Texas State Aquarium Association
The Texas state aquarium's mission is engaging people with animals, inspiring appreciation for our seas, and supporting wildlife conservation. Its vision is to be a global leader in fostering support for the conservation of the gulf of mexico and the caribbean sea. To accomplish this goal, the aquarium has developed more than 25 permanent and special exhibits to interpret the animals and sensitive ecosystems of these regions, educating an average of more than 500,000 visitors annually in the wonders of the marine world. The Texas state aquarium also promotes and actively engages in environmental conservation through its support of the Texas state aquarium institute for wildlife conservation.
Texas State Aquarium Association at a glance
In short: Texas State Aquarium Association gave $50K across 5 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), mostly in Florida. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $50,194
- +234.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 5
- +400.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $10,039
- -33.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $93,696,733
- +0.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Florida (71% 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 Texas State Aquarium Association
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Texas State Aquarium Association
Who Texas State Aquarium Association funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Save the Manatee Club Inc ($15K). Together the top 5 received $50K.
Grant Size Distribution
14 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 14 grants of 14 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Texas State Aquarium Association gives
- Giving grew 67% 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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $15K (2023) to $68K (2022). In 2024 it made 5 grants totaling $50K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Save the Manatee Club Inc Longwood, FL | Member Contribution | $15,000 |
| Clearwater Marine Aquarium Clearwater, FL | Hurricane Helene Rel | $10,500 |
| The Florida Aquarium Tampa, FL | Hurricane Helene Rel | $10,000 |
| Alliance of Marine Mammals Alexandra, VA | Member Dues | $9,544 |
| Association of Zoos & Aquariums Silver Springs, MD | AZA Empl Hurr Relief | $5,150 |
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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 | $93,696,733 | $19,116,039 | $18,809,415 | $50,194 | 5 | $473,597 |
| 2023 | $92,879,435 | $19,302,933 | $18,184,751 | $15,000 | 1 | $654,791 |
| 2022 | $94,526,133 | $22,947,810 | $16,737,953 | $68,400 | 5 | $492,987 |
| 2021 | $93,087,200 | $38,828,303 | $17,164,658 | $30,000 | 3 | $421,706 |
| 2020 | $86,268,786 | $16,487,261 | $16,275,003 | — | — | $453,567 |
About Texas State Aquarium Association
Based on IRS filings
Texas State Aquarium Association is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Corpus Christi, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $93.7M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 5 grants totaling $50K. Net investment income was $474K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Texas State Aquarium Association is led by Jesse T. Gilbert, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 10 of 42 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jesse T. Gilbert
President
Senior Vice President → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$247K (2021) → $383K (2024)
Darcy Schroeder
Chair
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2021
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Andrade
Director of
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$146K (2021) → $161K (2024)
Jeffrey Vlach
Director of Info
It Manager → Director of Info, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$106K (2022) → $121K (2024)
Cheryl Wolfe
Director of
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$124K (2023) → $130K (2024)
Emma Gilbert
Director Ani
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$150K (2023) → $144K (2024)
Kara Hahn
Director of Aquar
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$121K (2024)
Julio Flores
Senior Vice President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$233K (2021) → $294K (2024)
Jennifer Vela
Govt & Mktg
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$144K (2021) → $227K (2024)
Justin Sefcik
Chief Oper O
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$125K (2021) → $230K (2024)
Rita Vondra
Conservation
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$175K (2023) → $155K (2024)
Aleisha Kolb
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andy Saenz
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Donnell
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Catherine Tobin Hilliard
Vice Chair
Member → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charlie Zahn
Past Chair
Chair Elect → Chair, 2021
Chair → Past Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christina Hunter Villeda
Member
Member → Director, 2022
Director → Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hoelt J. Pohlmeier
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judith Talavera
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly M. Miller
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristen Sterett
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Loren Rock
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Larue
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Pusley
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nelda Martinez
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Osbert Blow
Secretary
Member → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rhodes Urban
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rob Hall
Member
Past-Chair & P → Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sidney Evans II
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Henkel
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keleigh Sasser
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Hawn Wallace
Treasurer
Member → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ellizabeth Chu Richter
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jyoti Patel
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rajan Ahuja
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Mitton
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Pollock
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Barr
Member
Membeer → Member, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Hinojosa
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anne Thurwalker
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charlie Hicks
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Raffaele
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (47)
- Former: Cassandra Wolfe (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: George Finley III (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: Jason Gilbert (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: Kurt Roush (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: Larry Meyers (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: Newman Tree Baker III (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: Patricia Outtrim (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: Thomas A. Gates (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: David Yoskowitz (2021–2023) — Member
- Former: Steven Davidson (2021–2023) — Member
- Former: Susan Hutchinson (2021–2023) — Member
- Former: Carrie Ullmer (2022–2023) — Head Veterin
- Former: Chris Bush (2022–2023) — Member
- Former: Kevin Lassahn (2022–2023) — Member
- Former: Sam Susser (2022–2023) — Member
- Former: Sarah Zigmond (2023) — Chief of Sta
- Former: Stephen Raphaele (2023) — Member
- Former: Donald E. Kingsbury (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Julie Buckley (2020–2022) — Past-Chair
- Former: Kim Hammer (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Larry Elizondo (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Paul J. Guilfoyle (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Allen Borden (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Bruce S. Hawn (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Charles A. Charlie Hicks (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: J. Ted Oakley (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: John F. Dorn (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Julie McNeil (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Larry McKinney (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Larry Urban (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Laura Fischer (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Louise Chapman (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Mary Campbell (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Patty Nuss (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: R. Scott Heitkamp (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Robert A. May (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Robert Bob Furgason (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Thomas Schmid (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Esperanza Andrade (2021) — Member
- Former: Patricia Ranzini (2021) — Vice President Development
- Former: Deneece Squires (2020) — Member
- Former: Gloria Hicks (2020) — Member
- Former: Patt Hawn Wallace (2020) — Member
- Former: Rick Patel (2020) — Member
- Former: Robert Maxwell Jr. (2020) — Member
- Former: Sylvia A. Whitmore (2020) — Member
- Former: William Chris Bush (2020) — Member
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $383K, to Jesse T Gilbert (President/Ce). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Texas State Aquarium Association
How much does Texas State Aquarium Association give each year?
Texas State Aquarium Association gave $50K across 5 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $15K across 1 grant.
What is Texas State Aquarium Association's typical grant size?
Texas State Aquarium Association's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,039, across 5 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Texas State Aquarium Association give grants?
Texas State Aquarium Association gives mostly in Florida: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (19%) and Maryland (10%).
Does Texas State Aquarium Association give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Texas State Aquarium Association's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Texas State Aquarium Association's largest grantees?
Texas State Aquarium Association's largest 2024 grantees include Save the Manatee Club Inc ($15,000), Clearwater Marine Aquarium ($10,500) and The Florida Aquarium ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 71% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Texas State Aquarium Association?
Texas State Aquarium Association reported $93.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $19.1M.
What is Texas State Aquarium Association?
Texas State Aquarium Association is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Corpus Christi, TX. It holds $93.7M in total assets as of 2024.
What is Texas State Aquarium Association's EIN?
Texas State Aquarium Association's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7044950. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 3, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Texas State Aquarium Association funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Texas State Aquarium Association's focus areas in our free grants database
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Texas State Aquarium Association down — hundreds of funders to go?