National Aquarium Inc
To connect people with nature to inspire compassion and care for our ocean planet
National Aquarium Inc at a glance
In short: National Aquarium Inc gave $20.1M across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $20.1M), mostly in Maryland. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $20,144,092
- +246401.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- Average grant
- $20,144,092
- Median grant
- $20,144,092
- Total assets
- $101,493,868
- -6.8% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Maryland (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to National Aquarium Inc
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from National Aquarium Inc
Who National Aquarium Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Acrc Lessor Inc ($20.1M).
Grant Size Distribution
4 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 4 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How National Aquarium Inc gives
- Giving grew 21411% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $8K (2023) to $20.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $20.1M.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Acrc Lessor Inc Baltimore, MD | Loan Forgiveness | $20,144,092 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $101,493,868 | $74,375,786 | $76,249,119 | $20,144,092 | 1 | $7,073,049 |
| 2023 | $108,867,004 | $55,641,673 | $54,083,927 | $8,172 | Total only | $1,049,783 |
| 2022 | $108,550,637 | $54,816,849 | $51,432,748 | $10,107 | 1 | $231,370 |
| 2021 | $97,374,969 | $60,590,294 | $47,737,626 | $93,644 | 1 | $165,719 |
| 2020 | $91,756,436 | $25,536,884 | $44,699,556 | $30,000 | 1 | $194,357 |
| 2019 | $104,725,819 | $50,248,514 | $50,305,927 | $145,000 | 2 | $-195,623 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About National Aquarium Inc
Based on IRS filings
National Aquarium Inc is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Baltimore, MD. IRS filing data is available from 2019 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.
Focus Areas
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 2019; 11 of 33 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John C. Racanelli
President & Chief Executive Officer
On filings since 2019
34 hrs/week
$421K (2019) → $463K (2024)
Colleen Dilenschneider
Chair
Secretary → Chair Elect, 2023
Chair Elect → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
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 2019
40 hrs/week
$119K (2019) → $159K (2024)
Jacqueline Bershad
Vice President of Planning & Design
Vice President, Planning & Design → Vice President of Planning & Design, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$151K (2019) → $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 2019
40 hrs/week
$173K (2019) → $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 2019
39 hrs/week
$208K (2019) → $284K (2024)
Scott Melton
Senior Vice President & Chief Philanthropy Officer
Senior Vice President & Chief Philanthropy Officer → Vice President Individual Giving, 2020
Vice President Individual Giving → Senior Vice President & Chief Philanthropy Officer, 2021
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$207K (2019) → $260K (2024)
Sean Beattie
Vice President of Philanthropy
Vice President & Philanthropy → Vice President of Philanthropy, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$112K (2019) → $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 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Celine Cousteau
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chuck Tildon
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Enric Sala
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Reynolds
Vice Chair
Director → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mohannad Jishi
Board Member
Director & Treasurer → Director, 2020
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Grasmick
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ted Wiese
Board Member
Director → Chair, 2022
Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Todd Chester
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
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 (26)
- Former: David Churchill (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Keith Campbell (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Joe Crumbling (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- 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 (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Jane Droppa (2019–2022) — Vice Chair
- Former: Joseph Nigro (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Marc Bunting (2019–2022) — Chair & Director
- Former: Sam Tawiah (2019–2022) — Vice President & Information Technology
- Former: Shari Sant Plummer (2019–2022) — Vice Chair
- Former: Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Tamika Tremaglio (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Timothy Adams (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Tom Robinson (2019–2022) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Ronald Antkowiak (2020–2022) — Vice President, Finance & Controller
- Former: Dale Schmidt (2019–2021) — Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Ismael Savadogo (2019–2021) — Senior Vice President & CFO
- Former: John Bremer (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Alex Smith (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Candace Osunsade (2019–2020) — Secretary, Senior Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer
- Former: Kimberly Lacomare (2019–2020) — Vice President & Communications
- Former: Robert Merritt (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Michael Grandel (2019) — Director Business Intelligence
- Former: William Harrison (2019) — Senior Vice President & CFO
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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
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. In 2023 it reported $8K in grants paid.
How large is National Aquarium Inc?
National Aquarium Inc reported $101.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $74.4M.
What is National Aquarium Inc?
National Aquarium Inc is a public charity 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 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 31, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 20, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work National Aquarium Inc funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in National Aquarium Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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National Aquarium Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?