Columbus Zoological Park Association
Columbus Zoological Park Association reported $88.8 million in revenue and $79.4 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $82.60 went to program services, $14.92 to management and general costs and $2.48 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 49.3% of the total. Government grants made up 22.9%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $728,485 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 43 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 6% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $79MFor 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 $89MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.6% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.9% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.5% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.04 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 49.3% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 22.9% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 38.9% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $728,485 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.92% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 43 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 44.1 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 21 of 21 | 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 expenseThe columbus zoo and aquarium is a spacious 600-acre complex, which is home to more than 5,800 animals, representing over 600 species from around the world. The columbus zoo's mission,"empowering people. Saving wildlife.", is the foundation of all we do through education programs for children and providing people of all ages an opportunity to connect with the world around them. The zoo also makes a global impact, contributing funds to support positive local and global conservation
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 55.00 hrs/week | $635,495 | $0 | $92,990 | $728,485 |
| SVP OF OPERATIONS AND SUSTAINABILITY Key employee, 55.00 hrs/week | $264,632 | $0 | $63,630 | $328,262 |
| SVP OF HUMAN RESOURCES Key employee, 55.00 hrs/week | $266,081 | $0 | $54,800 | $320,881 |
| SVP OF FINANCE Officer, 55.00 hrs/week | $263,593 | $0 | $54,776 | $318,369 |
| SVP OF ANIMAL CARE AND CONSERVATION Key employee, 55.00 hrs/week | $239,411 | $0 | $43,060 | $282,471 |
| CONTROLLER/DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Highest compensated employee, 55.00 hrs/week | $222,096 | $0 | $58,054 | $280,150 |
| VP OF ANIMAL HEALTH Highest compensated employee, 55.00 hrs/week | $226,568 | $0 | $49,444 | $276,012 |
| VP OF PHILANTHROPY Highest compensated employee, 55.00 hrs/week | $194,979 | $0 | $55,338 | $250,317 |
43 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Columbus Zoological Park Association (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.0M (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–1b21 · 21 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 5346
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,722
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| LMN ARCHITECTS LLP Architectural services | $512,238 |
| SHAMROCK ASPHALT SERVICES LLC Paving services | $415,972 |
| GOLDPHISH Advertising | $308,000 |
| TOLLIVER & CURL PAVING Paving services | $217,496 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 9 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
9 private foundations reported grants to Columbus Zoological Park Association totaling $99,219 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 Columbus Zoological Park Association's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Columbus Zoological Park Association, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Columbus Zoological Park Association spent in 2024, $82.60 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Wildlife Conservation NetworkSan Francisco, CA · revenue $86M · programs 92.1% · 2025
- Chicago Zoological SocietyBrookfield, IL · revenue $91M · programs 80.9% · FY2026
- Ocean Habitat and Wildlife RescueWest Palm Beach, FL · revenue $86M · programs 69.8% · 2025
- Panthera CorporationNew York, NY · revenue $92M · programs 84.2% · 2025
- Woodland Park Zoological SocietySeattle, WA · revenue $84M · programs 83.5% · 2024
Questions people ask
How much of Columbus Zoological Park Association's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Columbus Zoological Park Association reported that 82.6% of its $79.4 million in expenses went to program services, 14.9% to management and general and 2.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Columbus Zoological Park Association pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Columbus Zoological Park Association reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $728,485, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Columbus Zoological Park Association get its money?
Of $88.8 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 49.3% came from contributions and grants (including 22.9% from government grants) and 38.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Columbus Zoological Park Association a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 31-4390844 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
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202502539349301110 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202442489349301429 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202313139349303901 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202242869349301499 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202133199349311828 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202042399349300004 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 31-4390844: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.