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.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$780.1M
+10.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$325K
+28.9% YoY
Grant Count
3
-25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$108K
+71.8% YoY
About Shedd Aquarium Society
Based on IRS filings
Shedd Aquarium Society is a nonprofit organization focused on Environment & Animals, based in CHICAGO, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $780.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $325K. Net investment income was $21.9M.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $780,057,975 | $703,914,325 | $628,183,114 |
| Revenue | $101,974,802 | $92,974,657 | $94,920,299 |
| Expenses | $72,794,544 | $66,994,472 | $57,622,512 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $21,888,406 | $15,981,297 | $10,086,197 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
9 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Chicago Park District ($211,550), Insight by Anderson Llc Dba the Coral Reef Aquarium Fisheries Campaign ($92,360), Alaska Sealife ($21,108).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Sealife Seward, AK | Program Support | $21,108 |
| CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT Chicago, IL | Program Support | $211,550 |
| INSIGHT BY ANDERSON LLC DBA THE CORAL REEF AQUARIUM FISHERIES CAMPAIGN GROTON, CT | Program Support | $92,360 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRIDGET COUGHLIN PHD | President/CEO | 45 | $874,176 |
| David J Koo | Chairman of Board | 1 | — |
| Alex Singla | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Anders Gustafsson | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Andrew Nocella | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Anna M Livingston | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Brent Gledhill | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Brian A Kenney | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Cara Pan | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Charles Smith | Trustee | 1 | — |
| David Foulkes | Trustee | 1 | — |
| David L Epstein | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Dominic Curcio | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Elizabeth Hartigan Connelly | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Ellen L O'Connor | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Ginevra Reed Ralph | Trustee | 1 | — |
| H John Gilbertson Jr | Trustee - Part-Year | 1 | — |
| Jane L Warner | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Jeffrey Wright | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Jerry Krulewitch | Trustee | 1 | — |
| John D Fumagalli | Trustee | 1 | — |
| John Hesselmann | Trustee | 1 | — |
| John Holmes | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Joseph S Braik | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Joyce St Clair | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Katie Lawler | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Kenneth Kuhrt | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Kimberly Simios | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Mark Stainton | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Mary L Burke | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Mary S Smith | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Nancy S Searle | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Neil Book | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Rahul Goyal | Trustee - Part-Year | 1 | — |
| Rev Michael Nabors DMin | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Richard E Erwin | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Richard J Tobin | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Robert H Jordan PhD | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Robert Lyons | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Sarah N Garvey | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Shannel Clubb | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Steve Weller | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Suzanne Yoon | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Thomas N King | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Tracie Haas | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Tracy Souder | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Tyrone C Fahner | Trustee - Part-Year | 1 | — |
| William J Chase | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Catherine J Casey | VP & General Counsel | 45 | $224,369 |
| GARY GORDON | Chief Financial & Admin Officer | 45 | $383,749 |
| Christine White | SVP, External Affairs & Marketing | 45 | $150,142 |
| Loraine Smedley | Chief Development Officer | 45 | $289,536 |
| Meghan Curran | Chief Marketing and Experience Officer | 45 | $375,846 |
| Nancy Anschel | SVP, Human Resources | 45 | $260,715 |
| Peggy E Sloan | Chief Animal Conservation Officer | 45 | $260,968 |
| Robert Wengel | SVP, Facilities and Security | 45 | $256,013 |
| CHARLES Knapp | VP, Conservation Research | 45 | $186,094 |
| Danielle M DuMerer | VP, Technology | 45 | $222,976 |
| Lisa Junkin Lopez | VP, Learning and Community | 45 | $180,037 |
| Patricia Fraser | VP, Guest Relations | 45 | $185,504 |
| Sarah Hezel | VP, Design and Exhibits | 45 | $215,705 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shedd Aquarium Society?
Shedd Aquarium Society is a nonprofit organization focused on Environment & Animals, based in CHICAGO, IL. It holds $780.1M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Shedd Aquarium Society?
As of 2024, Shedd Aquarium Society holds $780.1M in total assets with $102.0M in annual revenue. It awarded 3 grants totaling $325K in 2024.
Where does Shedd Aquarium Society operate?
Shedd Aquarium Society has awarded grants in Alaska, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Texas.
What size grants does Shedd Aquarium Society award?
In 2024, Shedd Aquarium Society awarded 3 grants totaling $325K — an average of about $108K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Shedd Aquarium Society's EIN?
Shedd Aquarium Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-2167918. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Shedd Aquarium Society's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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