The Toledo Zoological Society
The Toledo Zoological Society reported $50.0 million in revenue and $46.5 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $85.09 went to program services, $13.36 to management and general costs and $1.55 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 59.2% of the total. Government grants made up 29.3%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $475,981 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 10 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 41% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $47MFor 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 $50M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$29.87 $15M
- Government grants$29.31 $15M
- Program service revenue$22.61 $11M
- Other revenue$18.21 $9.1M
Investment income was negative: −$12,500. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 85.1% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 13.4% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.6% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.02 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 59.2% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 29.3% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 22.6% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $475,981 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.02% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 10 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 39.7 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 18 of 18 | 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 Toledo Zoological Society is one of the world's most complete zoos with over 14,000 animals representing over 700 species. The grounds include one of the largest concentrations of wpa era buildings, formal gardens, conservatory, and amphitheatre. The zoo is at the forefront of many conservations efforts working to preserve endangered and threatened species. The zoo is also involved with breeding animals through the species survival program that is helping to ensure a future for some truly amazing species. In addition to these efforts, the zoo runs many education programs for both children…
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, 38.00 hrs/week | $447,419 | $0 | $28,562 | $475,981 |
| SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OF STAFF Key employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $309,554 | $0 | $31,660 | $341,214 |
| SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF MISSION OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $142,431 | $0 | $28,888 | $171,319 |
| SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT HUMAN RESOURCES Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $152,423 | $0 | $16,262 | $168,685 |
| VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE Officer, 39.75 hrs/week | $119,861 | $0 | $27,374 | $147,235 |
| DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $130,618 | $0 | $14,716 | $145,334 |
| VICE PRESIDENT, IT Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $120,605 | $0 | $13,263 | $133,868 |
| VP FOOD SERVICE & MERCHANDISE Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $110,306 | $0 | $20,555 | $130,861 |
10 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Toledo Zoological Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.1M (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–1b18 · 18 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 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 51,569
- Volunteers Part I, line 6770
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| THE LATHROP COMPANY INC Construction | $3,137,090 |
| COMMUNICA INC Advertising | $1,849,831 |
| AA BOOS AND SONS INC Construction | $1,013,116 |
| UNITED ROOFING & SHEET METAL INC Construction | $598,800 |
| THE SPIEKER COMPANY Construction | $557,150 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 21 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
11 private foundations reported grants to The Toledo Zoological Society totaling $76,541 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 The Toledo Zoological Society's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Toledo Zoological Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Toledo Zoological Society spent in 2024, $85.09 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Lowry Park Zoological Society of TampaTampa, FL · revenue $49M · programs 88.4% · FY2025
- Lincoln Park Zoological SocietyChicago, IL · revenue $51M · programs 87.0% · FY2025
- Defenders of WildlifeWashington, DC · revenue $49M · programs 71.1% · FY2025
- Jacksonville Zoological SocietyJacksonville, FL · revenue $51M · programs 84.8% · FY2025
- Paws ChicagoChicago, IL · revenue $47M · programs 88.2% · 2024
Questions people ask
How much of The Toledo Zoological Society's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, The Toledo Zoological Society reported that 85.1% of its $46.5 million in expenses went to program services, 13.4% to management and general and 1.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Toledo Zoological Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Toledo Zoological Society reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $475,981, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Toledo Zoological Society get its money?
Of $50.0 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 59.2% came from contributions and grants (including 29.3% from government grants) and 22.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Toledo Zoological Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 34-4440256 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 202503179349308310 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202413179349302021 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202312929349300021 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202223149349302662 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202103139349302375 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202033109349300808 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 34-4440256: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.