Shedd Aquarium

What it reported doing in 2024

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.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 65.3%; rating input score 65
• Program expense ratio: 76.7%; rating input score 77
• Fundraising efficiency: $6.84 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 90%; rating input score 90; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 1 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 12
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Limited
  • Conducts field audits: Limited
  • May suspend future funding: Limited
  • Requires financial reports: Limited
  • Conducts site visits: Limited
  • Requires grant agreements: Limited
  • May require repayment: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 95.8%; rating input score 96; 29th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 97.8%; rating input score 98; 54th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 28.6%; rating input score 92; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 10.72; rating input score 92; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.12; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 6.3%; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 1.6% per year; rating input score 100; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 4.1% per year; rating input score 100; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 5.8% per year; rating input score 100; 42nd percentile among comparable filings