Tennessee Aquarium
Tennessee Aquarium reported $34.2 million in revenue and $30.7 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $70.90 went to program services, $26.45 to management and general costs and $2.65 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 73.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $357,706 (President, CEO). 12 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 32% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $31MFor 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 $34MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 70.9% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 26.4% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.7% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.14 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 17.2% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.7% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 73.4% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $357,706 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.16% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 12 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 28.7 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 12 of 12 | 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 expenseThe Tennessee Aquarium, a highly visited attraction, consistently rates very high in guest satisfaction. After more than 30 years, the Aquarium continues to be a major catalyst for economic development, providing strong fiscal and economic impacts on the region. In 2024, the Aquarium welcomed nearly 752,000 visitors. Guests are immersed in the fascinating stories of life above and below the water within our River Journey and Ocean Journey buildings. Habitats replicating global ecosystems are home to more than 10,000 animals representing 550 species. Many animals are part of species survival…
The rivers of the southeastern United States harbor some of the highest freshwater diversity on the planet. The Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute furthers the mission of the Tennessee Aquarium by conducting scientific studies, restoring and protecting our regions natural ecosystems, and educating the public to take conservation action. Scientific research is performed in a LEED Gold-certified freshwater science center on the banks of the Tennessee River. There, our scientists identify which southeastern waters have the greatest biodiversity. This is vital for conservation planning in…
The Tennessee Aquarium is a leader in environmental and conservation education and has received overwhelming acclaim for its education programs. Frequently honored for its conservation education and research work, the Aquarium has also received awards for its customer service and guest experience, including Conservation Education of the Year from the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, Office of the Governor Environmental Stewardship award, and the North American Conservation award. Aquarium educators have connected more than 2.5 million students with the natural world through the Aquariums…
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 Officer, 040.00 hrs/week | $314,233 | $0 | $43,473 | $357,706 |
| Vice President, CFO Officer, 040.00 hrs/week | $262,847 | $0 | $38,581 | $301,428 |
| Vice President Key employee, 040.00 hrs/week | $172,220 | $0 | $33,268 | $205,488 |
| Vice President Key employee, 040.00 hrs/week | $183,461 | $0 | $16,491 | $199,952 |
| Vice President Key employee, 040.00 hrs/week | $160,698 | $0 | $29,670 | $190,368 |
| Vice President Key employee, 040.00 hrs/week | $166,928 | $0 | $17,371 | $184,299 |
| Vice President Highest compensated employee, 040.00 hrs/week | $148,115 | $0 | $21,243 | $169,358 |
| Vice President Highest compensated employee, 040.00 hrs/week | $141,757 | $0 | $25,564 | $167,321 |
12 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Tennessee Aquarium (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.4M (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–1b12 · 12 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 2No
- 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 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5366
- Volunteers Part I, line 6326
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Pointe General Contractors LLC General Contractor | $517,404 |
| Eagle Mechanical LLC Maintenance/Repair/Installation | $491,857 |
| KONE Inc Maintenance/Repair/Installation | $421,500 |
| PGAV Inc Architect, Master Planning | $246,298 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 10 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
7 private foundations reported grants to Tennessee Aquarium totaling $41,002 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 Tennessee Aquarium's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Tennessee Aquarium, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Tennessee Aquarium spent in 2024, $70.90 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Sea Research FoundationMystic, CT · revenue $34M · programs 79.4% · 2025
- Karuna FoundationCheyenne, WY · revenue $34M · programs 99.9% · 2025
- Mule Deer FoundationClearfield, UT · revenue $33M · programs 97.9% · FY2025
- Commonwealth Zoological CorporationBoston, MA · revenue $34M · programs 76.3% · FY2025
- Dane County Humane SocietyMadison, WI · revenue $32M · programs 66.5% · 2025
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Tennessee
Questions people ask
How much of Tennessee Aquarium's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Tennessee Aquarium reported that 70.9% of its $30.7 million in expenses went to program services, 26.4% to management and general and 2.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Tennessee Aquarium pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Tennessee Aquarium reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $357,706, for the role of President, CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Tennessee Aquarium get its money?
Of $34.2 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 17.2% came from contributions and grants (including 1.7% from government grants) and 73.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Tennessee Aquarium a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 58-1837154 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 202640349349300439 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202443209349307879 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202343199349317619 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202213189349312351 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202142399349301404 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202012959349301331 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 58-1837154: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.