Indianapolis Zoological Society
Also known as Indianapolis Zoo
Indianapolis Zoological Society reported $57.7 million in revenue and $44.4 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $88.07 went to program services, $8.11 to management and general costs and $3.82 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 54.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $436,619 (PRESIDENT AND CEO). 23 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 24% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $44MFor 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 $58MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 88.1% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.1% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.8% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.08 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 35.1% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 54.5% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $436,619 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.98% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 23 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 63.2 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 39 of 39 | 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 indianapolis zoo is a world-class zoological institution that serves diverse populations from central indiana and beyond through in-person visits and other methods of program delivery. As one of the region's foremost cultural and educational assets, the zoo functions as a regional, national, and international resource for zoological research and wildlife 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT AND CEO Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $349,920 | $0 | $86,699 | $436,619 |
| EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $245,882 | $0 | $51,288 | $297,170 |
| VICE PRESIDENT Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $175,589 | $0 | $34,895 | $210,484 |
| VICE PRESIDENT Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $167,054 | $0 | $43,153 | $210,207 |
| SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $162,592 | $0 | $33,982 | $196,574 |
| VICE PRESIDENT Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $171,207 | $0 | $19,309 | $190,516 |
| SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $170,180 | $0 | $19,333 | $189,513 |
| DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $177,805 | $0 | $10,719 | $188,524 |
23 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Indianapolis 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–1b39 · 39 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 2Yes
- 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5745
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,026
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| TURNER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Construction services | $4,082,522 |
| BORSHOFF INC Advertising | $2,035,000 |
| B MORROW PRODUCTIONS LLC Design services | $969,594 |
| SULLIVAN & POORE INC Mechanical contractor | $615,413 |
| HOWARD ASPHALT LLC Construction services | $483,324 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 13 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
27 private foundations reported grants to Indianapolis Zoological Society totaling $4.5M 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 Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis Zoological Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Indianapolis Zoological Society spent in 2024, $88.07 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- New England Aquarium CorporationBoston, MA · revenue $55M · programs 77.4% · 2024
- The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsSan Francisco, CA · revenue $58M · programs 85.4% · FY2025
- National AquariumBaltimore, MD · revenue $54M · programs 69.5% · 2025
- Aquarium of the Pacific CorporationLong Beach, CA · revenue $59M · programs 85.6% · 2024
- The Seattle Aquarium SocietySeattle, WA · revenue $54M · programs 77.7% · 2024
Questions people ask
How much of Indianapolis Zoological Society's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Indianapolis Zoological Society reported that 88.1% of its $44.4 million in expenses went to program services, 8.1% to management and general and 3.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Indianapolis Zoological Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Indianapolis Zoological Society reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $436,619, for the role of PRESIDENT AND CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Indianapolis Zoological Society get its money?
Of $57.7 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 35.1% came from contributions and grants and 54.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Indianapolis Zoological Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 35-1074747 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 202533079349302883 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202423099349302912 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202313149349302406 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202203189349310225 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202123089349302562 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202003109349301055 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 35-1074747: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.