Shedd Aquarium Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Shedd Aquarium's mission is to spark compassion, curiosity and conservation for the aquatic animal world. This is driven by the organization's vision of a world thriving with aquatic life sustained by people who love, understand and protect it.
- Income
- $102.0 million
- Spending
- $72.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 40.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 47%
- Employees
- 659
- Volunteers
- 342
- Highest pay
- $966,423, president/ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 40.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2545 of 46 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $34.6 million spent. Conservation 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 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 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, guests look nature in the eye through immersive exhibits, participatory programs facilitated by staff, and extraordinary experiences with animals behind the scenes. The aquarium also shares Shedd's mission by telling accessible, meaningful stories to the public through public relations and marketing efforts developed through the integration of conservation, learning programs, animal care and guest experience. As a trusted national leader in environmental education, Shedd advances experiential learning and action for all youth, teens and adults across the Chicagoland community and beyond. Programs and partnerships taking place at Shedd and in schools, nature, neighborhoods and online are designed to break barriers that prevent Chicagoans from accessing nature and its benefits, support the development of environmental literacy and build a conservation ethos that leads to short- and long-term actions to protect aquatic life.
- $17.9 million spent. 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 populations in aquariums and in the wild. Shedd's animal care expertise lends itself to crisis response around the world. Our animal care team frequently acts as a partner 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. Shedd's animal care team contributes to the sustainability of aquatic species through advancements in aquaculture, including populations of microscopic live foods, and cooperative management and breeding of critically endangered and threatened species.
- $3.3 million spent. 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 biodiversity while supporting blue economies, and field researchers often work side-by-side with citizen scientists to conserve wildlife and habitats for future generations. The aquarium's oceanic work includes more than four decades of research on species such as rock iguanas, queen conch, lobster, sharks, and corals. Closer to home, Shedd's Great Lakes research focuses on wildlife and habitat conservation issues where the aquarium's applied studies support local communities and regional agencies in developing access to nature and sound management plans for the Great Lakes and Chicago River. Onsite, Shedd's state-of-the-art facilities and animal care and science team serve as resources for research partners locally and globally. 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 contributes to advancing animal health and welfare for aquatic species ranging from invertebrates to marine mammals.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1932.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.