Form 990 for tax year 2025

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

• 1c · Fundraising events

  $2,333,610

• 1e · Government grants (contributions)

  $28,389,305

• 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

  $14,578,083

• 1g · Noncash contributions included above

  $2,673,001

• 2a · Program service revenue: General Admissions

  total $8,528,964 · related or exempt $8,528,964

• 2b · Program service revenue: Memberships

  total $15,640,871 · related or exempt $15,640,871

• 2c · Program service revenue: Visitor Services

  total $7,663,780 · related or exempt $2,676,833 · excluded $4,986,947

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

  total $2,562,863 · related or exempt $2,562,863

• 2e · Program service revenue: Visitor Parking

  total $3,479,296 · excluded $3,479,296

• 2f · All other program service revenue

  total $2,231,560 · related or exempt $2,060,627 · unrelated business $163,869 · excluded $7,064

• 3 · Investment income

  total $3,659,287 · excluded $3,659,287

• 6a · Gross rents

  real property $104,059

• 6c · Rental income or loss

  real property $104,059

• 6d · Net rental income or loss

  total $104,059 · excluded $104,059

• 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

  securities $19,938,158

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

  securities $17,934,436

• 7c · Gain or loss

  securities $2,003,722

• 7d · Net gain or loss

  total $2,003,722 · excluded $2,003,722

• 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

  $276,681

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

  $2,333,610

• 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

  $926,281

• 8c · Net income from fundraising events

  total -$649,600 · excluded -$649,600

• 9a · Gaming: gross income

  $26,550

• 9b · Gaming: direct expenses

  $10,850

• 9c · Net income from gaming

  total $15,700 · excluded $15,700

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

• 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

  total $134,483 · program services $134,483

• 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

  total $45,000 · program services $45,000

• 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

  total $72,191 · program services $72,191

• 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

  total $0

• 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

  total $3,289,382 · program services $1,123,687 · management and general $1,349,258 · fundraising $816,437

• 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

  total $0

• 7 · Other salaries and wages

  total $31,762,306 · program services $26,257,654 · management and general $3,685,393 · fundraising $1,819,259

• 8 · Pension plan contributions

  total $747,856 · program services $578,284 · management and general $139,917 · fundraising $29,655

• 9 · Other employee benefits

  total $6,677,728 · program services $5,713,342 · management and general $646,507 · fundraising $317,879

• 10 · Payroll taxes

  total $2,309,826 · program services $1,922,789 · management and general $285,246 · fundraising $101,791

• 11a · Fees: management

  total $0

• 11b · Fees: legal

  total $432,863 · management and general $432,863

• 11c · Fees: accounting

  total $109,678 · management and general $109,678

• 11d · Fees: lobbying

  total $56,418 · management and general $56,418

• 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

  total $20,648 · fundraising $20,648

• 11f · Fees: investment management

  total $150,840 · management and general $150,840

• 11g · Fees: other

  total $7,601,798 · program services $6,819,732 · management and general $547,495 · fundraising $234,571

• 12 · Advertising and promotion

  total $2,148,700 · management and general $2,128,700 · fundraising $20,000

• 13 · Office expenses

  total $6,868,327 · program services $6,487,179 · management and general $192,971 · fundraising $188,177

• 14 · Information technology

  total $2,797,777 · program services $605,748 · management and general $2,110,880 · fundraising $81,149

• 15 · Royalties

  total $32,896 · program services $32,896

• 16 · Occupancy

  total $2,994,706 · program services $2,975,692 · management and general $17,169 · fundraising $1,845

• 17 · Travel

  total $324,941 · program services $198,607 · management and general $84,006 · fundraising $42,328

• 18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

  total $0

• 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

  total $203,231 · program services $106,240 · management and general $58,788 · fundraising $38,203

• 20 · Interest

  total $2,570,141 · program services $2,570,141

• 21 · Payments to affiliates

  total $0

• 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  total $10,137,412 · program services $9,761,415 · management and general $327,438 · fundraising $48,559

• 23 · Insurance

  total $1,646,273 · program services $1,507,789 · management and general $97,936 · fundraising $40,548

• 24a · Other expenses: Animal Food and Transport

  total $1,670,540 · program services $1,670,540

• 24b · Other expenses: Revenue Bond Maintenance fees

  total $250,282 · program services $250,282

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

  total $5,507 · program services $5,507

• 24d · Other expenses: UBIT taxes

  total $23,387 · program services $23,387

• 24e · All other expenses

  total $417,295 · program services $318,593 · management and general $74,620 · fundraising $24,082

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

• 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

  beginning of year $1,698,025 · end of year $4,762,377

• 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

  beginning of year $49,529,970 · end of year $41,768,156

• 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

  beginning of year $30,191,907 · end of year $30,188,420

• 4 · Accounts receivable

  beginning of year $473,624 · end of year $4,813,255

• 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

  beginning of year $2,636,342 · end of year $3,340,923

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

  $386,176,853

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

  $205,009,172

• 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

  beginning of year $173,538,358 · end of year $181,167,681

• 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

  beginning of year $58,917,000 · end of year $63,409,000

• 15 · Other assets

  beginning of year $216,774 · end of year $205,188

• 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

  beginning of year $12,573,182 · end of year $8,483,615

• 19 · Deferred revenue

  beginning of year $15,379,636 · end of year $11,144,668

• 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

  beginning of year $5,848,564 · end of year $7,636,712

• 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

  beginning of year $29,235,805 · end of year $38,174,407

• 25 · Other liabilities

  beginning of year $2,056,813 · end of year $2,066,598

• 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

  beginning of year $152,986,000 · end of year $174,100,000

• 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

  beginning of year $70,202,000 · end of year $59,129,000

The filer's explanations (Part III)

Part I 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 and executive physical. All were treated as taxable compensation to the President.

Part I 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 1a

As provided for in the executive employment agreement approved by the Board of Trustees, the President is entitled to reimbursement of companion travel costs up to a capped amount as defined in the agreement. Any reimbursement of companion travel costs would be treated as taxable compensation to the President. There was no utilization of this benefit during FY26.

Part I Line 4a

As indicated in Schedule J, Part II, the prior VP Information Technology received severance in the amount of 33,792 in connection with the employees separation from employment pursuant to the terms of an organizational separation agreement. This amount was paid as a lump sum and was approved by the President/CEO.

Part I Line 4b

The Society has a non qualified 457f Plan for select management employees. As approved by the Board of Trustees, a deferred contribution was credited to the plan during fiscal year 2026 on behalf of the President totaling 60,000. The Chief Financial and Admin. Officer, the Sr. VP of Development and the Sr. VP of Guest Experience and Operations are also plan participants but no deferred contributions were credited to the plan on their behalf during fiscal year 2026. Employer contributions and related earnings and losses vest under a rolling 3 year vesting option, vesting on the first day of the 3rd plan year beginning after the plan year during which each employer contribution credit was made, or upon the participants death or long-term disability. Prior to vesting, all benefits are subject to risk of forfeiture.

Part I Line 7

As indicated in Schedule J part II, certain individuals received bonuses based on performance. These bonuses were approved by the Board of Trustees. Additionally, all full-time and seasonal employees received a lump sum bonus in March 2025 based on strong recent financial results.