (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing

Total Assets

$101.5M

-6.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$20.1M

Grant Count

1

Avg Grant Size

$20.1M

How National Aquarium Inc gives

  • Giving grew 21411% from 2021 to 2024. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

About National Aquarium Inc

Based on IRS filings

National Aquarium Inc is a nonprofit organization focused on Environment & Animals, based in Baltimore, MD. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $101.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $20.1M. Net investment income was $7.1M.

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from National Aquarium Inc

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of all 1 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

BaltimoreMonterey

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$10M$20M$30M1 grants20201 grants20211 grants20220 grants20231 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2022) to $20.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $20.1M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 1 recipients in 2024

Acrc Lessor Inc: $20.1MAcrc Lessor Inc$20.1M

The largest 2024 recipient was Acrc Lessor Inc ($20.1M).

Grant Size Distribution

4 grants across all recorded years

2<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M1$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 4 (50%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Acrc Lessor Inc Baltimore, MDLoan Forgiveness$20,144,092

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$25M$50M$75M$100M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$101,493,868$108,867,004$108,550,637
Revenue$74,375,786$55,641,673$54,816,849
Expenses$76,249,119$54,083,927$51,432,748
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income$7,073,049$1,049,783$231,370
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

National Aquarium Inc is led by John C. Racanelli, President & Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2020; 11 of 33 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • John C. Racanelli

    President & Chief Executive Officer

    On filings since 2020

    34 hrs/week

    $414K (2020) → $463K (2024)

  • Colleen Dilenschneider

    Chair

    Secretary → Chair Elect, 2023

    Chair Elect → Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alison Dinger

    Vice President of Hr & Administration

    Vice President & Human Resources → Vice President of Hr & Administration, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $122K (2020) → $159K (2024)

  • Jacqueline Bershad

    Vice President of Planning & Design

    Vice President, Planning & Design → Vice President of Planning & Design, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $152K (2020) → $162K (2024)

  • Jennifer Driban

    Senior Vice President & Chief Mission Officer

    Senior Vice President & External Affairs → Senior Vice President & Chief Mission Officer, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $174K (2020) → $268K (2024)

  • Margot Amelia

    Senior Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer

    Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer → Senior Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    39 hrs/week

    $204K (2020) → $284K (2024)

  • Scott Melton

    Senior Vice President & Chief Philanthropy Officer

    Vice President Individual Giving → Senior Vice President & Chief Philanthropy Officer, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $198K (2020) → $260K (2024)

  • Sean Beattie

    Vice President of Philanthropy

    Vice President & Philanthropy → Vice President of Philanthropy, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $122K (2020) → $151K (2024)

  • Stephanie Allard

    Senior Vice President & Chief Animal Welfare Officer

    Senior Vice President & Chief Aw Officer → Senior Vice President & Chief Animal Welfare Officer, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $146K (2021) → $223K (2024)

  • Virginia Y. Newton

    Senior Vice President, CFO & COO

    Senior Vice President & CFO → Senior Vice President & Cofo, 2023

    Senior Vice President & Cofo → Senior Vice President, CFO & COO, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $136K (2021) → $356K (2024)

  • Samuel Tawiah

    Vice President of Information Technology

    Vice President of Operations → Vice President of Information Technology, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $192K (2023) → $173K (2024)

  • Kristen Rosenberger

    Vice President of Financial Planning & Analysis

    New on the 2024 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $155K (2024)

  • Adam Borden

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Celine Cousteau

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Chuck Tildon

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Enric Sala

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer Reynolds

    Vice Chair

    Director → Secretary, 2022

    Secretary → Vice Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mohannad Jishi

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nancy Grasmick

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ted Wiese

    Board Member

    Director → Chair, 2022

    Chair → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Todd Chester

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jack Dwyer

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jayson Williams

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marc Wyatt

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Merrie Mowen

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Roy Prather III

    Secretary

    Director → Secretary, 2024

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • David Dardis

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kathryn Matthews

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Maggie McIntosh

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Shari Sant

    Board Member

    Vice Chair → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Victor Abiamiri

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Chris Griffith

    Treasurer

    New on the 2024 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Robert Matthews

    Board Member

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (24)
  • Former: David Churchill (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Joe Crumbling (2020–2023) — Treasurer
  • Former: Keith Campbell (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Christopher Griffith (2021–2023) — Treasurer & Director
  • Former: Ron Sparks (2021–2023) — Treasurer & Director
  • Former: Laura Bankey (2023) — Vice President of Conservation Programs
  • Former: Elizabeth Wagner (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Jane Droppa (2020–2022) — Vice Chair
  • Former: Joseph Nigro (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Marc Bunting (2020–2022) — Chair & Director
  • Former: Ronald Antkowiak (2020–2022) — Vice President, Finance & Controller
  • Former: Sam Tawiah (2020–2022) — Vice President & Information Technology
  • Former: Shari Sant Plummer (2020–2022) — Vice Chair
  • Former: Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Tamika Tremaglio (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Timothy Adams (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Tom Robinson (2020–2022) — Immediate Past Chair
  • Former: Dale Schmidt (2020–2021) — Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
  • Former: Ismael Savadogo (2020–2021) — Senior Vice President & CFO
  • Former: John Bremer (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Alex Smith (2020) — Director
  • Former: Candace Osunsade (2020) — Secretary, Senior Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer
  • Former: Kimberly Lacomare (2020) — Vice President & Communications
  • Former: Robert Merritt (2020) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

John C Racanelli — President & Chief Executive Officer: $463KJohn C RacanelliPresident & Chief Executive…$463KVirginia Y Newton — SVP/CFO/COO: $356KVirginia Y NewtonSVP/CFO/COO$356KMargot Amelia — SVP/Chief Strategy Officer: $284KMargot AmeliaSVP/Chief Strategy Officer$284KJennifer Driban — SVP/Chief Mission Officer: $268KJennifer DribanSVP/Chief Mission Officer$268KScott Melton — SVP/Chief Philanthropy Officer: $260KScott MeltonSVP/Chief Philanthropy Officer$260KStephanie Allard — SVP/Chief Animal Welfare Officer: $223KStephanie AllardSVP/Chief Animal Welfare Officer$223KSamuel Tawiah — VP of Information Technology: $173KSamuel TawiahVP of Information Technology$173KJacqueline Bershad — VP of Planning and Design: $162KJacqueline BershadVP of Planning and Design$162KAlison Dinger — VP of HR and Administration: $159KAlison DingerVP of HR and Administration$159KKristen Rosenberger — VP of Financial Planning & Analysis: $155KKristen RosenbergerVP of Financial Planning &…$155KSean Beattie — VP of Philanthropy: $151KSean BeattieVP of Philanthropy$151K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $463K, to John C Racanelli (President & Chief Executive Officer). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about National Aquarium Inc

How much does National Aquarium Inc give each year?

National Aquarium Inc gave $20.1M across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.

How large is National Aquarium Inc?

National Aquarium Inc reported $101.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $74.4M.

What is National Aquarium Inc?

National Aquarium Inc is a nonprofit organization focused on Environment & Animals, based in Baltimore, MD. It holds $101.5M in total assets as of 2024.

Where does National Aquarium Inc operate?

National Aquarium Inc has awarded grants in California, Maryland.

What is National Aquarium Inc's EIN?

National Aquarium Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1121163. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

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