Zoological Society of Pittsburgh
Also known as Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
Zoological Society of Pittsburgh reported $30.5 million in revenue and $29.7 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $82.97 went to program services, $12.16 to management and general costs and $4.87 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 49.1% of the total. Government grants made up 23.2%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $407,411 (PRESIDENT/CEO). 7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 40% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $30MFor 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 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $30MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.0% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.2% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 4.9% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 49.1% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 23.2% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 48.8% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $407,411 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.37% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 7 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 30.4 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 32 of 32 | 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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseEDUCATION Annually, hundreds of thousands of learners of all ages enjoy the Zoo's popular education programs, classes, and teacher workshops. These programs allow participants to closely identify with wildlife, plants, and natural habitats, providing a firm understanding of the interconnectedness of all living things. Zoo programs impact members of the community who visit the Zoo, and also who cannot make it to the park itself. Zoomobiles made numerous appearances at schools, elder facilities, and communities across the county and state. Partnering with local sponsors has allowed the Zoo to…
Conservation & Research The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium has a history of championing wildlife and conservation in Western Pennsylvania and across the globe. The mission of the organization orients our conservation work towards long term impact by working with our communities. Similarly, the vision for the organization is to provide effective conservation leadership by bringing collaborators together. In both its mission and vision, the Zoo commits itself to transformative and exemplary conservation programs. There's more going on at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium than meets the eye, especially…
RECREATION Open throughout the year with the exceptions of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day, the Zoo hosts numerous events for community and regional groups. With fully ADA-accessible facilities, the provision of open space for public recreation, several historically preserved public landmarks, and 8,000 animals representing more than 900 species along with foliage from every corner of the earth, the Zoo offers something special for every unique interest of each of the hundreds of thousands of visitors from all backgrounds who enjoy trips to the Zoo annually. To increase…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · 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, 40.0 hrs/week | $363,296 | $0 | $44,115 | $407,411 |
| CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $226,462 | $0 | $38,983 | $265,445 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $190,628 | $0 | $37,403 | $228,031 |
| VP OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $178,734 | $0 | $36,391 | $215,125 |
| VP OF LIVING CONDITIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $144,714 | $0 | $35,182 | $179,896 |
| ICC DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $111,782 | $0 | $25,863 | $137,645 |
| VP OF INTERNAL RELATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $106,660 | $0 | $24,686 | $131,346 |
7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Zoological Society of Pittsburgh (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $901K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · 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–1b32 · 32 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 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5461
- Volunteers Part I, line 6503
Private foundation grants it received
10 private foundations reported grants to Zoological Society of Pittsburgh totaling $1.1M 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 Pittsburgh'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 Pittsburgh, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Zoological Society of Pittsburgh spent in 2024, $82.97 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- WvcLas Vegas, NV · revenue $30M · programs 89.2% · 2025
- Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research Education and ConservationWashington, DC · revenue $31M · programs 80.0% · 2024
- Florida Veterinary Medicine Faculty AssociationGainesville, FL · revenue $30M · programs 100.0% · FY2025
- Memphis Zoological SocietyMemphis, TN · revenue $31M · programs 84.9% · FY2025
- Fresnos Chaffee Zoo CorporationFresno, CA · revenue $30M · programs 86.0% · 2024
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Pennsylvania
Questions people ask
How much of Zoological Society of Pittsburgh's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Zoological Society of Pittsburgh reported that 83.0% of its $29.7 million in expenses went to program services, 12.2% to management and general and 4.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Zoological Society of Pittsburgh pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Zoological Society of Pittsburgh reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $407,411, for the role of PRESIDENT/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Zoological Society of Pittsburgh get its money?
Of $30.5 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 49.1% came from contributions and grants (including 23.2% from government grants) and 48.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Zoological Society of Pittsburgh a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 25-1418766 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. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202512839349300411 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202443049349301139 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202323039349300122 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202232719349300703 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202133129349303293 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202012959349300321 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 25-1418766: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.