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.
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $17,500
- -71.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- -60.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,750
- -27.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $8,750
- Total assets
- $38,919,913
- +6.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (57% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc funds
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%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
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.
Giving History
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.
Grants by year
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 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $38,919,913 | $5,923,775 | $4,292,046 | $17,500 | 2 | $691,356 |
| 2024 | $36,560,746 | $5,007,809 | $3,779,397 | $60,500 | 5 | $503,617 |
| 2023 | $34,833,553 | $4,249,748 | $3,724,324 | $43,500 | 4 | $30,377 |
| 2022 | $33,681,382 | $4,535,734 | $3,238,257 | $19,500 | 2 | $387,265 |
| 2021 | $33,839,794 | $3,821,962 | $2,723,347 | $187,000 | 1 | $340,404 |
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.
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.
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 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)
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