Zoological Society of Buffalo
Zoological Society of Buffalo reported $12.7 million in revenue and $13.7 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $77.37 went to program services, $15.15 to management and general costs and $7.48 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 52.3% of the total. Government grants made up 33.2%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $253,221 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 17% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $14MFor context, the median across 245 covered animal-related charities: $83.96 programs, $9.42 management, $6.62 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $13MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.4% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 15.2% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.5% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.17 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 47.4% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 33.2% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 52.3% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $253,221 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.85% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 5 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 27.7 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 28 of 28 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseAnimal care and horticulture maintenance and experience: as an aza (association of zoos and aquariums) accredited zoo, we strive to provide our animals with the best possible habitats, nutrition, enrichment and veterinary care to ensure conservation of animal species as well as the maintenance and expansion of horticulture throughout the zoo. The goal of zoos is not strictly to provide recreation but to provide an interesting educational experience to increase the awareness of conservation leading to a connection to animals and nature not otherwise possible for most people
Highest reported compensation
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $212,825 | $0 | $40,396 | $253,221 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $142,638 | $0 | $19,547 | $162,185 |
| CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $136,105 | $0 | $23,750 | $159,855 |
| VETERINARIAN Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $113,034 | $0 | $33,152 | $146,186 |
| DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES AND CONSTRUCTION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $106,770 | $0 | $16,617 | $123,387 |
5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Zoological Society of Buffalo (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $415K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b28 · 28 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5203
- Volunteers Part I, line 6392
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| PRIZM DOCUMENT & TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS Outsourced it services | $182,086 |
| STUNT DOG PRODUCTIONS Dog show | $137,950 |
| ULTIMATE SYMBOL Consulting services | $109,171 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
13 private foundations reported grants to Zoological Society of Buffalo totaling $50,194 on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Zoological Society of Buffalo's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Zoological Society of Buffalo, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Zoological Society of Buffalo spent in 2025, $77.37 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Vancouver Humane Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsVancouver, WA · revenue $13M · programs 74.4% · 2024
- The Humane Society of Pomona ValleyPomona, CA · revenue $13M · programs 77.6% · FY2025
- Seward Association for the Advancement of Marine ScienceSeward, AK · revenue $13M · programs 78.7% · FY2025
- Humane Society of Huron ValleyAnn Arbor, MI · revenue $13M · programs 75.9% · 2024
- Houston Humane SocietyHouston, TX · revenue $12M · programs 92.8% · 2024
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in New York
Questions people ask
How much of Zoological Society of Buffalo's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Zoological Society of Buffalo reported that 77.4% of its $13.7 million in expenses went to program services, 15.2% to management and general and 7.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Zoological Society of Buffalo pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Zoological Society of Buffalo reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $253,221, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Zoological Society of Buffalo get its money?
Of $12.7 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 47.4% came from contributions and grants (including 33.2% from government grants) and 52.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Zoological Society of Buffalo a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 16-0911204 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202622229349300527 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202501969349301300 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202432059349300113 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202312639349300601 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202222599349300907 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202102039349301045 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202001959349302475 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 16-0911204: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.