Spotlight: South Carolina Aquarium

Name of your organization:
South Carolina Aquarium

Year established locally: 2000

Top local executive:
Kevin Mills, President and CEO

Contact information:  
100 Aquarium Wharf
Charleston, SC 29401
843-577-3474
www.scaquarium.org

Corporate Giving Contact:
Griffin Muli,
Corporate and Institutional Giving Officer
100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, SC 29401
843-579-8600
gmuli@scaquarium.org

Average number of volunteers in 2020: 152

Total operating budget (2021): 
$11.1 million

Percent of revenue dedicated to program services: 70%

Geographic area or specific population served: Our education programs prioritize service for K-12 students across South Carolina who qualify for the free or reduced lunch program or attend Title I schools. 

Greatest Need: The Aquarium’s principal strategic priority will be to deliver financial sustainability for our core mission programs. The animal care program is at the heart of that mission, and it is our goal to secure recurring, reliable funding for this work.  

2020 Top achievements:

 The Our World Without campaign will be recorded as our finest moment as an Aquarium family; a moment in which our entire community rallied, combined voices and saved the Aquarium. We set a goal of raising $1.6 million over a six-month period, a figure that would temporarily stabilize our education programs and our Sea Turtle Care Center™. By the close of this six-month sprint, we were able to secure $2.3 million. Every dollar has counted, and every voice has mattered.

The response to this campaign has been nothing short of remarkable. To see how deeply our mission resonates with our community has been awe-inspiring. Since the campaign’s launch, we have welcomed 2,800 new donors to the Aquarium family, spanning almost every county in South Carolina, 45 states and four countries! 

2021 Goals: 

As part of our business sustainability goals for Landmark 2025, a five-year strategic plan that will shape our identity and guide our organization to innovate in areas of conservation, education and animal care, we have constructed a dedicated Animal Care Sustainers Fund, targeting a total of $1.5 million in multi-year commitments, to be paid out by the close of 2025. 

From veterinary care to water quality and infrastructure programs, each element of an animal’s care within the Aquarium is an opportunity for our partners to fund and name a leg of their journey.  

Just as coffee sustains millions of Americans, both in their daily lives and by means of long-term health benefits, the Aquarium’s Nutritional Care Program sustains our animal population, enabling each creature to serve as an ambassador for their species to more than 450,000 visitors that walk through our doors each year. Join Charleston Coffee Roasters and find unique brand alignment with a vital component of our mission and elevate your brand experience. 

Fundraising events: 

Sea Life by Starlight: Saturday, Dec. 11, at the South Carolina Aquarium. Annual holiday party and silent auction to benefit the Sea Turtle Care Center. Sponsorship opportunities available. 
2021 Conservation Gala: Saturday, Dec. 4, at the South Carolina Aquarium and Liberty Square. Annual dinner program to award the Environmental Stewardship Award and Community Impact Award, and recognize local contributions to conservation and environmental education. Proceeds benefit conservation efforts at the South Carolina Aquarium. Sponsorship opportunities available.

Corporate Giving Opportunities: The South Carolina Aquarium offers many corporate giving opportunities, from special event and exhibit sponsorships that provide robust brand visibility and employee engagement, to investments in programmatic offerings and effective conservation initiatives that generate a meaningful impact in our community. Additionally, the Aquarium offers membership to its Corporate Circle starting at $1,500 per year. Membership includes a unique slate of benefits and opportunities tailored to each partner. To discuss corporate giving opportunities, please contact Griffin Muli, Corporate and Institutional Giving Officer.

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