EIN 36-2167918

Shedd Aquarium

IRS 501(c) type
501(c)(3)
Num. employees
545
Year formed
1924
Most recent tax filings
2022-12-01
Description
Shedd Aquarium is an indoor public aquarium in Chicago, Illinois in the United States. The aquarium contains 32,000 animals and was for some time the largest indoor aquarium in the world with 5,000,000 US gallons of water.
Also known as...
Shedd Aquarium Society
Total revenues
$94,920,299
2022
Total expenses
$57,622,512
2022
Total assets
$628,183,114
2022
Num. employees
545
2022

Program areas at Shedd Aquarium

Conservation education: since Shedd Aquarium opened our doors in 1930, Shedd has provided more than 119 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 being one of chicago's most accessible cultural institutions, offering Illinois resident free days throughout the year, free admission every day as the nation's first Aquarium to join the museums (continued on schedule o) for all program, an everyday discount for chicago residents, students and senior citizens, and free admission for teachers, police and fire personnel, and active-duty military. Inside the Aquarium walls, a suite of impactful guest engagements, including living exhibits and extraordinary experiences behind the scenes, create memorable connections to animals, while millions of additional learners worldwide make virtual connections through Shedd's educational online platforms. The Aquarium also shares Shedd's mission by telling accessible, meaningful stories with the public through public relations and marketing efforts developed through the integration of conservation, learning programs, animal care and guest experience. As a proactive leader and resource for immersive informal science education opportunities, Shedd offers progressive, relevant and engaging programs including afterschool programs, labs and workshops, and weeklong citizen science programs for teens in the great lakes and aboard its research vessel, the coral reef ii in Florida and the bahamas.
Conservation science and research: Shedd is located in chicago, but its research is worldwide. Its 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 maximize biodiversity while preserving local livelihoods, and field researchers often work side-by-side with citizen scientists to conserve wildlife and habitats for future generations. The Aquarium's work includes more than two decades of research on bahamian rock iguanas, one of the world's most critically endangered lizards, as well as studies of queen conch, lobster, sharks, and corals. Closer to home, Shedd's great lakes research focuses on high priority wildlife (continued on schedule o) and habitat conservation issues; the Aquarium's applied studies support local and regional agencies in developing sound management plans that can protect this treasured national resource. Onsite, Shedd's state-of-the-art facilities and animal care experts serve as resources for research partners in chicago and around the united states. Onsite research provides valuable biological and behavioral information that informs understanding of species which are nearly impossible to study in the wild. In addition to sharing what it learns with the scientific community, Shedd's onsite work also contributes to its own field research, such as health assessments of wild beluga whales.
Animal care: Shedd Aquarium is home to one of the world's largest and most diverse aquatic collections over 23,000 representing about 1,200 species. A global leader in animal care, Shedd's training and husbandry programs support onsite research efforts that contribute to the growing scientific body of knowledge about those species in the wild. Additionally, Shedd's veterinarians are aquatic medicine pioneers who are advancing the fields of preventative medicine, aging care, and conservation medicine while providing world-class medical care that further expands understanding of how to support healthy animal populations in aquariums and in the wild. Shedd's animal care expertise also lends itself to crisis response around the world. Our animal response team frequently acts as a partner (continued on schedule o) and advisor to international, federal, state, and local government agencies, rescue and rehabilitation organizations, and fellow accredited zoos and aquariums for confiscated, orphaned, or injured wildlife.

Grants made by Shedd Aquarium

GranteeGrant descriptionAmount
National Marine Mammal FoundationProgram Support$10,000
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF)Program Support$6,429

Who funds Shedd Aquarium

Grants from foundations and other nonprofits
GrantmakerDescriptionAmount
The Chicago Community TrustGeneral Operating Support, Support for Capital Campaign, Support for the Dive Deeper Campaign, Support for Dive Deeper Initiative, General Fund, Support for Animal Care Or Education, Annual Support, Support for Shedd?s Centennial Commitment$2,451,517
Mansueto FoundationGeneral Support$1,984,106
Regenstein FoundationOperational Support$1,510,000
...and 104 more grants received totalling $10,130,903

Personnel at Shedd Aquarium

NameTitleCompensation
Bridget C. CoughlinTrustee and President and Chief Executive Officer / President and Chief Executive Officer / Trustee , President , and Chief Executive Officer$705,457
Ted A. BeattieSpecial Advisor and Former President and Chief Executive Officer$898,170
Gary GordonBoard Member$313,987
Regina RodriguezChief Development Officer$338,945
Cynthia FronczakVice President, Finance and Controller$153,515
...and 6 more key personnel

Financials for Shedd Aquarium

RevenuesFYE 12/2022
Total grants, contributions, etc.$39,254,780
Program services$43,131,800
Investment income and dividends$4,991,208
Tax-exempt bond proceeds$0
Royalty revenue$0
Net rental income$3,043,721
Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets$5,094,989
Net income from fundraising events$-642,158
Net income from gaming activities$0
Net income from sales of inventory$0
Miscellaneous revenues$45,959
Total revenues$94,920,299

Form 990s for Shedd Aquarium

Fiscal year endingDate received by IRSFormPDF link
2022-122023-10-18990View PDF
2021-122022-09-01990View PDF
2020-122021-05-28990View PDF
2019-122020-11-18990View PDF
2018-122019-07-23990View PDF
...and 9 more Form 990s

Organizations like Shedd Aquarium

OrganizationLocationRevenue
New England AquariumBoston, MA$62,315,970
Columbus Zoological Park AssociationPowell, OH$89,903,001
Philadelphia ZooPhiladelphia, PA$35,542,324
Chicago Zoological SocietyBrookfield, IL$94,260,071
Monterey Bay AquariumMonterey, CA$208,463,349
Lincoln Park Zoological SocietyChicago, IL$48,421,031
Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA)Los Angeles, CA$26,829,235
Houston ZooHouston, TX$68,161,300
Zoo AtlantaAtlanta, GA$46,504,632
Saint Louis Zoo AssociationSaint Louis, MO$30,524,801
Data update history
August 10, 2024
Received grants
Identified 35 new grant, including a grant for $250,000 from The Bank of America Charitable Foundation
August 7, 2024
Updated personnel
Identified 2 new personnel
May 18, 2024
Received grants
Identified 2 new grant, including a grant for $7,500 from Charles & M. R. Shapiro Foundation
April 25, 2024
Updated personnel
Identified 3 new personnel
February 4, 2024
Received grants
Identified 33 new grant, including a grant for $1,984,106 from Mansueto Foundation
Nonprofit Types
ZoosAnimal organizationsMuseumsCharities
Issues
Animals
Characteristics
MembershipsPolitical advocacyLobbyingFundraising eventsOperates internationallyNational levelReceives government fundingEndowed supportCommunity engagement / volunteeringGala fundraisersTax deductible donationsAccepts online donations
General information
Address
1200 S Dusable Lake Shore Dr
Chicago, IL 60605
Metro area
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
County
Cook County, IL
Website URL
sheddaquarium.org/ 
Phone
(312) 939-2438
Facebook page
sheddaquarium 
Twitter profile
@shedd_aquarium 
IRS details
EIN
36-2167918
Fiscal year end
December
Taxreturn type
Form 990
Year formed
1924
Eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (Pub 78)
Yes
Categorization
NTEE code, primary
D50: Zoo, Zoological Society
NAICS code, primary
7121: Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions
Parent/child status
Independent
California AB-488 details
AB 488 status
May Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes
Charity Registration status
Current - Awaiting Reporting
FTB status revoked
Revoked
AG Registration Number
CT0262333
FTB Entity ID
4217196
AB 488 data last updated ("as-of") date
2024-10-16
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