Blank Park Zoo Foundation
Blank Park Zoo Foundation reported $11.9 million in revenue and $10.6 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $81.65 went to program services, $14.07 to management and general costs and $4.28 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 49.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $174,634 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 49% 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 $11MFor 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 $12MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 81.6% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.1% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 4.3% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.09 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 42.4% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 3.8% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 49.2% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $174,634 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.65% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 2 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 30.4 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 35 of 35 | 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 expenseThe primary purposes of the foundation are a) to manage the Blank Park Zoo; b) to solicit, collect and provide funds to improve the facilities and programs of the zoo; c) to promote interest among the general public concerning the zoo; d) to implement and assist in the study of zoological natural history, animal behavior and the science allied therewith; e) to provide charitable and educational assistance in association with the zoo
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $160,240 | $0 | $14,394 | $174,634 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $118,888 | $0 | $7,260 | $126,148 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $78,509 | $0 | $9,141 | $87,650 |
2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Blank Park Zoo Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $289K (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–1b35 · 35 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 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5256
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,755
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ACCURATE COMMERCIAL LLC Commercial construction | $719,656 |
| OPN ARCHITECTS INC Architecture services | $497,109 |
| WDM ARCHITECTS PA Architecture services | $356,759 |
| ADVANCED PROBLEM SOLUTIONS LLC Hvac services | $279,279 |
| FLYNN WRIGHT INC Marketing | $271,090 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
6 private foundations reported grants to Blank Park Zoo Foundation totaling $553K 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 Blank Park Zoo Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Blank Park Zoo Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Blank Park Zoo Foundation spent in FY2025, $81.65 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Xerces SocietyPortland, OR · revenue $12M · programs 80.7% · 2024
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- International Center for the Preservation of Wild AnimalsPowell, OH · revenue $12M · programs 92.6% · 2024
- Idaho Humane SocietyBoise, ID · revenue $12M · programs 89.3% · FY2025
- Wags Pet ClinicTampa, FL · revenue $12M · programs 93.0% · 2025
Questions people ask
How much of Blank Park Zoo Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, Blank Park Zoo Foundation reported that 81.6% of its $10.6 million in expenses went to program services, 14.1% to management and general and 4.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Blank Park Zoo Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Blank Park Zoo Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 was $174,634, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Blank Park Zoo Foundation get its money?
Of $11.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, 42.4% came from contributions and grants (including 3.8% from government grants) and 49.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Blank Park Zoo Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 42-1171821 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 202600349349300040 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, object 202540309349300209 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, object 202410469349300821 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, object 202310459349302371 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, object 202230469349300838 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020, object 202100479349301015 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 42-1171821: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.