The North Carolina Aquarium Society
The purpose of the Society is to develop, encourage, and promote public awareness of, interest in, and support for the NC Aquariums and to serve as an philanthropic society for the continued maintenance, support, and promotion of the educational, conservation, and research purposes of the NC Aquariums. The Society is supported primarily through gift shop sales, memberships, grants, and contributions.
The North Carolina Aquarium Society at a glance
In short: The North Carolina Aquarium Society gave $2.3M across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $470K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,348,025
- +8.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $469,605
- +8.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $474,702
- Total assets
- $57,673,309
- +17.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The North Carolina Aquarium Society funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NC DNCR) ($805K). Together the top 5 received $2.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
25 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 16 grants of 25 (64%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The North Carolina Aquarium Society gives
- Giving grew 44% from 2022 to 2025. 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2020) to $2.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $2.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NC DNCR) Raleigh, NC | The Society provides support for various projects at the NC DNCR such as education programs, conservation efforts, personnel supplements, professional fees, workshops, etc. | $804,836 |
| North Carolina Aquarium at Roanoke Island Manteo, NC | The Society provides support for various projects at the Aquarium such as new exhibits, education programs, conservation and sustainability efforts, etc. | $531,289 |
| North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores Pine Knoll Shores, NC | The Society provides support for various projects at the Aquarium such as new exhibits, education programs, conservation and sustainability efforts, etc. | $474,702 |
| North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher Kure Beach, NC | The Society provides support for various projects at the Aquarium such as new exhibits, education programs, conservation and sustainability efforts, etc. | $362,950 |
| Jennette's Pier Nags Head, NC | The Society provides support for various projects at the Pier such as new exhibits, education programs, conservation and sustainability efforts, etc. | $174,248 |
Ready to take the next step with The North Carolina Aquarium Society?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $57,673,309 | $21,509,307 | $8,166,994 | $2,348,025 | 5 | $1,273,461 |
| 2024 | $49,177,767 | $16,753,478 | $8,025,880 | $2,169,761 | 5 | $825,464 |
| 2023 | $41,060,870 | $12,761,579 | $7,606,049 | $1,548,179 | 5 | $444,012 |
| 2022 | $36,499,576 | $10,753,676 | $6,899,264 | $1,626,728 | 5 | $119,095 |
| 2021 | $35,588,401 | $10,422,765 | $5,248,881 | $1,371,422 | 5 | $478,206 |
| 2020 | $31,537,248 | $6,967,663 | $4,806,871 | $1,148,849 | 5 | $402,107 |
About The North Carolina Aquarium Society
Based on IRS filings
The North Carolina Aquarium Society is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Raleigh, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $57.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $2.3M. Net investment income was $1.3M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The North Carolina Aquarium Society is led by Elizabeth Baird, President & Chief Executive Officer since 2025 (on filings since 2023); 3 of 63 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elizabeth Baird
President & Chief Executive Officer
President & CEO From → President & CEO, 2024
President & CEO → President & Chief Executive Officer, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$163K (2023) → $198K (2025)
Brick Brown III
Chair
Board Member → Chair-Elect, 2024
Chair-Elect → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shana Barclay
Former Chief Finance Officer
Chief Financial Officer From → Former Chief Finance Officer, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$56K (2024) → $153K (2025)
Emily Bruce
Chief Philanthropy Officer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$118K (2025)
Adrienne Moore
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alex MacFadyen Jr.
Board Member Emeriti
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alice Bost
Board Member Emeriti
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allan Harvin
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Art Keeny
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Besty Oakley
Board Member Emeriti
Board Member → Board Member Emeriti, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bill Belk
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bill Berry
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bill Taft
Board Member Emeriti
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bob Mattocks
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Roberts
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Buck Suiter
Board Member Emeriti
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Green
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles Evans
Board Member Emeriti
Board Member → Board Member Emeriti, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles Pierce
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charlton Burns
Board Member Emeriti
Chairman → Board Member, 2021
Board Member → Board Member Emeriti, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chuck Revelle
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Connie Parker
Board Member Emeriti
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dana O'Donovan
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Womack
Board Member Emeriti
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Albert
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Drew Covert
Board Member
Vice Chairman → Chairman, 2023
Chairman → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edythe Poyner
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frank L Block
Board Member Emeriti
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
George W Taylor
Board Member Emeriti
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Greg Nichols
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hope Williams
Board Member
Vice Chairman → Chairman, 2021
Chairman → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jane Smith Patterson
Board Member Emeriti
Board Member Ex-Officio → Board Member Emeriti From, 2024
Board Member Emeriti From → Board Member Emeriti, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jon Segal
Board Member Emeriti
Board Member → Board Member Emeriti, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jordy Whichard
Chair-Elect
Board Member → Chair-Elect, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marvin L Barnes
Board Member Emeriti
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary C Watzin
Board Member Emeriti
Board Member → Board Member Emeriti, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary K Lawrence
Board Member Emeriti
Board Member → Board Member Emeriti, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Myra Best
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Olivia Holding
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rick Willetts
Board Member Emeriti
Board Member → Board Member Emeriti, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ronnie Sloan
Board Member
Board Member → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Coggins
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Moffat-Thomas
Board Member Emeriti
Board Member → Board Member Emeriti, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Pecheles
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tess Judge
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas B Hackney
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Walter Phillips
Board Member Emeriti
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wes Seegars
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Harry Archer
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jay Briley
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Johnny Tillett
Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joye Blount
Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Virginia Cuthrell
Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christy Hancock
Board Member
Board Member From → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
G Dale McGee
Board Member
Board Member From → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Boykin
Board Member
Board Member From → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caroline Perry
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eileen Goldgeier
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jake McClease
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joyce Sullivan
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judson Pope
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Latia Banks
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Cashwell NC DNCR
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (24)
- Former: Adam Shay (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Dick Futrell Jr. (2020–2024) — Board Member Emeriti
- Former: Heather Flynt (2020–2024) — Director of Finance & Oper
- Former: Jean Kilgore (2020–2024) — Board Member Emeriti
- Former: Joyce Kohn (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Wes Perry (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Reid Wilson Nc Dncr (2021–2024) — Board Member Ex-Officio
- Former: Harry Macdonald (2022–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Katharine Whitley (2022–2024) — Board Member
- Former: James Jim Mulvey (2023–2024) — Director of Development
- Former: Brian Henry (2024) — Board Member From
- Former: Greg Proctor (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: James Barnes (2020–2023) — President & CEO
- Former: Ray White (2020–2023) — Board Member Emeriti
- Former: Jacquie Gilliam (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Jim Mulvey (2020–2022) — Director of Development
- Former: Sissy Chesnutt (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Camilla Herlevich (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: John Ward (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Rebecca McCabe (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Clark Twiddy (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Helen Lambeth Wells (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Mark C. Joyner (2020) — Executive Vice President & Retired
- Former: Susie Hamilton Nc Dncr (2020) — Board Member Ex-Officio & Non Voting
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $198K, to Elizabeth Baird (President / Chief Executive Officer). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The North Carolina Aquarium Society
How much does The North Carolina Aquarium Society give each year?
The North Carolina Aquarium Society gave $2.3M across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.2M across 5 grants.
What is The North Carolina Aquarium Society's typical grant size?
The North Carolina Aquarium Society's median grant in 2025 was $474,702, and its average grant was $469,605, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does The North Carolina Aquarium Society give grants?
The North Carolina Aquarium Society gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does The North Carolina Aquarium Society give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on The North Carolina Aquarium Society's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are The North Carolina Aquarium Society's largest grantees?
The North Carolina Aquarium Society's largest 2025 grantees include North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NC DNCR) ($804,836), North Carolina Aquarium at Roanoke Island ($531,289) and North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores ($474,702), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The North Carolina Aquarium Society?
The North Carolina Aquarium Society reported $57.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $21.5M.
What is The North Carolina Aquarium Society?
The North Carolina Aquarium Society is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Raleigh, NC. It holds $57.7M in total assets as of 2025.
What is The North Carolina Aquarium Society's EIN?
The North Carolina Aquarium Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1512990. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 18, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 29, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The North Carolina Aquarium Society's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Similar funders in North Carolina
State Employees Credit Union Foundation
Raleigh, NC
The foundation funds capital projects, regional or statewide programs, and organizational capacity building that strengthen North Carolina communities; it favors projects with broad or replicable impact and does not fund operating budgets or shortfalls. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,250 to $1 million, with a median of $2,500. Applications are accepted at any time and typically reviewed semiannually.
Assets
$61.0M
Grants
1,806
Total Given
$17.4M
Foundation for the Carolinas
Charlotte, NC
Foundation For The Carolinas funds education and youth development, environmental and wildlife work, health and human services, and animal welfare, with a reported median grant of $25,000 in 2024. Its competitive programs focus on Charlotte-Mecklenburg, the Carolinas, and specific local communities, while donor-advised funds may support eligible nonprofits more broadly; it accepts applications for some competitive grants, but most grants are recommended by fund advisors and have no application process.
Assets
$3.9B
Grants
1,605
Total Given
$609.1M
Dogwood Health Trust
Asheville, NC
Dogwood Health Trust funds work in housing, education, economic opportunity, and health and wellness that improves wellbeing in Western North Carolina, including its 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,000 to $21 million, with a median of $37,500; application requirements vary by funding opportunity.
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
835
Total Given
$148.2M
The Winston-Salem Foundation
Winston-Salem, NC
The Winston-Salem Foundation funds charitable organizations serving Forsyth County, North Carolina, across areas including education, housing, economic opportunity, civic engagement, arts, health, and human services. Its 2024 median grant was $25,000; specific programs offer grants ranging from small grants of up to $2,000 to capital grants of up to $100,000. The profile describes application-based programs but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$630.1M
Grants
823
Total Given
$90.4M
North Carolina Community Foundation Inc
Raleigh, NC
The North Carolina Community Foundation supports charitable organizations and community programs in areas such as human services, education, youth development, health, food and nutrition, and the arts. Its typical grant was $15,000 in 2025; it serves communities statewide, with an emphasis on rural North Carolina, and accepts applications through specific affiliate, giving-circle, and other grant programs.
Assets
$569.1M
Grants
732
Total Given
$30.6M
Triangle Community Foundation Inc
Durham, NC
The foundation supports nonprofits in cultural arts, education and youth, nonprofit capacity building, and sustainable communities, with grants also benefiting fields such as health, conservation, and human services. Its 2025 grants had a median of $20,000 and ranged from about $5,000 to $1.39 million; it primarily serves Durham, Orange, Wake, and Chatham Counties in North Carolina. It accepts applications for competitive discretionary programs during open grant cycles; donor-advised fund grants are also made.
Assets
$335.8M
Grants
599
Total Given
$26.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in North Carolina
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The North Carolina Aquarium Society'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.
The North Carolina Aquarium Society down — hundreds of funders to go?