SEA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

SEA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC

EIN 06-1480300 · Animal-Related (D500)

What they do

to INSPIRE PEOPLE to CARE for and PROTECT OUR OCEAN PLANET THROUGH EDUCATION and RESEARCH.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $79.70 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders33 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

80.31%of revenue went to mission work79.7% of expenses · Program services

9.13%of revenue went to fundraising9.1% of expenses

$100.70spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

11.26%of revenue went to management and office costs11.2% of expenses

$1.82in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

17.5%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $223,030 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $555,009 for SUSETTE TIBUS (PRESIDENT/ CEO). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$31,819,627

Mission workProgram services$25,553,70780.31% of revenue79.7% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$3,583,62611.26% of revenue11.2% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$2,905,3249.13% of revenue9.1% of expenses

Total expenses$32,042,657100.70% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 79.7% mission · 11.2% management · 9.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 100.70% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 79.6% mission · 11.1% management · 9.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 90.91% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 76.6% mission · 12.7% management · 10.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 91.59% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 68.7% mission · 17.8% management · 13.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 62.17% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 75.9% mission · 16.7% management · 7.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 70.62% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 72.4% mission · 15.4% management · 12.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 98.92% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 74.6% mission · 14.8% management · 10.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 89.42% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 73.7% mission · 15.2% management · 11.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 111.40% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$31,819,627

Expenses$32,042,657

Annual shortfall $223,030 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$25,553,707 · 79.7% of expenses

Management and office costs$3,583,626 · 11.2% of expenses

Fundraising$2,905,324 · 9.1% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$31,819,627

Expenses$32,042,657

Assets$58,464,309

Income$58,582,613

Contributions$5,563,889

Mission work (program services)$25,553,707

Fundraising$2,905,324

Grants given$1,106,298

Average grant$22,578

Management and general$3,583,626

Stocks and bonds$17,533,641

Accounting fees$76,874

Investing fees$96,351

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

SUSETTE TIBUSPRESIDENT/ CEO · 40 hrs/week $555,009Base $549,016 · Other $5,993

KORAY GURZCOO/CFO · 40 hrs/week $333,823Base $285,274 · Other $48,549

KATRINA S CUBINASR VP MISSION PROGRAM (UNTIL 05/2024) · 40 hrs/week $269,707Base $235,350 · Other $34,357

ALLISON TUTTLESVP, ZOOLOGICAL OPERATIONS · 40 hrs/week $258,472Base $242,337 · Other $16,135

TINA COUCHVP DEVELOPMENT · 40 hrs/week $253,267Base $247,501 · Other $5,766

KEITH SORENSENSR VP OF FACILITIES AND CAPITAL PROJECTS · 40 hrs/week $196,416Base $166,089 · Other $30,327

ERIC ANDERSONDIR. OF ANIMAL CARE AND WELFARE · 40 hrs/week $196,183Base $162,486 · Other $33,697

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (33)

SUSETTE TIBUSPRESIDENT/ CEO

KORAY GURZCOO/CFO

KATRINA S CUBINASR VP MISSION PROGRAM (UNTIL 05/2024)

ALLISON TUTTLESVP, ZOOLOGICAL OPERATIONS

TINA COUCHVP DEVELOPMENT

KEITH SORENSENSR VP OF FACILITIES AND CAPITAL PROJECTS

ERIC ANDERSONDIR. OF ANIMAL CARE AND WELFARE

TOM MOSEYVICE CHAIRMAN

THOMAS MARRAVICE CHAIRMAN

TAN HEE TECKBOARD MEMBER

VERONICA DOWLINGBOARD MEMBER

STEVE K PERRELLIVICE CHAIRMAN

RODNEY BUTLERBOARD MEMBER

ALEX MARKUBOARD MEMBER

WILLIAM MIDDLETONBOARD MEMBER

ROBERT WILLIAMS JRBOARD MEMBER

ROBERT VALENTIBOARD MEMBER

RICHARD KATZBOARD MEMBER

PETER G DRAKOSBOARD MEMBER

PETER KUHNBOARD MEMBER

PAUL ROBERTSONBOARD MEMBER

PATRICK GREENBOARD MEMBER

MICHAEL RAUHBOARD MEMBER (UNTIL 07/2024)

MICHAEL LECHBOARD MEMBER

JOLI GROSSSECRETARY

JOHN HOLSTEINTREASURER

JASON REESEBOARD MEMBER

ED CASSIDYBOARD MEMBER

DR SARAH KELLYBOARD MEMBER

DR GEORGE M MILNE JRCHAIRMAN

DAVID FREEMANBOARD MEMBER

CECILIE JEDLICKABOARD MEMBER

ANTONIO ROBERTOBOARD MEMBER

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1997
Location: 55 COOGAN BLVD, MYSTIC, CT 06355
County: New London
In care of: KORAY GURZ
Primary officer: KORAY GURZ, CFO

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailmedia@mysticaquarium.org Phone(860) 572-5955

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: January 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: COHNREZNICK ADVISORY LLC
NTEE classification: Animal-Related (D500)
Grant-giving organization: Yes