Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc logo

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Virginia Beach, VA EIN: 52-1272309 Website

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

6states

Share of all 2 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

Fort WayneMontereyRossSilver SpringBoulderScottsdaleVA Beach

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K1 grants20212 grants20224 grants20235 grants20242 grants2025

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

Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation: $10KMonterey Bay AquariumFoundation$10KOdySea Aquarium Foundation: $8KOdySea Aquarium Foundation$8K

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

13<$50K$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 14 (93%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation Monterey, CAAquarium Conservation Partnership Contribution$10,000
OdySea Aquarium Foundation Scottsdale, AZAZA Sea Turtle SAFE Program Support$7,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M$8M20212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
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

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 22, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 21, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 9, 2024)
  5. 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.

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