The Seattle Aquarium Society
Our mission is inspiring conservation of our marine environment.
The Seattle Aquarium Society at a glance
In short: The Seattle Aquarium Society gave $21K across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), mostly in Washington. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $21,149
- -65.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 3
- Average grant
- $7,050
- Median grant
- $6,626
- Total assets
- $211,400,999
- +22.1% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Washington (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who The Seattle Aquarium Society funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Marysville School District ($9K). Together the top 3 received $21K.
Grant Size Distribution
6 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 6 grants of 6 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Seattle Aquarium Society gives
- Giving grew 66% 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $13K (2021) to $150K (2022). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $21K.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Marysville School District Marysville, WA | Bus transportation reimbursement for school visit to the aquarium | $9,050 |
| Mount Vernon School District Mount Vernon, WA | Bus transportation reimbursement for school visit to the aquarium | $6,626 |
| Mukilteo School District No 6 Everett, WA | Bus transportation reimbursement for school visit to the aquarium | $5,473 |
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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 | $211,400,999 | $54,098,416 | $34,291,394 | $21,149 | 3 | $542,307 |
| 2023 | $173,148,773 | $53,341,342 | $30,313,177 | $61,036 | Total only | $702,361 |
| 2022 | $96,602,410 | $45,089,878 | $24,318,050 | $149,579 | Total only | $171,332 |
| 2021 | $62,591,830 | $40,153,392 | $17,812,498 | $12,720 | 1 | $23,139 |
| 2020 | $37,450,091 | $21,125,199 | $14,793,362 | $73,212 | 2 | $54,985 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About The Seattle Aquarium Society
Based on IRS filings
The Seattle Aquarium Society is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Seattle, WA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $211.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $21K. Net investment income was $542K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Seattle Aquarium Society is led by Robert W. Davidson, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 10 of 62 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert W. Davidson
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$296K (2020) → $391K (2024)
Michael Guidon
Chair
Director → Vice Chair & Chair Elect, 2021
Vice Chair & Chair Elect → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andre Nguyen
Senior Director of Technology
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$112K (2022) → $158K (2024)
Susan Bullerdick
Senior Director of Capital Projects
Senior Director Fo Capital Projects → Senior Director of Capital Projects, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$114K (2022) → $163K (2024)
Derek Baker
Senior Director of Strat. Initiatives
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$141K (2023) → $161K (2024)
Efrat Hurvitz
Senior Director of People & Culture
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$176K (2024)
Andrew Bleiman
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bill Chapin
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bob C. Donegan
Director
Director → Immediate Past Chair, 2021
Immediate Past Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carla C. Wigen
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cary Clark
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Casey J. Schuchart
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles Wright Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christian Sinderman
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Williams
Director
Executive Officio → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dan M. Guy III
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dave Magee
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eddie Chang
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gary Kunis
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gary T. Smith
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
George V. Willoughby Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ivan Seda
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
J. Terry McLaughlin
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James C. Gurke
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janet Haberbush
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John R. Braden
Director
Executive Officio → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katherine A. Krogslund
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin L. Blair
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Macneil
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa C. Luther
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marcus Trufant
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark E. Kramer
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Trzupek
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patti Dill
Director
Immediate Past Chair → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Philip M. Guess
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Randy J. Tinseth
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert W. Power
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Kornblum
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stuart T. Rolfe
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan L. Gates
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susie Wyckoff
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William T. Einstein
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Baionne Coleman
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Duncan Butcher
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julie Syrdal
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Anderson
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Raaf
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ap Diaz
Director
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Fa'izah Bradford
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joy Hollingsworth
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Chapman
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Smith
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Ruffo
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tenika Versey Walker
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rachael L. Weakland
Vice President of Philanthropy
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$143K (2020) → $223K (2024)
Richard A. Johnson
Vice President of Finance & Administration
Director of Finance & Administration → Vice President of Finance & Administration, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$156K (2020) → $248K (2024)
Jesse Phillips-Kress
Vice President of Facilities & Operations
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$116K (2022) → $167K (2024)
Kathryn Willson
Vice President of Marketing & Communications
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$125K (2022) → $163K (2024)
Erin Meyer Beetham
Chief Conservation Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$155K (2023) → $205K (2024)
Erin J. Letey
Secretary
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karissa A. Marker
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Mager
Immediate Past Chair
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: Effie Gleason (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Grant Abel (2020–2023) — Vice President of Animal Care
- Former: John Delaney (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Tim Kuniholm (2020–2023) — Senior Director of Pr & Partnerships
- Former: Tomoko Moriguchi-Matsuno (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Bradley Rutherford (2021–2023) — Chief Operations Officer
- Former: Andrew Lewis (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: James Wharton (2023) — Vice President of Conservation Engmt & Learning
- Former: Lisa Graumlich PhD (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Chang Eddie (2022) — Director
- Former: Alex Washburn (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jesus Aguirre (2020–2021) — Executive Officio
- Former: Michael Purpura (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Natalya Leahy (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Nathan Rauschenberg (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Terren Drake (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Veronica Smolen (2020–2021) — Director of Human Resources
- Former: Jim Wharton (2021) — Director of Conservation Engagement
- Former: Barbara Pinette (2020) — Director of Marketing & Comms
- Former: Brad Rutherford (2020) — Chief Operations Officer
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 $391K, to Robert W Davidson (President & CEO). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Seattle Aquarium Society
How much does The Seattle Aquarium Society give each year?
The Seattle Aquarium Society gave $21K across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it reported $61K in grants paid.
What is The Seattle Aquarium Society's typical grant size?
The Seattle Aquarium Society's median grant in 2024 was $6,626, and its average grant was $7,050, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Seattle Aquarium Society give grants?
The Seattle Aquarium Society gives mostly in Washington: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does The Seattle Aquarium Society give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on The Seattle Aquarium Society's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is The Seattle Aquarium Society?
The Seattle Aquarium Society reported $211.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $54.1M.
What is The Seattle Aquarium Society?
The Seattle Aquarium Society is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Seattle, WA. It holds $211.4M in total assets as of 2024.
What is The Seattle Aquarium Society's EIN?
The Seattle Aquarium Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1189249. 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Seattle Aquarium Society's focus areas in our free grants database
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