Detroit Zoological Society
Detroit Zoological Society reported $64.1 million in revenue and $67.1 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $84.79 went to program services, $12.37 to management and general costs and $2.84 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 51.5% of the total. Government grants made up 31.8%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $584,762 (Executive Director/CEO). 37 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 37% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $67MFor 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 $64MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 84.8% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.4% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.8% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.06 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 51.5% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 31.8% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 41.4% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $584,762 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.87% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 37 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 10.7 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 47 of 47 | 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 expenseCONSERVATION, ANIMAL CARE, AND WELFARE: The Detroit Zoological Society demonstrates leadership in wildlife conservation, animal care, and animal welfare. The Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center had 1,909 individual animals representing 212 species in its care as of December 31, 2024. The Detroit Zoological Society is a leader in species conservation through its local, national and international field conservation programs, its support of partners' field conservation work and captive breeding of threatened and endangered species at the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center. The Detroit…
EDUCATION: The Detroit Zoological Society provides a broad audience with outstanding and unique educational opportunities that lead to the appreciation and stewardship of nature. Humane education, environmental literacy, responsible resource management, conservation, science literacy and stewardship are fundamental components of education programming. Programs utilize a variety of instructional strategies - including inquiry-based learning, storytelling, interactive technology and participatory science - to meet the various learning styles of individuals within the community. Regional school…
GUEST ENGAGEMENT: The Detroit Zoological Society continues to inspire the community with engaging, meaningful and memorable experiences at both the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center. Significant animal habitats/facilities at the Detroit Zoo include the Arctic Ring of Life habitat for polar bears and sea otters, the Devereaux Tiger Forest, the Great Apes of Harambee, the Polk Penguin Conservation Center, the Cotton Family Wolf Wilderness, the Australian Outback Adventure, and the National Amphibian Conservation Center. The Detroit Zoo welcomed more than 1.2 million visitors in 2024. In…
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/CEO Officer, 50 hrs/week | $547,018 | $0 | $37,744 | $584,762 |
| Chief Financial Officer Officer, 50 hrs/week | $278,172 | $0 | $35,399 | $313,571 |
| VP of Development Key employee, 50 hrs/week | $245,528 | $0 | $33,071 | $278,599 |
| VP of Guest Services, Communications, and Marketing Key employee, 40 hrs/week | $212,531 | $0 | $32,896 | $245,427 |
| VP of Education Key employee, 50 hrs/week | $201,783 | $0 | $16,720 | $218,503 |
| VP of Life Sciences Key employee, 50 hrs/week | $183,394 | $0 | $31,832 | $215,226 |
| Chief of Staff Highest compensated employee, 50 hrs/week | $183,245 | $0 | $31,602 | $214,847 |
| Associate VP of Life Sciences Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $181,515 | $0 | $26,956 | $208,471 |
37 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Detroit Zoological Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.5M (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–1b47 · 47 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 5602
- Volunteers Part I, line 62,292
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Midwest Commercial Construction LLC Construction Management | $2,615,544 |
| Doner Partners LLC Marketing Consultation | $711,737 |
| Conti Corporation Facilities Maintenance | $325,690 |
| Motor City Scuba LLC Facilities Maintenance | $186,445 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 17 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
49 private foundations reported grants to Detroit Zoological Society totaling $806K 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 Detroit 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 Detroit Zoological Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Detroit Zoological Society spent in 2024, $84.79 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Arizona Center for Nature ConservationPhoenix, AZ · revenue $64M · programs 82.7% · FY2025
- Governors Island CorporationNew York, NY · revenue $65M · programs 85.8% · FY2025
- The Fort Worth Zoological AssociationFort Worth, TX · revenue $62M · programs 78.5% · FY2025
- Denver Zoological FoundationDenver, CO · revenue $66M · programs 80.0% · 2025
- Audubon Nature InstituteNew Orleans, LA · revenue $61M · programs 67.9% · 2024
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Michigan
Questions people ask
How much of Detroit Zoological Society's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Detroit Zoological Society reported that 84.8% of its $67.1 million in expenses went to program services, 12.4% to management and general and 2.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Detroit Zoological Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Detroit Zoological Society reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $584,762, for the role of Executive Director/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Detroit Zoological Society get its money?
Of $64.1 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 51.5% came from contributions and grants (including 31.8% from government grants) and 41.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Detroit Zoological Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 38-6027356 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 202543179349304049 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202443199349312924 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202323179349306917 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202243139349302229 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202121349349304132 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202041919349300534 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 38-6027356: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.