John Ball Zoo
John Ball Zoo reported $37.3 million in revenue and $33.8 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $89.35 went to program services, $7.72 to management and general costs and $2.93 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 46.6% of the total. Government grants made up 16.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $499,455 (CEO). 7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 90% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $34MFor 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 $37MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 89.4% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 7.7% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.9% | 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 | 46.6% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 16.1% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 44.3% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $499,455 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.48% | 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 | 9.4 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 21 of 21 | 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 expenseGuest services-the zoo incurs expenses related to the operation and management of its food service, gift shop, visitor experiences and admission sales
Animal care-the zoo incurs expenses related to the support in caring for their animal collection. This includes food, veterinary services, animal enrichment, equipment and appropriate staffing
Zoo operations-the zoo incurs expenses related to the management and maintenance of the buildings, equipment, and zoo and park outdoor spaces. This includes repairs, renovations, exhibit development and exhibit construction
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $464,119 | $0 | $35,336 | $499,455 |
| COO Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $207,864 | $0 | $26,306 | $234,170 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $213,419 | $0 | $18,897 | $232,316 |
| DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES, PL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $185,074 | $0 | $20,217 | $205,291 |
| DIRECTOR ORGANIZATIONAL DE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $178,502 | $0 | $7,767 | $186,269 |
| STRATEGIC IMPACT DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $140,502 | $0 | $9,829 | $150,331 |
| VP OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $134,699 | $0 | $10,419 | $145,118 |
7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from John Ball Zoo (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.7M (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–1b21 · 21 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 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5631
- Volunteers Part I, line 6752
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| PIONEER CONSTRUCTION Construction services | $2,944,067 |
| WOLVERINE BUILDING GROUP Construction services | $1,252,336 |
| TESSERE INC Design services | $720,564 |
| PROGRESSIVE AE Engineering services | $432,597 |
| TOWER PINKSTER Engineering services | $286,358 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 11 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
19 private foundations reported grants to John Ball Zoo totaling $545K 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 John Ball Zoo's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for John Ball Zoo, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 John Ball Zoo spent in 2024, $89.35 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- African Wildlife FoundationWashington, DC · revenue $37M · programs 83.1% · FY2025
- Oregon Humane SocietyPortland, OR · revenue $37M · programs 80.4% · 2025
- The Florida AquariumTampa, FL · revenue $37M · programs 78.6% · FY2025
- The Wild Animal SanctuaryKeenesburg, CO · revenue $38M · programs 90.4% · 2025
- Dallas Zoo ManagementDallas, TX · revenue $37M · programs 89.1% · FY2025
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Michigan
Questions people ask
How much of John Ball Zoo's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, John Ball Zoo reported that 89.4% of its $33.8 million in expenses went to program services, 7.7% to management and general and 2.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does John Ball Zoo pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation John Ball Zoo reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $499,455, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does John Ball Zoo get its money?
Of $37.3 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 46.6% came from contributions and grants (including 16.1% from government grants) and 44.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is John Ball Zoo a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 38-6076879 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 202502749349301000 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202443179349301014 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202332929349300403 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202223149349305502 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202132459349300813 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202041919349300524 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 38-6076879: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.