Fort Wayne Zoological Society
Also known as Fort Wayne Zoo
Fort Wayne Zoological Society reported $18.2 million in revenue and $18.1 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $69.53 went to program services, $27.01 to management and general costs and $3.46 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 62.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $251,094 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - ZOO). 7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 70% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $18MFor 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 $18MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 69.5% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 27.0% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.5% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.16 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 22.0% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 62.1% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $251,094 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.39% | 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 | 23.8 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 24 of 24 | 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 expenseEducational & membership services:at the end of 2024, we had just over 19,000 active member households, about an 8% increase from 2023. We kicked off our 2024 season with an exclusive member day on april 26th. Members were provided with a number of special discounts and early-access offerings all season long, including a discount in the wild things gift shop, a member presale of zoofari tickets, etc. As part of the association of zoos and aquariums (aza) reciprocity program, zoo members were able to participate in discounted admission to over 150 zoos and aquariums throughout north america.…
Animal exhibits and improvements:animal programs: in 2024, the Fort Wayne zoo continued to grow and evolve in exciting ways, from new births and animal additions to major exhibit transformations that deepen our commitment to conservation and guest engagement. In august we celebrated the birth of a female giraffe calf, a significant conservation milestone for the association of zoos and aquariums (aza) species survival program (ssp). The zoo actively participates in over 60 ssp programs, working to ensure genetically diverse, sustainable populations of threatened species. Earlier in april, we…
Conservation & research: conservation & research the zoo is a conservation leader, providing financial support to 40 conservation partners around the globe in 2024. The kids for nature conservation kiosk continues to involve guests in conservation, allowing them to vote among three projects with their zoo provided penny at the entrance. Funds are generated through ticket sales and memberships, along with corks for conservation event proceeds, employee giving, guests donations and wild things gift shop "round up" program. The zoo participates in various research projects initiated by external…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - ZOO Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $220,086 | $0 | $31,008 | $251,094 |
| DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY A Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $140,460 | $0 | $12,392 | $152,852 |
| DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ADMI Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $117,315 | $0 | $15,490 | $132,805 |
| DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL CARE Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $120,062 | $0 | $8,152 | $128,214 |
| DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $111,387 | $0 | $11,639 | $123,026 |
| DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL HEALTH Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $110,166 | $0 | $11,480 | $121,646 |
| DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $105,615 | $0 | $11,344 | $116,959 |
7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Fort Wayne Zoological Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $384K (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–1b24 · 24 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 5425
- Volunteers Part I, line 6459
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| HAGERMAN INC Construction | $1,652,235 |
| BAREFOOT STUDIOS INC Construction/fabrication | $599,042 |
| MSKTD & ASSOCIATES Architecture and design services | $426,320 |
| PGVA DESTINATIONS Design services | $281,129 |
| L-A ELECTRIC Construction/electrical | $248,491 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
18 private foundations reported grants to Fort Wayne Zoological Society totaling $631K 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 Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne Zoological Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Fort Wayne Zoological Society spent in 2024, $69.53 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Hawaiian Humane SocietyHonolulu, HI · revenue $18M · programs 81.8% · FY2025
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- Kentucky Humane Society - Animal RescueLouisville, KY · revenue $18M · programs 83.6% · FY2025
- Atlantic Salmon Federation (US)Calais, ME · revenue $18M · programs 81.0% · FY2025
- Atlanta Humane Society & Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsAtlanta, GA · revenue $18M · programs 78.0% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Fort Wayne Zoological Society's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Fort Wayne Zoological Society reported that 69.5% of its $18.1 million in expenses went to program services, 27.0% to management and general and 3.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Fort Wayne Zoological Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Fort Wayne Zoological Society reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $251,094, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - ZOO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Fort Wayne Zoological Society get its money?
Of $18.2 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 22.0% came from contributions and grants and 62.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Fort Wayne Zoological Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 35-6068234 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 202502459349300735 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202403039349302550 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202342999349301149 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202243189349303709 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202122219349301427 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202013179349303046 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 35-6068234: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.