Sea Research Foundation Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Mystic, CT EIN: 06-1480300

To inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through education and research.

Sea Research Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: Sea Research Foundation Inc gave $71K across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $24K), mostly in Maryland. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2024)
$70,622
-34.3% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
3
+0.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$23,541
-34.3% vs 2023
Median grant
$25,000
Total assets
$58,464,309
-1.8% vs 2023
Primary geography
Maryland (54% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024 View filing

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

Who Sea Research Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 3 recipients in 2024

Association of Zoos and Aquariums: $38KAssociation of Zoos andAquariums$38KChamber of Commerce: $25KChamber of Commerce$25KSofia See's Hope: $8KSofia See's Hope$8K

The largest 2024 recipient was Association of Zoos and Aquariums ($38K). Together the top 3 received $71K.

Grant Size Distribution

15 grants across all recorded years

14<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 14 grants of 15 (93%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.

Cities

Silver SpringsWaterfordMysticPhiladelphiaBaltimoreLedyardWesterly

How Sea Research Foundation Inc gives

  • Giving fell 24% 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

$0$50K$100K$150K5 grants2019 3 grants2020 3 grants2021 3 grants2022 3 grants2023 3 grants2024

From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $47K (2020) to $121K (2019). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $71K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Association of Zoos and Aquariums Silver Springs, MDGeneral Support$38,122
Chamber of Commerce Waterford, CTGeneral Support$25,000
Sofia See's Hope Ledyard, CTGeneral Support$7,500
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2024$58,464,309$31,819,627$32,042,657$70,6223$1,602,933
2023$59,553,462$32,556,466$29,598,065$107,4483$141,178
2022$54,777,845$32,599,649$29,857,481$69,4483$-388,051
2021$52,111,642$39,772,478$24,727,589$93,2093$-1,891,380
2020$35,787,494$26,485,374$18,704,810$47,3873$7,602
2019$36,569,797$26,818,465$26,529,906$121,4995$-30,478

About Sea Research Foundation Inc

Based on IRS filings

Sea Research Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Mystic, CT. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $58.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $71K. Net investment income was $1.6M.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Sea Research Foundation Inc is led by Susette Tibus, President & CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2019); 7 of 33 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Susette Tibus

    President & CEO

    Vice Chairman → President & CEO, 2023

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $329K (2023) → $549K (2024)

  • George M. Milne Jr.

    Chairman

    On filings since 2019

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Eric Anderson

    Director of Animal Care & Welfare

    On filings since 2022

    40 hrs/week

    $180K (2022) → $162K (2024)

  • Allison Tuttle

    Senior Vice President & Zoological Operations

    Vice President & Biological Programs → Senior Vice President & Zoological Operations, 2020

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $147K (2019) → $242K (2024)

  • Katrina S. Cubina

    Senior Vice President Mission Program

    Interim CEO, Senior Vice President & Mission Program → Senior Vice President & Mission Program, 2023

    Senior Vice President & Mission Program → Senior Vice President Mission Program, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $197K (2019) → $235K (2024)

  • Keith Sorensen

    Senior Vice President of Facilities & Capital Projects

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $121K (2020) → $166K (2024)

  • Koray Gurz

    COO & CFO

    Senior Vice President & CFO → COO & CFO, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $157K (2020) → $285K (2024)

  • Tina Couch

    Vice President Development

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $137K (2021) → $248K (2024)

  • Alex Marku

    Board Member

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jason Reese

    Board Member

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Holstein

    Treasurer

    Board Member → Secretary, 2022

    Secretary → Treasurer, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael Lech

    Board Member

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Patrick Green

    Board Member

    Board Member → Treasurer, 2022

    Treasurer → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Peter G. Drakos

    Board Member

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Richard Katz

    Board Member

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rodney Butler

    Board Member

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sarah Kelly

    Board Member

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Steve K. Perrelli

    Vice Chairman

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tan Hee Teck

    Board Member

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Thomas Marra

    Vice Chairman

    Board Member → Vice Chairman, 2022

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tom Mosey

    Vice Chairman

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Cecilie Jedlicka

    Board Member

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Antonio Roberto

    Board Member

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ed Cassidy

    Board Member

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael Rauh

    Board Member

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Paul Robertson

    Board Member

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Robert Williams Jr.

    Board Member

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Veronica Dowling

    Board Member

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • David Freeman

    Board Member

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joli Gross

    Secretary

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Peter Kuhn

    Board Member

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Robert Valenti

    Board Member

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • William Middleton

    Board Member

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (22)
  • Former: George Kirby (2019–2023) — Board Member
  • Former: Peter B. Barr PhD (2019–2023) — Board Member
  • Former: Stephen M. Coan (2019–2023) — Former President & CEO
  • Former: Timothy J. Kane (2019–2023) — Board Member
  • Former: Larry Rivarde (2019–2022) — Former Executive Vice President & COO
  • Former: Tracy A. Romano (2019–2022) — Vice President Chief Scientist
  • Former: Jack Heflin (2019–2021) — Board Member
  • Former: Kevin Hennessy (2019–2021) — Board Member
  • Former: Leigh Anne Bonney (2019–2021) — Treasurer
  • Former: Marjorie A. Geiger (2019–2021) — Board Member
  • Former: Stephan Salem (2019–2021) — Board Member
  • Former: Susan Pochal (2019–2021) — Secretary
  • Former: Terry D. Garcia (2019–2021) — Board Member
  • Former: Roslyn Gilhuly (2019–2020) — Senior Vice President & Development
  • Former: Randall Fiveash (2020) — Board Member
  • Former: Eric Field Hogarth (2019) — Outgoing Board Member
  • Former: Gary Hammersmith (2019) — Outgoing Secretary
  • Former: Jim Calhoun (2019) — Outgoing Board Member
  • Former: Joseph Marino (2019) — Outgoing Board Member
  • Former: Nicholas Leone (2019) — Outgoing Treasurer
  • Former: Robert Constable (2019) — Chief Financial Officer
  • Former: Tina Allaire (2019) — Outgoing Board Member

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

Susette Tibus — President/ CEO: $549KSusette TibusPresident/ CEO$549KKoray Gurz — COO/CFO: $285KKoray GurzCOO/CFO$285KTina Couch — VP Development: $248KTina CouchVP Development$248KAllison Tuttle — SVP, Zoological Operations: $242KAllison TuttleSVP, Zoological Operations$242KKatrina S Cubina — Sr VP Mission Program (Until 05/2024): $235KKatrina S CubinaSr VP Mission Program (Until…$235KKeith Sorensen — Sr VP of Facilities and Capital Projects: $166KKeith SorensenSr VP of Facilities and Capital…$166KEric Anderson — DIR. of Animal Care and Welfare: $162KEric AndersonDIR. of Animal Care and Welfare$162K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $549K, to Susette Tibus (President/ CEO). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Sea Research Foundation Inc

How much does Sea Research Foundation Inc give each year?

Sea Research Foundation Inc gave $71K across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $107K across 3 grants.

What is Sea Research Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Sea Research Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $23,541, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.

Where does Sea Research Foundation Inc give grants?

Sea Research Foundation Inc gives mostly in Maryland: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Connecticut (46%).

Does Sea Research Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Sea Research Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 3) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.

How large is Sea Research Foundation Inc?

Sea Research Foundation Inc reported $58.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $31.8M.

What is Sea Research Foundation Inc?

Sea Research Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Mystic, CT. It holds $58.5M in total assets as of 2024.

What is Sea Research Foundation Inc's EIN?

Sea Research Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1480300. 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

  1. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS November 13, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 21, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 6, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 9, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 7, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 22, 2025)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Figures come from Sea Research Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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