Form 990 for tax year 2023

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

• 1c · Fundraising events

  $2,193,696

• 1e · Government grants (contributions)

  $29,200,473

• 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

  $22,708,134

• 1g · Noncash contributions included above

  $1,060,751

• 2a · Program service revenue: General Admissions

  total $7,830,284 · related or exempt $7,830,284

• 2b · Program service revenue: Memberships

  total $15,580,225 · related or exempt $15,580,225

• 2c · Program service revenue: Visitor Services

  total $6,592,311 · related or exempt $1,952,064 · excluded $4,640,247

• 2d · Program service revenue: Admissions-Internal Attractions

  total $1,775,759 · related or exempt $1,775,759

• 2e · Program service revenue: Visitor Parking

  total $3,019,810 · excluded $3,019,810

• 2f · All other program service revenue

  total $1,217,786 · related or exempt $1,015,111 · unrelated business $157,080 · excluded $45,595

• 3 · Investment income

  total $4,053,154 · excluded $4,053,154

• 6a · Gross rents

  real property $105,845

• 6c · Rental income or loss

  real property $105,845

• 6d · Net rental income or loss

  total $105,845 · excluded $105,845

• 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

  securities $13,269,225

• 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

  securities $12,829,735

• 7c · Gain or loss

  securities $439,490

• 7d · Net gain or loss

  total $439,490 · excluded $439,490

• 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

  $271,207

• 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

  $2,193,696

• 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

  $754,872

• 8c · Net income from fundraising events

  total -$483,665 · excluded -$483,665

• 9a · Gaming: gross income

  $28,814

• 9b · Gaming: direct expenses

  $2,045

• 9c · Net income from gaming

  total $26,769 · excluded $26,769

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

• 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

  total $54,230 · program services $54,230

• 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

  total $25,000 · program services $25,000

• 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

  total $118,051 · program services $118,051

• 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

  total $0

• 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

  total $2,726,233 · program services $691,936 · management and general $1,291,195 · fundraising $743,102

• 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

  total $0

• 7 · Other salaries and wages

  total $27,957,389 · program services $23,445,701 · management and general $3,072,456 · fundraising $1,439,232

• 8 · Pension plan contributions

  total $614,708 · program services $515,508 · management and general $67,555 · fundraising $31,645

• 9 · Other employee benefits

  total $5,667,913 · program services $4,496,240 · management and general $852,902 · fundraising $318,771

• 10 · Payroll taxes

  total $2,338,980 · program services $1,961,522 · management and general $257,048 · fundraising $120,410

• 11a · Fees: management

  total $0

• 11b · Fees: legal

  total $829,089 · management and general $829,089

• 11c · Fees: accounting

  total $100,625 · management and general $100,625

• 11d · Fees: lobbying

  total $54,189 · management and general $54,189

• 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

  total $523,550 · fundraising $523,550

• 11f · Fees: investment management

  total $133,481 · management and general $133,481

• 11g · Fees: other

  total $6,865,981 · program services $6,228,968 · management and general $515,949 · fundraising $121,064

• 12 · Advertising and promotion

  total $1,779,187 · management and general $1,779,187

• 13 · Office expenses

  total $5,901,042 · program services $5,445,947 · management and general $264,286 · fundraising $190,809

• 14 · Information technology

  total $1,733,136 · program services $285,217 · management and general $1,388,854 · fundraising $59,065

• 15 · Royalties

  total $21,111 · program services $21,111

• 16 · Occupancy

  total $2,537,375 · program services $2,525,172 · management and general $10,932 · fundraising $1,271

• 17 · Travel

  total $564,117 · program services $491,187 · management and general $33,593 · fundraising $39,337

• 18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

  total $0

• 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

  total $207,310 · program services $100,154 · management and general $46,355 · fundraising $60,801

• 20 · Interest

  total $862,658 · program services $862,658

• 21 · Payments to affiliates

  total $0

• 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  total $8,607,095 · program services $8,217,548 · management and general $343,549 · fundraising $45,998

• 23 · Insurance

  total $1,336,826 · program services $1,203,678 · management and general $85,423 · fundraising $47,725

• 24a · Other expenses: Animal food and transport

  total $1,439,540 · program services $1,439,540

• 24b · Other expenses: Revenue Bond maintenance fees

  total $251,782 · program services $251,782

• 24c · Other expenses: Loss on retirement of fixed assets

  total $1,867,239 · program services $1,867,239

• 24d · Other expenses: UBIT taxes

  total $9,613 · program services $9,613

• 24e · All other expenses

  total $367,896 · program services $277,629 · management and general $68,989 · fundraising $21,278

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

• 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

  beginning of year $558,231 · end of year $1,147,340

• 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

  beginning of year $50,264,892 · end of year $55,785,703

• 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

  beginning of year $6,263,963 · end of year $11,953,087

• 4 · Accounts receivable

  beginning of year $3,395,610 · end of year $669,292

• 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

  beginning of year $1,821,069 · end of year $2,035,563

• 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

  $323,727,738

• 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

  $187,572,286

• 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

  beginning of year $111,103,612 · end of year $136,155,452

• 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

  beginning of year $52,255,000 · end of year $57,153,000

• 15 · Other assets

  beginning of year $367,623 · end of year $340,563

• 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

  beginning of year $6,247,274 · end of year $13,736,013

• 19 · Deferred revenue

  beginning of year $14,671,837 · end of year $16,435,494

• 20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities

  beginning of year $28,920,000 · end of year $28,920,000

• 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

  end of year $1,571,313

• 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

  end of year $7,854,679

• 25 · Other liabilities

  beginning of year $2,276,889 · end of year $2,119,501

• 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

  beginning of year $150,410,000 · end of year $150,175,000

• 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

  beginning of year $23,504,000 · end of year $44,428,000

The filer's explanations (Part III)

Part I Line Line 1a

As provided for in the executive employment agreement approved by the Board of Trustees, the President received a housing allowance and a gross up payment equivalent to the tax obligation for the value of the Society provided life insurance. Both were treated as taxable compensation to the President.

Part I Line Line 1a

The Society paid for Chicago Club and Economic Club of Chicago dues for the President. These organizations were only used for business purposes and were not treated as taxable compensation.

Part I Line Line 4b

During fiscal year 2024, the Society established a non qualified 457f Plan for select management employees. As provided for in the executive employment agreement and as approved by the Board of Trustees, two deferred contributions were made to the Plan during fiscal year 2024 on behalf of the President totaling 110,000.

Part I Line Line 7

As indicated in Schedule J part II, certain individuals received bonuses based on performance and the financial results of the organization. The Presidents total bonus amount represents two separate bonuses received in fiscal year 2024 for performance in the two prior fiscal years. All full-time non union employees received a lump sum bonus based on strong recent financial results. All bonuses were approved by the Board of Trustees.