Shedd Aquarium Society

Shedd Aquarium Society

Shedd Aquarium Society was established in 1924 by John G. Shedd, the former president of Marshall Field & Company. The foundation operates the aquarium that opened in 1930 and continues to manage its facilities and global initiatives from Chicago. The endowment deploys capital across public equities, fixed income, hedge funds, and real assets. Confirmed positions include an ESG Environmental Private Equity Portfolio through Adams Street Partners and a co-investment in the Builders Initiative Sustainable Fund. Geographic exposure spans the United States and international conservation sites in the Bahamas and Florida. The portfolio also holds the R/V Coral Reef II research vessel and multiple Chicago properties pledged as bond collateral. The organization employs no disclosed headcount figure for investment staff. It maintains relationships with Northern Trust as investment advisor since 1992 and Adams Street Partners since 2022. Additional offices are not recorded. May 2024: Hosted the Reflections Gala as its annual fundraising event for aquatic conservation. The foundation structure separates endowment governance from the operating aquarium through a dedicated board of trustees that includes representatives from Ariel Investments and Pritzker Private Capital. This setup channels returns directly into mission programs rather than external fund vehicles.