Alaska SeaLife Center
Unable to Verify
Unable to Verify
Standards Legend
- Meets Standards
- Standards Not Met
- Did Not Disclose
- Review In Progress
- Unable to Verify
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
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Board Oversight
Oversight of Operations and Staff: Standard 1
Description
Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fundraising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.The organization meets this standard.
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Board Size
Number of Board Members: Standard 2
Description
Soliciting organizations shall have a board of directors with a minimum of five voting members.The organization meets this standard.
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Board Meetings
Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings: Standard 3
Description
An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities.The organization meets this standard.
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Board Compensation
Compensated Board Members: Standard 4
Description
Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board's chair or treasurer.The organization meets this standard.
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Conflict of Interest
Conflict of Interest: Standard 5
Description
No transaction(s) in which any board or staff members have material conflicting interests with the charity resulting from any relationship or business affiliation. Factors that will be considered when concluding whether or not a related party transaction constitutes a conflict of interest and if such a conflict is material, include, but are not limited to: any arm's length procedures established by the charity; the size of the transaction relative to like expenses of the charity; whether the interested party participated in the board vote on the transaction; if competitive bids were sought and whether the transaction is one-time, recurring or ongoing.The organization meets this standard.
Measuring Effectiveness
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Effectiveness Policy
Board Policy on Effectiveness: Standard 6
Description
Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission. -
Effectiveness Report
Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness: Standard 7
Description
Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.The organization meets this standard.
Finances
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Program Expenses
Program Service Expense Ratio: Standard 8
Description
Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.The organization meets this standard.
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Fundraising Expenses
Fundraising Expense Ratio: Standard 9
Description
Spending should be no more than 35% of related contributions on fundraising. Related contributions include donations, legacies, and other gifts received as a result of fundraising efforts.The organization meets this standard.
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Accumulating Funds
Ending Net Assets: Standard 10
Description
Avoid accumulating funds that could be used for current program activities. To meet this standard, the charity's unrestricted net assets available for use should not be more than three times the size of the past year's expenses or three times the size of the current year's budget, whichever is higher.The organization meets this standard.
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Audit Report
Financial Statements: Standard 11
Description
Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $1 million, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $1 million, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.The organization meets this standard.
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Detailed Expense Breakdown
Detailed Functional Breakdown of Expenses: Standard 12
Description
Include in the financial statements a breakdown of expenses (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) that shows what portion of these expenses was allocated to program, fundraising, and administrative activities. If the charity has more than one major program category, the schedule should provide a breakdown for each category.The organization meets this standard.
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Accurate Expense Reporting
Accuracy of Expenses in Financial Statements: Standard 13
Description
Accurately report the charity's expenses, including any joint cost allocations, in its financial statements. For example, audited or unaudited statements which inaccurately claim zero fundraising expenses or otherwise understate the amount a charity spends on fundraising, and/or overstate the amount it spends on programs will not meet this standard.The organization meets this standard.
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Budget Plan
Budget: Standard 14
Description
Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fundraising, and administration.The organization meets this standard.
Fundraising & Info
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Truthful Materials
Misleading Appeals: Standard 15
Description
Have solicitations and informational materials, distributed by any means, that are accurate, truthful and not misleading, both in whole and in part. Appeals that omit a clear description of program(s) for which contributions are sought will not meet this standard. A charity should also be able to substantiate that the timing and nature of its expenditures are in accordance with what is stated, expressed, or implied in the charity's solicitations.The organization meets this standard.
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Annual Report
Annual Report: Standard 16
Description
Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fundraising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.The organization meets this standard.
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Website Disclosures
Web Site Disclosures: Standard 17
Description
Include on any charity websites that solicit contributions, the same information that is recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990.The organization meets this standard.
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Donor Privacy
Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy: Standard 18
Description
Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.The organization meets this standard.
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Cause Marketing Disclosures
Cause Related Marketing: Standard 19
Description
Clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services (i.e., cause-related marketing) that state or imply that a charity will benefit from a consumer sale or transaction. Such promotions should disclose, at the point of solicitation: (a) the actual or anticipated portion of the purchase price that will benefit the charity (e.g., 5 cents will be contributed to abc charity for every xyz company product sold), (b) the duration of the campaign (e.g., the month of October), (c) any maximum or guaranteed minimum contribution amount (e.g., up to a maximum of $200,000).The organization meets this standard.
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Complaints
Complaints: Standard 20
Description
Respond promptly to and act on complaints brought to its attention by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and/or local Better Business Bureaus about fundraising practices, privacy policy violations and/or other issues.The organization meets this standard.
Conclusion
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information from the organization and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard(s) for Charity Accountability: 6
Alaska SeaLife Center meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Purpose
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Year, State Incorporated
1990, AK
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Stated Purpose
The Alaska SeaLife Center generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship to Alaska's marine ecosystems.
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Also Known As:
Seward Association for the Advancement of Marine Science
Programs
The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC,the Center) generates and shares scientific knowledge to promoteunderstanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is aprivate, non-profit aquarium and research facility. Since opening in May1998, the Center has functioned as the state’s only aquarium and permanentmarine wildlife rehabilitation facility. The Center has three core missionareas: research, education and wildlife response, all of which are connectedthrough the shared goal of fostering ocean literacy and stewardship. The ASLCenvisions a future where people around the globe are connected to Alaska’smarine ecosystems, and where scientific information forms the foundation ofstewardship for our shared ocean resources. This synergistic approach,integrating scientific research and education, is foundational to ourorganization, and provides a framework for addressing pressing environmentalchallenges. The ASLC serves a wide variety of constituents: scientistsworking together to study changes in marine populations; federal and stateagencies responsible for resource management; stakeholders of regional marineresources - especially coastal Alaskan waters; Alaskan teachers and schoolchildren who take advantage of unique opportunities to study the state’socean waters; undergraduate and graduate students embarking on careers inmarine science; and approximately 165,000 visitors per year who come toobserve and enjoy Alaska’s abundant marine wildlife. A thriving internshipprogram has helped launch the careers of more than 600 young scientists, manyof whom travel thousands of miles for 12-week, volunteer internship terms atthe ASLC. Whether it is through telling the stories of rescued andrehabilitated animals, partnerships with other leading animal care andconservation organizations, or innovative educational programs for urban andrural communities throughout Alaska, at the core of these activities is thegoal of connecting people of all ages to Alaska's marine ecosystems inmeaningful ways. Research Programs –The ASLC is a uniquely positioned cold water research center, contributingvaluable scientific understanding of marine mammals, birds, and fish to theworld, as well as informing the management of the region. The ASLC serves asthe global rendezvous point for scientists, students, policymakers, donors,and visitors who seek to understand and support coastal Alaska's Arctic andsub-Arctic marine environments. The Center’s unique geographic location,marine cold water research facilities, live animal collections, andspecialized staff allows for the use of a combination of experimental andfield research. When the ASLC was established, much of the research focus wason the biology, health, and ecology of a few species that were directlyimpacted by specific hazardous events, such as the Exxon Valdez oil spill.However, as the arctic and subarctic regions undergo rapid environmentalchanges, understanding responses of marine life to these fluctuations isbecoming urgently more important. With tidal shorelines along the ArcticOcean, the Bering Sea, and the North Pacific Ocean, Alaska is home to richand diverse ecosystems of sea life that is unlike any other on earth, andwhich has existed for millions of years. Today, amidst a rapidly changingclimate, there is increasing global awareness of the significance of thesewaters from the marine life that they support to shipping, offshoredevelopment, tourism, and seafood harvesting. There is also growing awarenessthat the investments we make as stewards of this region now will determinethe long-term health and well-being of all who live in and depend upon it inthe future – whether they be ice seals, octopuses, eiders, wild salmon, othersea life or mankind. By fostering a research team of diverse scientificbackgrounds, and partnerships with leading scientists around the globe, theCenter’s research program goal is to provide a more holistic understanding ofecological connections in the arctic and subarctic marine ecosystems. Indoing so, critical scientific information for understanding the vulnerabilityand resilience of animals, habitats and ecosystems as a whole during thistime of rapid environmental change can be offered.Education Programs –Empathy is the ability to see animals as unique individuals worthy of care andconservation, from charismatic sea lions to the simple sea cucumber. Bysharing a collective knowledge and passion for wildlife, facilitating momentsof inspiring wonder and awe, and enabling people to form an emotionalconnection —a sense of empathy for marine life is nurtured through theeducation programs, exhibits and outreach. The ASLC public aquarium contains40,000 square feet of exhibit space designed to educate the public aboutmarine wildlife and associated research. Live animals in naturalistichabitats and a variety of interactive exhibits help visitors understand thesignificance, processes, and results of research projects conducted at theASLC and in the field. ASLC Education Programs are delivered to foster oceanliteracy and stewardship by meaningfully connecting people of all ages toAlaska's marine ecosystems. The education team provides marine-themedprograms annually to students aged pre-kindergarten to adult via on-siteofferings, nocturnes, and road scholar programs. Students gain a deeperunderstanding of science through discovery by participating in programs, aswell as engaging with their exhibits. When students can’t visit the Center, thestaff go to the classroom through outreach programs provided to rural Alaskancommunities and through distance learning programs provided to classroomsworldwide via modern technology. During the past nine years, the educationteam has received the Center for Interactive Learning and CollaborationPinnacle Award, a true measure of the impact of the programs deliveredremotely. Outreach and distance learning allows the ASLC to offer educationprograms reach thousands of students and teachers throughout Alaska and theworld each year. The research and education programs have shaped the Centerinto a unique conduit between the ocean and the people who rely on it,providing a critical knowledge and infrastructure base to policy makers,stakeholders, industry, academia and the public.Wildlife Response Program - The ASLC Wildlife Response Program is a vital part of their mission whose goalis to collect, rehabilitate and release eligible live mammals. Staff respondto both live and dead marine wildlife that have been abandoned, stranded, orinjured throughout coastal Alaska. During the 20 years of operation, over1,300 marine mammals and more than 1,200 birds representing 62 differentspecies have received a response from program staff. As a lead organizationin the Alaska Region Marine Mammal Stranding Network, the ASLC operates theonly permanent facility in the state licensed to rescue and rehabilitatemarine mammals and seabirds. The ASLC Wildlife Response Program, inpartnership with the Alaska and the National Stranding Networks, facilitatesresponses to marine animals in distress across over 34,000 miles ofcoastline. Wildlife response activity occurs under permits and agreementsissued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and U.S.Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). Additional oversight is achieved throughaccreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) through theoutstanding care given to each animal living at the Center, whether theyremain as permanent collection animals, are released back to the wild, or aretransferred to a new forever home. ASLC veterinary and wildlife responseteams employ the latest diagnostic testing to understand animals’ individualhealth challenges and the pressures that wild populations are facing.In addition to covering the live animal response, ASLC remains in a readystate year round to provide basic animal care for oil-affected animals. TheASLC plays a critical role in responding to potential manmade or naturaldisasters. It is the only wildlife-focused training facility for HazardousWaste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER). As such, the ASLC hascreated a national network of professionals that have the baselinecertification needed to respond to an oil spill. Should a disaster eventoccur, staff are prepared to deploy wildlife mobile response units (MRU), 8’x 20’ Conex shipping containers converted into a veterinary clinic, foodpreparation/husbandry support, utility room and staff housing to the disastersite. Two sets of the MRUs are filled with veterinary equipment, as well as amobile treatment and rehabilitation enclosure, a pool with life supportsystem to contain contaminated water and large enough to house smallpinnipeds. These MRUs allow the ASLC wildlife response staff to go to theanimals when they cannot come to the Center.
For the year ended September 30, 2021, Alaska SeaLife Center program expenses were:
| Research | $666,700 |
| Stranding | $418,905 |
| Education | $338,776 |
| North Pacific Marine Research Institute | $190,925 |
| Facilities | $3,952,494 |
| Husbandry | $1,333,602 |
| Front of the house | $771,630 |
| Program Expenses | $7,673,032 |
Governance & Staff
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Board Chair
Mr. Terry Lauck, Director of Environmental & Permitting, Retired
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Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc.
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Board Size
28
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Paid Staff Size
71
Fundraising
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fundraising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Television, Radio, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Membership appeals, Appeals via Social Media (Facebook, etc.).
% of Related Contributions on Fundraising: 5.55%
Tax Status
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
Financial
The following information is based on Alaska SeaLife Center's Audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021
| Source of Funds | |
|---|---|
| Membership and gate entry fees, net | $3,547,368 |
| Federal grants | $2,519,521 |
| Donations | $2,151,257 |
| Fiscal agent fees | $575,484 |
| Other grants | $369,592 |
| Other | $222,670 |
| North Pacific Marine Research Institute | $190,925 |
| Retail sales, net | $186,833 |
| Investment and interest income | $99,130 |
| Contracts | $95,346 |
| Education programs | $12,511 |
| Total Income | $9,970,637 |
Breakdown of Expenses
| Total Income | $9,970,637 |
| Total Expenses: | $9,178,936 |
| Program Expenses | $7,673,032 |
| Fundraising Expenses | $279,571 |
| Administrative Expenses | $1,226,333 |
| Other Expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $791,701 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $39,072,331 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $0 |
| Ending Net Assets | $39,864,032 |
| Total Liabilities | $2,235,038 |
| Total Assets | $42,099,070 |
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