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Nonprofit · EIN 58-1837154

TENNESSEE AQUARIUM

Tax-exempt · CHATTANOOGA, TN 37402

Financials

$31.5M$28.4M2023$34.2M$30.7M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of TENNESSEE AQUARIUM by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2024990$34,216,548$30,741,934$3,474,614$92,462,278$18,973,787$73,488,491
December 31, 2023990$31,491,311$28,353,776$3,137,535$85,474,519$16,653,831$68,820,688
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$5,884,000
of which government grants
$589,560
Membership dues
$2,653,273
Program service revenue
$25,125,061
Investment income
$1,724,338
Net rental income
$394,894
Net gain from sales of assets
$144,682
Net income from fundraising events
$84,867
Net income from sales of inventory
-$12,870
Other revenue
$1,483,149

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$1,439,241
Other salaries and wages
$10,506,482
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$14,765,305
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$3,036
Accounting fees
$24,619
Occupancy
$2,447,003
Travel
$178,388
Depreciation
$4,037,175
Program services (functional)
$21,795,648
Management and general (functional)
$8,130,056
Fundraising (functional)
$816,230

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$86,084,268
Total assets, end of year
$92,462,278
Total liabilities, end of year
$18,973,787
Net assets, end of year
$73,488,491
Land, buildings and equipment
$47,986,557
Publicly traded securities
$37,204,805
Net assets without donor restrictions
$70,851,798
Net assets with donor restrictions
$2,636,693
Gross unrelated business income
$214,750
Gross receipts
$40,573,072
Employees
366
Volunteers
326
Year formed
1989
State of legal domicile
TN

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
Walter K SanfordPresident, CEO
Officer
40$314,233$43,473
Gordon StalansVice President, CFO
Officer
40$262,847$38,581
Anna GeorgeVice President
Key employee
40$172,220$33,268
Julie PiperVice President
Key employee
40$183,461$16,491
Thom BensonVice President
Key employee
40$160,698$29,670
Melanie KingVice President
Key employee
40$166,928$17,371
Thom DemasVice President
Highest-paid employee
40$148,115$21,243
Micheal FloydVice President
Highest-paid employee
40$141,757$25,564
Pete BurmanDirector
Highest-paid employee
40$142,412$20,780
Rodney FullerDirector
Highest-paid employee
40$131,211$26,097
Meredith RobertsDirector
Highest-paid employee
40$111,054$24,473
Val ArmstrongTrustee, Chair
Trustee or director, Officer
8$0$0
Scott PierceTrustee, Vice Chair
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
Catherine ColbyTrustee, Secretary
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
Patrick StoweTrustee, Treasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
8 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Cameron DoodyTrustee
Trustee or director
2$0
Wade HintonTrustee
Trustee or director
2$0
Candy JohnsonTrustee
Trustee or director
2$0
Daphne KirkseyTrustee
Trustee or director
2$0
Harrison LewisTrustee
Trustee or director
2$0
Stacy LightfootTrustee
Trustee or director
2$0
Matthew RasmussenTrustee
Trustee or director
2$0
Shalin TejaniTrustee
Trustee or director
2$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 22 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
Walter K SanfordPresident, CEO
Officer
40$303,434$10,016
Gordon StalansVice President
Key employee
40$237,064$21,792
Anna GeorgeVice President
Key employee
40$158,987$12,625
Julie PiperVice President
Key employee
40$159,686$453
Thom BensonVice President
Key employee
40$144,766$10,016
Melanie KingVice President
Highest-paid employee
40$142,758$4,901
Thom DemasVice President
Highest-paid employee
40$133,701$4,901
Peter BurmanDirector
Highest-paid employee
40$130,841$4,877
Rodney FullerDirector
Highest-paid employee
40$122,297$10,016
Micheal FloydVice President
Highest-paid employee
40$113,834$12,625
Val ArmstrongChair
Trustee or director, Officer
8$0$0
Catherine ColbySecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
Cameron DoodyTrustee
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Wade HintonTrustee
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Candy C JohnsonTrustee
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Harrison LewisTrustee
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Stacy LightfootTrustee
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Scott PierceVice Chair/Chair Elect
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
Matthew RasmussenTrustee
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Patrick StoweTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
Daphne KirkseyTrustee
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Shalin TejaniTrustee
Trustee or director
2$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
1 BROAD ST, CHATTANOOGA, TN 37402-1024
In care of
% GORFON STALANS
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
Gordon A Stalans, One Broad Street PO Box 11048, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Signed the 990
Gordon A Stalans, CFO
Phone
(423) 785-2054

Mission

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

990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Program accomplishments

  • The Tennessee Aquarium, a highly visited attraction, consistently rates very high in guest satisfaction. After more than 30 years, the Aquarium continues to be a major catalyst for economic development, providing strong fiscal and economic impacts on the region. In 2024, the Aquarium welcomed nearly 752,000 visitors. Guests are immersed in the fascinating stories of life above and below the water within our River Journey and Ocean Journey buildings. Habitats replicating global ecosystems are home to more than 10,000 animals representing 550 species. Many animals are part of species survival plans coordinated by zoos and aquariums across the country. The Aquarium has been continuously accredited by The Association of Zoos and Aquariums for over 30 years, affirming our commitment to the highest standards of animal care. This accreditation also reflects our dedication to the best practices in other facets of our profession. The Aquarium also operates an IMAX 3D theater showing educational and inspiring films daily.
    Expenses $20,042,399
  • The rivers of the southeastern United States harbor some of the highest freshwater diversity on the planet. The Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute furthers the mission of the Tennessee Aquarium by conducting scientific studies, restoring and protecting our regions natural ecosystems, and educating the public to take conservation action. Scientific research is performed in a LEED Gold-certified freshwater science center on the banks of the Tennessee River. There, our scientists identify which southeastern waters have the greatest biodiversity. This is vital for conservation planning in the Southeast because it can be used to identify hotspots of diversity that need protection. One signature program is the propagation and reintroduction of Lake Sturgeon to the Tennessee and Cumberland river watersheds. 2025 will mark 25 years of these efforts, and the Tennessee Aquarium and its partners will have released more than 430,000 Lake
    Expenses $787,882
  • The Tennessee Aquarium is a leader in environmental and conservation education and has received overwhelming acclaim for its education programs. Frequently honored for its conservation education and research work, the Aquarium has also received awards for its customer service and guest experience, including Conservation Education of the Year from the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, Office of the Governor Environmental Stewardship award, and the North American Conservation award. Aquarium educators have connected more than 2.5 million students with the natural world through the Aquariums dynamic living collection. School groups can select from several activities, including self-guided tours of the Aquarium, standards-based classroom programs, and educational IMAX films. The Aquarium offers complimentary admission and bus transportation for economically disadvantaged students in Title 1 schools.
    Expenses $965,367

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026Not on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
58-1837154
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1989
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Animal-related (D500)
Assets (IRS master file)
$92,462,278
Income (IRS master file)
$40,573,072

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2024$34,216,548$30,741,934$92,462,278XML
990-TDecember 2024–––IRS
990December 2023$31,491,311$28,353,776$85,474,519XML
990-TDecember 2023–––IRS
990December 2022$28,377,535$25,640,537$81,816,889IRS
990-TDecember 2022–––IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990-TDecember 2020–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 58-1837154).

Questions about TENNESSEE AQUARIUM

What is the EIN of TENNESSEE AQUARIUM?
The employer identification number (EIN) of TENNESSEE AQUARIUM is 58-1837154.
Is TENNESSEE AQUARIUM tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1989.
Are donations to TENNESSEE AQUARIUM tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does TENNESSEE AQUARIUM file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of TENNESSEE AQUARIUM due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did TENNESSEE AQUARIUM last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
Who is the principal officer of TENNESSEE AQUARIUM?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names Gordon A Stalans.
Who are the officers and directors of TENNESSEE AQUARIUM?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 23 people; 11 received compensation from the organization, the highest $314,233 (Walter K Sanford, President, CEO).
How much revenue does TENNESSEE AQUARIUM have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $34,216,548, expenses of $30,741,934 and total assets of $92,462,278 at year end.

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