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Tennessee Aquarium

The mission of the Tennessee Aquarium is to connect people with nature and empower them to make informed decisions about water and wildlife.

Animal Welfare Chattanooga, TN EIN: 581837154 (IRS) Sign up to see website
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77
Integrity Assessment
Strong transparency
77/100 · methodology

About Tennessee Aquarium

Situated on the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga, TN, the Tennessee Aquarium is home to 10,000 animals and an IMAX theater. Plan your visit today!

Founded
Headquarters
Chattanooga, TN
Foundation type
Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2))
NTEE code
D500
IRS subsection
501(c)(c3)
Ruling date
Size
large

Verified certifications

Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.

IRS Tax-Deductible since 1989

Mission

The mission of the Tennessee Aquarium is to connect people with nature and empower them to make informed decisions about water and wildlife.

Focus areas & reach

· What they work on and where
Cause tags
SDG alignment The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the global agenda for ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity by 2030. We tag each charity to the goals its work advances.

How it stacks up against peers

· vs. 6 similar animal welfare in United States
Program spending This charity: 71%
Peer average: 83%
CEO comp as % of revenue This charity: 0.89%
Peer average: 0.48%
Integrity Assessment This charity: 77
Peer average: 90

Concerns

· None found
No red flags found
Screened for IRS revocation history, Open investigations, Governance scandals, Related-party deals, Excessive exec comp.

Where every $1 goes

· FY2024 · IRS 990 (FY2024)
$0.71
Program$0.71

GiveRadar Analysis

Original analysis from GiveRadar's dataset of comparable organizations

GiveRadar's verified records show Tennessee Aquarium with a complete profile, cross-referenced across 6 independent sources including the IRS.

  • GiveRadar holds 14 years of financial filings for this organization, the most recent for fiscal year 2024 - a deeper filing history than 99% of the 16,398 animal welfare charities in the United States with filings on record. See the filings
  • GiveRadar has cross-referenced this organization across 6 independent sources, led by the IRS - more than 97% of similar organizations. See the sources
  • GiveRadar has verified more about this organization than about 91% of the 40,468 animal welfare charities in the United States it tracks, because GiveRadar has verified its financial disclosures and its governance. Most of those have little verified data on record yet. View this cohort
GiveRadar has verified
  • government registration
  • financial records (14 filed years)
  • disclosed leadership
  • a website
  • third-party accreditation
Not yet verified by GiveRadar
  • a contact email
  • a donation page
  • 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 + methodology

Tennessee Aquarium is a registered animal welfare nonprofit based in Chattanooga, TN, United States. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It was founded in 1989 and has been operating for 37 years. Its EIN is 581837154. 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 $34M in annual revenue. 95 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. No red flags have been detected.

Tennessee Aquarium's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 581837154. 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.

Tennessee Aquarium 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. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for animal welfare charities in United States is 90/100.

Tennessee Aquarium is located in Chattanooga, TN, United States. The organization was established in 1989 and has been active for 37 years.

Based on official tax filings, Tennessee Aquarium has $34M in annual revenue. It allocates 71% of expenses to programs and services. This is below the average of 83% 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.

Tennessee Aquarium 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 large organization. It has $34M in annual revenue. The organization has 95 disclosed officers and directors.

No red flags have been detected for Tennessee Aquarium. 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, Tennessee Aquarium 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 71% of expenses go to programs (the peer average is 83%). 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.

Situated on the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga, TN, the Tennessee Aquarium is home to 10,000 animals and an IMAX theater. Plan your visit today! Tennessee Aquarium is classified as an animal welfare organization registered in United States. The organization was founded in 1989.

Among animal welfare charities registered in United States: It allocates 71% of expenses to programs, below the peer average of 83%. Its annual revenue of $34M is well above the peer average of $1M.

Yes, donations to Tennessee Aquarium are generally tax-deductible in the United States. Its EIN is 581837154, 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.

Annual revenue
$10M-$100M
71% to programs
Source: IRS 990 (FY2024) why this matters
Unlock exact figures

Filing history

10 years on file from IRS 990 (FY2024): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.

Years on record: FY2024, FY2023, FY2022, FY2021, FY2020, FY2019, FY2018, FY2017, FY2016, FY2015.
Financial details are free - with a GiveRadar account

See 5 years of revenue, expense breakdowns, and balance sheet.

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Taxes

Tax-deductibility for donors

Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United States under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.

Always confirm tax treatment with the charity directly or your tax advisor before donating.

Staff & volunteers

From filings and published profiles

Employees
366

Leadership

From FY2024 filing

GO
Gordon A S••••••
CFO

Officers & trustees (25)

Source: Public filings

See full names, roles, and stories

25 officers and trustees on file - free with a GiveRadar account.

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Latest news

From global news sources

10 articles found

From news sources and the organization. Shown for transparency; news never affects the integrity score.

Activity timeline

Filings and press mentions, merged

Spring break camp at the Tennessee Aquarium - Chattanooga Times Free Press
Mar 2026
www.timesfreepress.com
Tennessee Aquarium introduces Scuttlebutt Reef Gallery - Tullahoma News
Mar 2026
www.tullahomanews.com
Biofluorescent sharks illuminate new Tennessee Aquarium exhibit - WKRN News 2
Mar 2026
www.wkrn.com
Lemurs and tortoises at the Tennessee Aquarium - WKRN News 2
Mar 2026
www.wkrn.com
Testing strength at Tennessee Aquarium’s Scuttlebutt Reef - WKRN News 2
Mar 2026
www.wkrn.com
Go under the sea for Spring Break and beyond at the Tennessee Aquarium - WAFF
Mar 2026
www.waff.com
Tennessee Aquarium opens new "Scuttlebutt Reef" exhibit - WTVC
Mar 2026
newschannel9.com
Tennessee Aquarium to open Scuttlebutt Reef exhibit - WVLT
Mar 2026
www.wvlt.tv
Tennessee Aquarium discusses new exhibit - WVLT
Mar 2026
www.wvlt.tv
Tennessee Aquarium discusses new exhibit - KTTC | Rochester, MN
Mar 2026
www.kttc.com
Form filed
$34.2M revenue
FY2024
IRS 990
Form filed
$31.5M revenue
FY2023
IRS 990
Form filed
$28.4M revenue
FY2022
IRS 990
Form filed
$36.7M revenue
FY2021
IRS 990
Form filed
$19.8M revenue
FY2020
IRS 990
Form filed
$25.8M revenue
FY2019
IRS/ProPublica
Form filed
$28.1M revenue
FY2018
IRS/ProPublica
Form filed
$24.5M revenue
FY2017
IRS/ProPublica
Form filed
$23.9M revenue
FY2016
IRS/ProPublica
Form filed
$21.7M revenue
FY2015
IRS/ProPublica

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Cause areas in United States

How many charities work in each area, with this charity's area highlighted.

Human Services 322,679
Education 195,586
Arts & Culture 133,128
Advocacy & Civil Rights 128,026
Religion 114,636
Health 98,862
Community Development 56,086
Youth Development 53,450
Animal Welfare this charity 40,468
See all cause areas in United States

Most common causes in United States

Causes charities work on most, with this charity's causes ticked.

Community Development 235,146
Education 159,016
Religion 103,741
Arts & Culture 101,203
Human Rights 76,926
Health 65,250
Youth Development 47,775
Animal Welfare 32,425

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 - 95 disclosed in the public registry.
News and media coverage
GDELT Project + Google News
Supplementary verification
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Supplementary verification
Wikidata structured data
Supplementary verification
Charity Navigator

Data freshness

Last updated
Jun 12, 2026
Registry checked
Jun 6, 2026
Profile completeness
100%

What we know and don't know

Exactly which public data we hold on this charity. Our score reflects transparency, not impact.

On record · 10
  • Financial data · FY2024 on record
  • Named leadership · 95 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 · 1989
Not available · 1
  • Programs & activities
    No 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 methodology

Are 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.

Quick facts about Tennessee Aquarium

What is Tennessee Aquarium?
Tennessee Aquarium is a animal welfare publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)) based in Chattanooga, United States. Situated on the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga, TN, the Tennessee Aquarium is home to 10,000 animals and an IMAX theater. Plan your visit today!
When was Tennessee Aquarium founded?
Tennessee Aquarium was founded in 1989.
Who leads Tennessee Aquarium?
Gordon A Stalans serves as CFO.
Where is Tennessee Aquarium located?
Headquartered in Chattanooga, TN, United States.
What is Tennessee Aquarium's annual budget?
Annual revenue for fiscal year 2024 is approximately $10M-$100M. 71% of expenses go to program services.
Is Tennessee Aquarium trustworthy?
Tennessee Aquarium 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 Tennessee Aquarium's registration number?
IRS EIN: 581837154.
What is Tennessee Aquarium's website?
http://www.tnaqua.org