Dallas Zoo Management
Dallas Zoo Management reported $36.9 million in revenue and $39.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $89.11 went to program services, $10.89 to management and general costs and $0.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 72.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $558,914 (CEO AND PRESIDENT). 15 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 36% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $39MFor 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
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $37MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 89.1% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 10.9% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.0% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 16.0% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 72.2% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $558,914 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.43% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 15 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 0.1 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 0 of 4 | 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
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseAnimal and science - the organization cares for a wide variety of animals at the Dallas Zoo including providing nutrition services and advanced hospital care as needed. The organization supports conservation of wildlife. The Dallas Zoo attracted 951,563 visitors during the fiscal year 2024/2025
Facilities and operations - the organization manages and maintains the Dallas Zoo which consists of approximately 106 acres. The organization provides guest services and performs ongoing improvements to the zoo
Education and interpretation - the organization makes each visit an exciting adventure with opportunities to learn about interesting wildlife, engage in interactive fun, and support worldwide conservation and research to protect and preserve endangered species
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO AND PRESIDENT Director/trustee, officer, 25.00 hrs/week | $517,018 | $0 | $41,896 | $558,914 |
| EVP, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFIC Director/trustee, officer, 25.00 hrs/week | $282,820 | $0 | $21,568 | $304,388 |
| EVP, CHIEF OPERATING OFFIC Director/trustee, officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $268,724 | $0 | $12,366 | $281,090 |
| EVP, CHIEF MISSION OFFICER Director/trustee, officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $260,681 | $0 | $17,940 | $278,621 |
| VP, MARKETING & COMMUNICAT Key employee, 15.00 hrs/week | $191,136 | $0 | $18,235 | $209,371 |
| ASSOC. VP, ANIMAL HEALTH & Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $159,988 | $0 | $23,272 | $183,260 |
| ASSOC. VP, ANIMAL CARE & W Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $161,122 | $0 | $18,362 | $179,484 |
| ASSOC. VP, GUEST EXPERIENC Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $158,778 | $0 | $12,868 | $171,646 |
15 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Dallas Zoo Management (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.2M (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
FY2025 · 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–1b4 · 0 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 4No
- 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 5544
- Volunteers Part I, line 64,789
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| TACTICAL SYSTEMS NETWORK LLC Security services | $1,323,320 |
| SSA GROUP Event catering services | $534,440 |
| GUIDEIT It services | $524,531 |
| SOUTHERN BOTANICAL Landscaping services | $419,714 |
| BUCKALOO CONSTRUCTION Construction services | $412,451 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 16 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
12 private foundations reported grants to Dallas Zoo Management totaling $223K 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 Dallas Zoo Management's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Dallas Zoo Management, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Dallas Zoo Management spent in FY2025, $89.11 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- American Humane AssociationWashington, DC · revenue $37M · programs 74.6% · FY2025
- The Florida AquariumTampa, FL · revenue $37M · programs 78.6% · FY2025
- Dove Lewis Emergency Animal HospitalPortland, OR · revenue $36M · programs 89.6% · FY2025
- African Wildlife FoundationWashington, DC · revenue $37M · programs 83.1% · FY2025
- Humane World for Animals InternationalWashington, DC · revenue $35M · programs 74.3% · 2024
Questions people ask
How much of Dallas Zoo Management's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Dallas Zoo Management reported that 89.1% of its $39.0 million in expenses went to program services, 10.9% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Dallas Zoo Management pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Dallas Zoo Management reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $558,914, for the role of CEO AND PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Dallas Zoo Management get its money?
Of $36.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 16.0% came from contributions and grants and 72.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Dallas Zoo Management a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 27-0777846 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), 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
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, object 202612239349300106 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202502239349301515 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202432269349300948 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202312269349301201 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202212239349301021 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202122259349300017 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 27-0777846: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.