Lincoln Park Zoological Society
Lincoln Park Zoological Society reported $50.5 million in revenue and $44.3 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $86.96 went to program services, $5.75 to management and general costs and $7.29 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 50.6% of the total. Government grants made up 17.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $539,651 (PRESIDENT/CEO). 21 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 2% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 · 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
The fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $51MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 87.0% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 5.8% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.3% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.13 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 50.6% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 17.1% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 30.3% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $539,651 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.22% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 21 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 53.4 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 64 of 65 | 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 expenseBuilding and grounds sitting on 49 acres on the lake michigan shoreline in the heart of chicago, Lincoln Park zoo is the only privately-managed free admissions zoo in the nation. Caring for more than 700 animals, many of which are endangered or threatened, that reside in a variety of buildings designed to house animals habitats, some of which are historically landmarked. Lincoln Park zoo is also an accredited botanic garden by botanic gardens conservation international and an accredited level iii arboretum
Animal care and conservation Lincoln Park zoo is home to both the largest zoo-based conservation & science departments and the largest zoo-based animal welfare department in the country, with experts in areas including urban wildlife; behavior cognition, statistical population modeling; veterinary services; and the correlation between human, animal and ecosystem health
Visitor services Lincoln Park zoo welcomes more than 3.5 million visitors every year to discover ther wonders of wildlife in the heart of chicago. The zoo is open 365 days per year and is dedicated to a family-friendly and safe place for visitors
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT/CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $500,929 | $0 | $38,722 | $539,651 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $299,972 | $0 | $32,889 | $332,861 |
| VP OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $273,468 | $0 | $18,407 | $291,875 |
| VP OF OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $176,860 | $0 | $26,014 | $202,874 |
| VP OF ANIMAL CARE AND HORTICULTURE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $174,519 | $0 | $22,661 | $197,180 |
| VP OF LEARNING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $167,348 | $0 | $11,111 | $178,459 |
| DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL WELFARE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $159,376 | $0 | $16,879 | $176,255 |
| PRESIDENT EMERITUS / LIFE TRUSTEE Former, 0.00 hrs/week | $158,024 | $0 | $0 | $158,024 |
21 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Lincoln Park Zoological Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $801K (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–1b65 · 64 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 5546
- Volunteers Part I, line 6406
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| C & W SERVICES Engineering services | $1,737,833 |
| ABBEY PAVING CO INC Construction services | $901,424 |
| STANTON MECHANICAL INC Mechanical contractor | $855,626 |
| MONTERREY SECURITY Security services | $811,449 |
| ILLUMINIGHT LIGHTING Holiday lighting display | $549,028 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 27 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
35 private foundations reported grants to Lincoln Park Zoological Society totaling $2.7M 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 Lincoln Park 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 Lincoln Park Zoological Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Lincoln Park Zoological Society spent in FY2025, $86.96 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Toledo Zoological SocietyToledo, OH · revenue $50M · programs 85.1% · 2024
- Jacksonville Zoological SocietyJacksonville, FL · revenue $51M · programs 84.8% · FY2025
- Lowry Park Zoological Society of TampaTampa, FL · revenue $49M · programs 88.4% · FY2025
- Friends of the Zoo Inc. of Kansas City Missouri C/O Linda FalkKansas City, MO · revenue $54M · programs 93.0% · 2024
- Defenders of WildlifeWashington, DC · revenue $49M · programs 71.1% · FY2025
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Illinois
Questions people ask
How much of Lincoln Park Zoological Society's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, Lincoln Park Zoological Society reported that 87.0% of its $44.3 million in expenses went to program services, 5.8% to management and general and 7.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Lincoln Park Zoological Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Lincoln Park Zoological Society reported for one person in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 was $539,651, for the role of PRESIDENT/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Lincoln Park Zoological Society get its money?
Of $50.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, 50.6% came from contributions and grants (including 17.1% from government grants) and 30.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Lincoln Park Zoological Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 36-2512404 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
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, object 202620309349301702 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, object 202520459349301772 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, object 202400439349300405 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, object 202330399349300713 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, object 202230429349300413 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020, object 202120439349301502 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 36-2512404: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.