Shedd Aquarium Society
The Shedd Aquarium Society Operates a public aquarium to encourage the connection between animals and guests through exhibits and education programs with the goal of promoting aquatic conservation.
GiveRadar doesn't take a cut. Donate directly on their site.
Make your donationAbout Shedd Aquarium Society
Look nature in the eye and discover the wonder of the aquatic animal world at Shedd Aquarium.
Verified certifications
Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.
Mission
The Shedd Aquarium Society Operates a public aquarium to encourage the connection between animals and guests through exhibits and education programs with the goal of promoting aquatic conservation.
Focus areas & reach
· What they work on and whereHow it stacks up against peers
· vs. 8 similar animal welfare in United StatesConcerns
· None foundWhere every $1 goes
· FY2024 · IRS 990 (FY2024)GiveRadar Analysis
Original analysis from GiveRadar's dataset of comparable organizations
Based on the records currently verified by GiveRadar, Shedd Aquarium Society has a complete profile, cross-referenced across 4 independent sources including the IRS.
- Established in 1924, it is among the oldest animal welfare charities in the United States GiveRadar tracks. View this cohort
- By reported annual revenue, it is larger than 99% of the 16,157 animal welfare charities in the United States with financial records on GiveRadar. See the filings
- It is one of the better-documented animal welfare charities in the United States GiveRadar currently tracks, because GiveRadar has verified its financial disclosures and its governance. Most of those have little verified data on record yet. View this cohort
- government registration
- financial records (5 filed years)
- disclosed leadership
- a website
- a donation page
- third-party accreditation
- a contact email
- an owner-submitted profile claim
Analysis based on GiveRadar's benchmark dataset of 2026-07-03. It describes what GiveRadar has verified, not a judgment of the organization itself.
Common questions
· Auto-generated from filings + methodologyShedd Aquarium Society is a registered animal welfare nonprofit based in Chicago, IL, United States. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It was founded in 1924 and has been operating for 102 years. Its EIN is 362167918. According to GiveRadar's records, it holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 77/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports $102M in annual revenue. 269 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. No red flags have been detected.
Shedd Aquarium Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 362167918. This is the organization's IRS tax identification number; you can use it to verify tax-exempt status and to look up its Form 990 filings with the IRS.
Shedd Aquarium Society has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 77/100. This score combines five components: Registration (20 pts), Financial Transparency (30 pts), Governance (20 pts), Contact Availability (10 pts), and Data Recency (20 pts), with negative adjustments for any red flags. A score of 77 ('Strong transparency') reflects well-documented governance, recent financials, named leadership, and working contact details. The charity allocates 77% of expenses to programs, which contributes positively to its score. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for animal welfare charities in United States is 90/100.
Shedd Aquarium Society is located in Chicago, IL, United States. The organization was established in 1924 and has been active for 102 years.
Based on official tax filings, Shedd Aquarium Society has $102M in annual revenue. It allocates 77% of expenses to programs and services. This is below the average of 85% for animal welfare charities in United States. Its revenue is significantly above the peer average of $1M. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.
Shedd Aquarium Society is classified as an Animal Welfare organization, registered in United States. It operates as a Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)). By size, it is categorized as a major organization. It has $102M in annual revenue. The organization has 269 disclosed officers and directors.
No red flags have been detected for Shedd Aquarium Society. GiveRadar automatically screens charities for concerning patterns including high executive compensation, low program spending, and missing financial filings. Based on available official data, no issues have been identified.
According to GiveRadar's records, Shedd Aquarium Society holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It reports that 77% of expenses go to programs (the peer average is 85%). You can donate directly through their official donation page linked on their GiveRadar profile. GiveRadar provides data for research and does not endorse any organization. A GiveRadar Integrity Assessment reflects how much public data is available, not whether an organization is safe to donate to, so it is always smart to do your own research before giving.
Look nature in the eye and discover the wonder of the aquatic animal world at Shedd Aquarium. Shedd Aquarium Society is classified as an animal welfare organization registered in United States. The organization was founded in 1924.
Among animal welfare charities registered in United States: It allocates 77% of expenses to programs, below the peer average of 85%. Its annual revenue of $102M is well above the peer average of $1M.
Yes, donations to Shedd Aquarium Society are generally tax-deductible in the United States. Its EIN is 362167918, which you can use for tax filing purposes. Donors can typically deduct contributions on their federal income tax return if they itemize deductions. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.
Filing history
5 years on file from IRS 990 (FY2024): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.
See 5 years of revenue, expense breakdowns, and balance sheet.
Sign up to viewTaxes
Tax-deductibility for donors
Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United States under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.
SHEDD AQUARIUM SOCIETY is registered in United States. Donations from the Netherlands to charities outside the EU/EEA are generally not tax-deductible for Dutch donors unless the charity is listed on the Dutch ANBI register with foreign-recognized status.
Always confirm tax treatment with the charity directly or your tax advisor before donating.
Staff & volunteers
From filings and published profiles
Leadership
From FY2024 filing
Officers & trustees (25)
Source: Public filings
25 officers and trustees on file - free with a GiveRadar account.
Latest news
From global news sources
10 articles found
From news sources and the organization. Shown for transparency; news never affects the integrity score.
Reimagined Immersion Theater by SimEx-Iwerks opens at Shedd Aquarium - InPark Magazine
Shedd Aquarium and SimEx-Iwerks Open New 4D Immersion Theater in Chicago - interpark.co.uk
New Immersion Theater at Shedd Aquarium Chicago - News - EuroAmusement Professional - EuroAmusement Professional
SimEx-Iwerks | and Shedd Aquarium launch advanced 4D theatre - Blooloop
Shedd Aquarium opens first-of-its-kind 4D theater - Audacy
Shedd aquarium launches new immersive 4D film experience - Secret Chicago
'Remarkably Bright Creatures' heads to the big screen with Shedd Aquarium tie-in - FOX 32 Chicago
Editorial: Shedd Aquarium is up there with the Cubs when it comes to visitors - Chicago Tribune
Pea-sized wonder: Shedd Aquarium becomes first known aquarium to raise warty frogfish baby - EurekAlert!
Tiny Warty Frogfish Was Surprise Birth at Shedd, Is First-Ever Raised in Aquarium - WTTW
Activity timeline
Filings and press mentions, merged
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience.
Have you donated or volunteered here?
Share your experience - it takes 30 seconds. Verified reviews help other donors decide.
Sign up to write a reviewCause areas in United States
How many charities work in each area, with this charity's area highlighted.
Most common causes in United States
Causes charities work on most, with this charity's causes ticked.
Sources and verification
- Registration and legal identity
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search
- Financial filings
- IRS Form 990 filings - Fiscal year 2024 most recent on file.
- Officers and trustees
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search - 269 disclosed in the public registry.
- News and media coverage
- GDELT Project + Google News
- Supplementary verification
- Charity Navigator
Data freshness
What we know and don't know
Exactly which public data we hold on this charity. Our score reflects transparency, not impact.
-
Financial data · FY2024 on record
-
Named leadership · 269 officers on file
-
Executive pay · Disclosed
-
Government registration · Registered with an official registry
-
Mission statement · Published
-
Official website · On record
-
Headquarters address · On file
-
Direct contact · Email or phone published
-
Tax-deductibility · Verified
-
Founding date · 1924
-
Programs & activitiesNo named programs listed by the charity
Methodology
GiveRadar builds each profile primarily from official government charity registries, supplemented where available by third-party nonprofit databases and news archives, and combines it into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. The exact sources for this charity are listed above. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.
Read full methodologyAre you the owner or a board member?
If you represent this organization and want to correct or update its data, you can claim this listing to edit details yourself, or email [email protected] with the correct information. We review every request and respond within 30 days.
Report an issue
Tell us what's wrong with this charity's page. We review every report and typically reply within 2 business days.
Report sent
Thanks for flagging this. Our team will review it.
Press Esc to close
Save Shedd Aquarium Society?
Create a free GiveRadar account to save charities and track them in your dashboard.
Quick facts about Shedd Aquarium Society
- What is Shedd Aquarium Society?
- Shedd Aquarium Society is a animal welfare publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)) based in Chicago, United States. Look nature in the eye and discover the wonder of the aquatic animal world at Shedd Aquarium.
- When was Shedd Aquarium Society founded?
- Shedd Aquarium Society was founded in 1924.
- Who leads Shedd Aquarium Society?
- Gary Gordon serves as Chief Financial & Admin Officer.
- Where is Shedd Aquarium Society located?
- Headquartered in Chicago, IL, United States.
- What is Shedd Aquarium Society's annual budget?
- Annual revenue for fiscal year 2024 is approximately $100M-$1B. 77% of expenses go to program services.
- Is Shedd Aquarium Society trustworthy?
- Shedd Aquarium Society has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 77 out of 100 (Strong transparency). The score reflects public-data transparency: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and how recently data was refreshed. It does not measure program impact.
- What is Shedd Aquarium Society's registration number?
- IRS EIN: 362167918.
- What is Shedd Aquarium Society's website?
- http://www.sheddaquarium.org