Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc
To connect people to the marine environment, inspiring a more sustainable future. We aspire to be a driver in conservation, education, tourism, and sustainability, leading the charge to save wildlife and their ecosystems.
Key facts about Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc
In short: Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc gave $18K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 52-1272309
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $17,500
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- Average grant
- $8,750
- Median grant
- $8,750
- Total assets
- $38,919,913
- Primary geography
- California (57% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$38.9M
+6.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$18K
-71.1% YoY
Grant Count
2
-60.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-27.7% YoY
How Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−10%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
About Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc
Based on IRS filings
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc is a public charity, based in Virginia Beach, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $38.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $18K. Net investment income was $691K.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 2 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $18K (2025) to $187K (2021). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $18K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation ($10K). Together the top 2 received $18K.
Grant Size Distribution
14 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 14 (93%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation Monterey, CA | Aquarium Conservation Partnership Contribution | $10,000 |
| OdySea Aquarium Foundation Scottsdale, AZ | AZA Sea Turtle SAFE Program Support | $7,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $38,919,913 | $36,560,746 | $34,833,553 |
| Revenue | $5,923,775 | $5,007,809 | $4,249,748 |
| Expenses | $4,292,046 | $3,779,397 | $3,724,324 |
| Net Investment Income | $691,356 | $503,617 | $30,377 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 22, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 21, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 9, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc is led by Cynthia Whitbred-Spanoulis, President & CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2021); none of the 24 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cynthia Whitbred-Spanoulis
President & CEO
Executive Director → President & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn D. Robertson
Chair of Mission & Advocacy Committee
Board Member & Director → Chair of Mission & Advocacy Co, 2024
Chair of Mission & Advocacy Co → Chair of Mission & Advocacy Committee, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel R. Peterson
Chair
Treasurer, Chair of Finance & Aud Committee → Chairperson, 2024
Chairperson → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Walter D. Worrall
Chair of Development & Governance Committee
Board Member & Director → Chair of Governor & Devel. Committee, 2024
Chair of Governor & Devel. Committee → Chair of Development & Governance Committee, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew W. Vakos
Board Member & Director
Chair of Governor & Devel. Committee → Board Member & Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Ciara
Board Member & Director
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Dreyfus
Board Member & Director
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Collins
Board Member & Director
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott D. Miller
Board Member & Director
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sherri L. Miles
Board Member & Director
Secretary → Board Member & Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Troy A. Lindsey
Board Member & Director
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William C. Trey Oglesby III
Board Member & Director
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jay G. Kenslow
Board Member & Director
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Deford
Board Member & Director
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Kern
Board Member & Director
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emily Maccartney
Board Member & Director
On filings since 2023
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
D. Nathan Johnson
Board Member & Director
On filings since 2024
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John E. Uhrin
Board Member & Director
On filings since 2024
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris W. Rusbuldt
Board Member & Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Buffy Barefoot
Treasurer
Board Member & Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert C. Fort
Secretary
Officer at Large → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen M. Snyder
Officer at Large
Board Member & Director → Officer at Large, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas M. McNicholas III
Vice Chair of Mission & Advocacy Committee
Chair of Mission & Advocacy → V. Chair of Mission & Advocacy, 2024
V. Chair of Mission & Advocacy → Vice Chair of Mission & Advocacy Committee, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Delceno C. Miles
Past Chair
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Chris B. Graves (2021–2023) — Board Member & Director
- Former: Christopher W. Rusbuldt (2021–2023) — Board Member & Director
- Former: Salvatore J. Daibero (2022–2023) — Chairperson
- Former: William A. Hearst (2022–2023) — Past Officer
- Former: Bert Burr Henderson IV (2021–2022) — Board Member & Director
- Former: Bert Schmidt (2021–2022) — Board Member & Director
- Former: George A. Faatz (2021–2022) — Board Member & Director
- Former: Holly Darden (2022) — Board Member & Director
- Former: Cory D Mayo (2021) — Board Member & Director
- Former: David C Burton (2021) — Board Member & Director
- Former: Katherine M Hines (2021) — Board Member & Director
- Former: Michael Standing Jr. (2021) — Board Member & Director
- Former: Mollie S Korte (2021) — Board Member & Director
- Former: Raymond F Toll (2021) — Board Member & Director
- Former: Salvatore J DaBiero (2021) — Chairperson
- Former: Thomas E Fraim Sr. (2021) — Past Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc
How much does Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc give each year?
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc gave $18K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $61K across 5 grants.
How large is Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc?
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc reported $38.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.9M.
Where does Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc operate?
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc has awarded grants in Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Maryland, Virginia.
What is Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc's EIN?
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1272309. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Here's the math on researching Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc by hand.
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