2020-11-16T08:47:34-06:00 2020-06-30 BDO USA LLP 150 Boush Street Suite 1100 Norfolk VA 23510 990 2019-07-01 521272309 Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Inc % DONNA J ELLIS VIRG 7573850280 717 General Booth Boulevard Virginia Beach VA 23451 CYNTHIA WHITBRED-SPANOULIS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 7573850280 2020-10-01 true James E Prince III P00559346 7576407190 68.131.42.4 54222620203215000003 2020-11-16 P CD20C639064E5323A576B6DADCB5D8D641F2BD99 CD20C639064E5323A576B6DADCB5D8D641F2BD99 2019 2021-01-29 14:40:06Z CYNTHIA WHITBRED-SPANOULIS 717 General Booth Boulevard Virginia Beach VA 23451 10097261 false X www.virginiaaquarium.com X 1981 VA TO INSPIRE CONSERVATION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES 30 30 0 1097 0 1293807 1999354 1522399 1071264 202794 383559 989312 589442 4008312 4043619 0 0 0 0 721792 712394 0 0 257314 2702200 2117772 3423992 2830166 584320 1213453 30602889 31943864 551239 630292 30051650 31313572 X TO INSPIRE CONSERVATION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES false false 847107 723113 PROGRAM REVENUE- TO PROVIDE ENGAGING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES THAT MEET THE NEEDS AND EXCEED THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE AQUARIUM'S DIVERSE AUDIENCES IN ORDER TO FOSTER OCEAN LITERACY AND INSPIRE CONSERVATION ACTION. 704715 196099 EXHIBITS- TO PRODUCE ENGAGING, IMMERSIVE EXHIBITS IN ORDER TO INSPIRE CONSERVATION ACTIONS BY CREATING EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN GUESTS AND THE ANIMAL COLLECTION AND ENHANCE UNDERSTANDING OF MARINE SCIENCE THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPLORATION. 703408 152052 RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION - TO CONDUCT AND SUPPORT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVES IN ORDER TO PRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE KNOWLEDGE LEADING TO EFFECTIVE CONSERVATION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT. 2255230 true true false false false false false true false true true false false false false true true false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false true 26 0 true 0 false false false false false false false false false false X 30 30 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true false false false X DONNA J ELLIS 7573850280 717 GENERAL BOOTH BOULEVARD VIRGINIA BEACH VA 23451 X SCHEDULE ATTACHED DIRECTORS 0.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 false false false CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH 2401 COURTHOUSE DRIVE VIRGINIA BEACH VA 23456 RENO, RENT & PAYROLL 3555596 ROVER DOLPHIN TOURS PO BOX 2363 NORFOLK VA 23451 BOAT CONTRACT 545838 GLOBAL AQUACULTURE SUPPLY COMPANY 1001 INDUSTRIAL AVE ALTON IA 51003 RENOVATIONS 190957 MOSLEY GENERAL CONTRACTING PO BOX 62726 VIRGINIA BEACH VA 23466 RENOVATIONS 167500 4 8415 1990939 1999354 PROGRAM REVENUE 900099 723113 723113 TEMPORARY EXHIBITS 900099 196099 196099 RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION 900099 152052 152052 1071264 173810 173810 0 0 54856 61237 -6381 0 -6381 -6381 5930194 232375 5694377 258443 235817 -26068 209749 209749 107948 39585 68363 68363 0 0 0 0 0 0 RESTAURANT INCOME 722210 100665 100665 PHOTO CONCESSIONS 900099 248113 248113 ADVENTURE PARK 713110 148679 148679 30003 30003 527460 4043619 1071264 973001 0 0 0 0 0 0 549157 328013 80674 140470 0 125531 69830 24052 31649 37706 24356 5761 7589 0 57423 19147 22764 15512 27145 9051 10761 7333 0 0 31442 31442 26177 8729 10377 7071 44734 37347 4811 2576 0 0 0 64973 64973 9281 8987 171 123 0 7691 2187 3912 1592 0 0 525370 522306 2439 625 27196 21879 4430 887 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES 759982 706583 30972 22427 TEMPORARY LABOR 124651 124253 398 SUPPLIES 76541 64970 10847 724 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 83502 56162 26267 1073 251664 186457 47544 17663 2830166 2255230 317622 257314 0 0 8437914 6742020 3986992 2392214 675766 170512 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 217276 159057 24785245 7377132 14557074 17408113 2727867 5071948 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30602889 31943864 426441 358491 0 0 124798 99801 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 172000 0 0 551239 630292 X 18899346 23108836 11152304 8204736 30051650 31313572 30602889 31943864 1213453 48469 X false true X true false X 8133196 3789513 1881052 1293807 1999354 17096922 0 0 8133196 3789513 1881052 1293807 1999354 17096922 6363591 10733331 233798 214594 259999 271071 173810 1153272 0 872966 1076760 1046951 953176 595824 4545677 22795871 7508904 0.47085 0.43462 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED X false 2597076 750181 79711 126136 3300832 2574459 153410 130793 2597076 2448420 36595 232489 143045 2574459 2251514 17769 262627 83490 2448420 2440663 25 -93840 95334 2251514 0.33910 0.16620 0.49470 114727 73071 41656 24670517 7304060 17366457 17408113 0 0 5569050 48469 1421099 55863 1525431 4043619 4043619 4306266 1421099 55001 1476100 2830166 2830166 ANIMAL COLLECTIONS, Sch D, Part III Line 1A In accordance with industry practice, the Foundation's collections of marine animals are not capitalized and recognized as assets in the statements of financial position. The Foundation holds its collections for public exhibition, education and research rather than for financial gain. It protects, cares for, preserves and keeps its collections unencumbered. Additionally, it is impracticable to attempt to assign values to the collection because the animals have certain attributes, such as species, sex, age, breeding potential, and relationship to others in the ecosystem that make it difficult to determine an objective basis for valuation. The value of collection items purchased by the Foundation is reported in the statement of activities as collections. Contributed collection items are not reflected in the financial statements. EXEMPT PURPOSE, Sch D, part III line 4 Mission: The mission of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is to inspire conservation of the marine environment through education, research, and sustainable practices. About Us: In 2020, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center celebrated 34 years of conservation through education as it continues to carry out its mission to teach people about the marine environment. After many years of planning and hard work, the Virginia Marine Science Museum (VMSM) opened with much fanfare on June 14, 1986 and was a resounding success from the very beginning. During the first three months, more than 100,000 visitors came to the museum, exceeding attendance projections by an astonishing 45 percent. Visitors took a journey of water through three different habitats. Although many museums typically experience a dramatic drop-off in attendance after the first year or two, VMSM enjoyed steady attendance. Based on the museums success, the staff began planning in 1990 for Phase II, a project that would triple the size of the facility to 120,000 square feet with two building and more than 45 acres of land. A key step in the expansion process was the Virginia Beach City Council approval in 1992 of $32.8 million from the Tourism Growth Investment Fund. After quietly working behind the scenes for more than a year, the Foundation publicly launching a $5 million capital campaign in 1994 to pay for the new exhibits. That same year, the U.S. Navy designated 50 acres of land on Owls Creek salt marsh, across from the Museum, as a protected Watchable Wildlife Area, the first area in Virginia to receive this designation. The expanded museum opened on June 14, 1996 exactly 10 years after the original opening. Highlights included the theater, which at the time was one of only a handful of IMAX 3D theaters in the nation. The new Ocean Pavilion and its 300,000-gallon aquarium with several species of sharks thrilled visitors, and the 70,000-gallon sea turtle aquarium provided close-up views of these endangered creatures. Visitors also delighted in the antics of harbor seals and river otters, and the new Owls Creek Marsh Pavilions at the end of an expanded nature trail emphasized marsh creatures and birds in the outdoor aviary. During 1996, more than 692,000 people visited the facility, which exceeded first year attendance projections of 650,000. Once again, the typical attendance peak and subsequent dramatic drop after the first two years did not occur; instead, the attendance has remained close to 600,000. The number of fulltime staff doubled, and with the new exhibits came many opportunities for expanded educational programming. In 2004, the facilitys name changed to Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. Today, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is operated through a public-private partnership between the City of Virginia Beach and the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation. The City owns and maintains the Aquariums buildings and provides administrative support, while the Foundation procures and maintains the collection of animals and exhibits. The Foundation is also responsible for fundraising efforts and various scientific research, education, and conservations projects. Over 600,000 visitors from every state in the nation and many foreign countries visit annually to learn about the marine environment. Over time and with input from many sources, especially the strategic planning process, the staff developed an exciting plan for the Virginia Aquarium. Rather than expand again, the original building was transformed by replacing aging exhibits with habitats simulating ecosystems from around the world that were present during Virginias prehistory. The Restless Planet, a $25 million renovation, opened in 2009. The exhibit galleries features a Malaysian peat swamp boasting two Tomistoma crocodiles; a coastal desert similar to a Mediterranean coast; a 120,000 gallon walk-through Red Sea aquarium with spotted eagle rays and a zebra shark; and a volcanic area similar to the Komodo Islands in Indonesia, complete with Komodo dragons. The Foundation provided $9 million to this project. Also, in 2009, the Virginia Aquarium formed a partnership with a photography company as an additional source of revenue during guests visits. Guests are able to take souvenir photos prior to entering the Aquarium and exploring. At the end of their visit, they can purchase the photo as a keepsake memory of their trip. In 2015, this partnership was awarded to Photogenic and remains as such. The Virginia Aquarium continued its on-campus expansion with the May 30, 2014 opening of the Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium. The joint venture between the Aquariums non-profit Foundation and the Outdoor Venture Group, the designers, builder, and operator of the park, features several ropes and zipline challenge courses for guests of all age and experience levels. As leaders in coastal and marine environmental conservation, research, and preservation, the Virginia Aquarium boat trips bring the ocean to you. Since 1989, our boat trips have been staffed by knowledgeable marine educators engaging in responsible viewing practices, research, and conservation. Our partnership with Rover Cruises began Feb. 14, 2015 and continues to this day, offering whale watching and dolphin boat trips, with some specialty tours. On February 26, 2015, the netting on the Aviary collapsed after a small snowstorm. After analyzing the total annual operating costs of the Aviary, the Aquarium chose to utilize the insurance funds for New Exhibits as part of the South Building renovation rather an rebuild the old structure. After the passing of one False gharial crocodile and the transport of another to a crocodile park in St. Augustine, Florida, the Aquarium was in search of new animals for the Restless Planet exhibit. Through months of hard work, the Aquarium procured two False gharial (Tomistoma) crocodiles from a Malaysian crocodile expert and brought them to Virginia Beach in the first permitted import of Tomistoma from a range country to the United States since 1974. Ralf and Sommer, named after Ralf Sommerlad, a renowned crocodilian expert, joined the Aquarium on October 31, 2015. The Aquariums success with reptiles continued, with staff discovering two hatchling Komodo dragons on exhibit on August 18, 2016. The baby dragons, Bejo and Kado, were the product of breeding between Teman, the male dragon, and the late female dragon, Jude. Jude, prior to her passing, dug an egg chamber on the exhibit, allowing the eggs to incubate and hatch, all without giving staff any indication. On September 18, 2016, the Chesapeake Bay Aquarium closed with a final dive in advance of renovation to the exhibit. This reimaging saw a change from the original blue walls and rockwork to a more natural design reminiscent of Kiptopeke State Park. The exhibit reopened on December 13, 2017 with the reintroduction of the tarpon. The project continued the public/private partnership with the City and Foundation. With the City investing $1.5 million and the Foundation paying $250,000 for the newly renovated Aquarium. One of our most visible and iconic areas, the harbor seal exhibit, received some special attention in early April 2018, as we renovated the seal pool and acrylic panes. Additional renovations to the Bay & Ocean Pavilion occurred June 2018 in the bathrooms in the lobby area and a complete redesign of the existing Caf. The restrooms acquired new energy efficient and water efficient fixtures, as well as low-flow toilets aimed at reducing the carbon footprint. The all-new Caf improved flow to ordering and paying for meals and a revamped menu! On World Autism Awareness Day April 2, 2019, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science announced a new partnership with KultureCity, an organization dedicated to helping businesses become more inclusive of guests with sensory processing disorders. As part of this new partnership, the Virginia Aquarium became certified as Sensory Inclusive by KultureCity. This certification includes staff training on sensory processing disorders and the best ways to help guests with them, creation of a social story to prepare guests with sensory processing disorders prior to their visit, creation of quiet zones, and acquisition of on-site resources. The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center was closed March 19, 2020 June 14, 2020 due to the Covid19 pandemic that swept the country. In compliance with a phased opening plan set forth by the Governor of Virginia and consultation with City of Virginia Beach leadership, the Aquarium welcomed guests back starting June 19, 2020 (with Members-only visitation June 15 June 18, 2020). New safety measures and limited capacity requirements were implemented to help keep guests, staff, volunteers, and animals safe. During the closure, the Aquarium made the difficult decision to permanently close the Giant Screen Theater for movie showings. Other tempo FIN 48 TAX POSITIONS, Sch D, Part X, line 2 Management continually evaluates tax positions reflected in the Foundation's tax filings and does not believe that any material uncertain tax positions exist. RECONCILIATION Schedule D PART XI PART XI LINE 2D INCLUDES THE SUM OF FACILITY RENTAL EXPENSES [$61,237] AND GAIN ON DISPOSITON OF DEPRECIABLE ASSETS [$26,068] REPORTED ON FORM 990 PART VIII, NET OF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEES [$31,442] REPORTED ON FORM 990 PART IX. RECONCILIATION Schedule D PART XII PART XII LINE 2D INCLUDES THE SUM OF FACILITY RENTAL EXPENSES [$61,237] AND GAIN ON DISPOSITON OF DEPRECIABLE ASSETS [$26,068] REPORTED ON FORM 990 PART VIII, NET OF THE SUM OF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEES [$31,442] AND ANIMAL COLLECTION EXPENSES [$862] REPORTED ON FORM 990 PART IX. Commotion 107948 107948 39585 0 107948 107948 39585 39585 68363 false false false REVIEW OF FORM 990, FORM 990, PART VI LINE 11 THE FORM 990 IS PREPARED BY THE ORGANIZATION'S INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS, REVIEWED IN DETAIL BY THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND SIGNED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. CONFLICT OF INTEREST, FORM 990, PART VI LINE 12C OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND KEY EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO SIGN ANNUAL STATEMENTS TO DISCLOSE POSSIBLE CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS. AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC, FORM 990 PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS FORM 1023 AND ANNUAL FORM 990 AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. OTHER CHANGES, FORM 990, PART XI LINE 5 UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS $12,563