Shedd Aquarium Society
Shedd Aquarium Society reported $102.0 million in revenue and $72.8 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $76.70 went to program services, $17.20 to management and general costs and $6.10 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 46.6% of the total. Government grants made up 5.4%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $966,423 (President/CEO). 55 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 38% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $73MFor context, the median across 245 covered animal-related charities: $83.96 programs, $9.42 management, $6.62 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $102MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 76.7% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 17.2% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.1% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.15 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 29.7% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 5.4% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 46.6% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $966,423 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.33% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 55 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 113.1 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 45 of 46 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseConservation education: since Shedd aquarium opened our doors in 1930, Shedd has provided more than 121 million guests the opportunity to look nature in the eye through memorable experiences, while providing opportunities to learn about the animals in our care, and become inspired to make personal choices that drive action for animals. Shedd knows that when people experience aquatic animals up close, it motivates an emotional, empathetic response that shifts attitudes and fosters a personal responsibility for stewardship of local waters, global oceans, and wildlife. Shedd is committed to…
Animal care: Shedd aquarium is home to one of the world's largest and most diverse aquatic collections over 30,000 representing about 1,200 species. A global leader in animal care, Shedd's welfare and husbandry programs support onsite research efforts that contribute to the growing scientific body of knowledge about those species in the wild. Shedd's veterinarians are aquatic medicine pioneers who are advancing the fields of preventative medicine, aging care, and conservation medicine while providing world-class care that further expands understanding of how to support healthy animal…
Conservation science and research: Shedd is located in Chicago, but its research is worldwide. Shedd is one of only 11 Centers for Species Survival, a designation of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, (IUCN). Shedd's Center for Species Survival focuses on freshwater within the Great Lakes watershed and globally with a concentration in the Americas. Shedd's husbandry, veterinary, and conservation programs are grounded in research that supports healthy animals at Shedd and vibrant wild populations around the world. Shedd's conservation research programs work to protect…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President/CEO Director/trustee, officer, 45.0 hrs/week | $874,176 | $0 | $92,247 | $966,423 |
| Chief Marketing and Experience Officer Key employee, 45.0 hrs/week | $375,846 | $0 | $50,540 | $426,386 |
| Chief Financial & Admin Officer Officer, 45.0 hrs/week | $383,749 | $0 | $39,377 | $423,126 |
| Chief Development Officer Key employee, 45.0 hrs/week | $289,536 | $0 | $30,603 | $320,139 |
| SVP, Facilities and Security Key employee, 45.0 hrs/week | $256,013 | $0 | $36,380 | $292,393 |
| SVP, Human Resources Key employee, 45.0 hrs/week | $260,715 | $0 | $29,338 | $290,053 |
| Chief Animal Conservation Officer Key employee, 45.0 hrs/week | $260,968 | $0 | $27,053 | $288,021 |
| VP, Technology Highest compensated employee, 45.0 hrs/week | $222,976 | $0 | $41,066 | $264,042 |
55 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Shedd Aquarium Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.8M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b46 · 45 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5659
- Volunteers Part I, line 6342
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| PEPPERBMI CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LLC Construction | $67,065,322 |
| VALERIO DEWALT TRAIN ASSOCIATES INC Architectural design consultant | $2,381,295 |
| MONTERREY SECURITY CONSULTANTS INC Security | $1,617,503 |
| TWO BY FOUR LTD Advertising | $1,374,721 |
| HAMILL PARTNERS INC DBA CRESCENT CLEANING COMPANY Cleaning services | $1,345,264 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 36 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
94 private foundations reported grants to Shedd Aquarium Society totaling $12M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Shedd Aquarium Society's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Shedd Aquarium Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Shedd Aquarium Society spent in 2024, $76.70 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Rocky Mountain Elk FoundationMissoula, MT · revenue $100M · programs 74.5% · 2024
- Trout UnlimitedArlington, VA · revenue $110M · programs 88.2% · FY2025
- The Animal Medical CenterNew York, NY · revenue $97M · programs 77.4% · 2024
- People for the Ethical Treatment of AnimalsNorfolk, VA · revenue $110M · programs 83.8% · FY2025
- Denver Dumb Friends LeagueDenver, CO · revenue $93M · programs 81.1% · FY2025
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Illinois
Questions people ask
How much of Shedd Aquarium Society's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Shedd Aquarium Society reported that 76.7% of its $72.8 million in expenses went to program services, 17.2% to management and general and 6.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Shedd Aquarium Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Shedd Aquarium Society reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $966,423, for the role of President/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Shedd Aquarium Society get its money?
Of $102.0 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 29.7% came from contributions and grants (including 5.4% from government grants) and 46.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Shedd Aquarium Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 36-2167918 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202532839349301323 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202412859349301346 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202302919349300125 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202232449349301023 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202121349349306152 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202022409349300507 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 36-2167918: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.