Fresnos Chaffee Zoo Corporation
Fresnos Chaffee Zoo Corporation reported $29.6 million in revenue and $37.8 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $86.03 went to program services, $9.82 to management and general costs and $4.15 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 45.7% of the total. Government grants made up 35.4%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $359,343 (CEO & Zoo Dir). 12 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 45% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $38MFor 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 $30MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 86.0% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.8% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 4.2% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.12 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 45.7% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 35.4% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 39.3% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $359,343 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.95% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 12 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 43.8 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 11 of 11 | 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 expenseFresno Chaffee Zoo is home to over 1,100 animals that represent approximately 220 species from around the world. Visitors are able to observe animals up close, providing a more personal experience. Once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, such as feeding a giraffe, touching a shark, or feeding a stingray can be experienced every day of the year
Fresno Chaffee Zoo takes great pride in the breadth of the educational programs offered, which reach children and adults of all ages. Community programs, such as docents, volunteers, day camp and overnight campouts, help the zoo achieve the goal of educating the public on the importance of learning how to take care of the earth's precious resources, whether it be plant or animal, across the globe or in one's own backyard
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 & Zoo Dir Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $327,039 | $0 | $32,304 | $359,343 |
| CAO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $202,920 | $0 | $23,559 | $226,479 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $213,702 | $0 | $8,549 | $222,251 |
| COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $152,034 | $0 | $13,947 | $165,981 |
| Dir of Vet Svcs Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $133,281 | $0 | $17,820 | $151,101 |
| Dir Capital Proj Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $136,572 | $0 | $11,691 | $148,263 |
| Gen Curator Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $120,162 | $0 | $26,361 | $146,523 |
| COS Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $120,075 | $0 | $20,574 | $140,649 |
12 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Fresnos Chaffee Zoo Corporation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.4M (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–1b11 · 11 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 5409
- Volunteers Part I, line 6942
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Washington Construction General Construction | $390,042 |
| Spineless Wonders Seasonal Butterfly Exhib | $146,713 |
| Kwabena T Watson Plumbing Services | $105,458 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
6 private foundations reported grants to Fresnos Chaffee Zoo Corporation totaling $1.2M 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 Fresnos Chaffee Zoo Corporation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Fresnos Chaffee Zoo Corporation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Fresnos Chaffee Zoo Corporation spent in 2024, $86.03 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Peninsula Humane Society & SPCABurlingame, CA · revenue $28M · programs 80.8% · FY2025
- Florida Veterinary Medicine Faculty AssociationGainesville, FL · revenue $30M · programs 100.0% · FY2025
- American Bird ConservancyMarshall, VA · revenue $27M · programs 75.4% · 2024
- WvcLas Vegas, NV · revenue $30M · programs 89.2% · 2025
- The Zoological Society of the Palm BeachesWest Palm Beach, FL · revenue $27M · programs 78.2% · FY2025
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Fresnos Chaffee Zoo Corporation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Fresnos Chaffee Zoo Corporation reported that 86.0% of its $37.8 million in expenses went to program services, 9.8% to management and general and 4.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Fresnos Chaffee Zoo Corporation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Fresnos Chaffee Zoo Corporation reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $359,343, for the role of CEO & Zoo Dir (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Fresnos Chaffee Zoo Corporation get its money?
Of $29.6 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 45.7% came from contributions and grants (including 35.4% from government grants) and 39.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Fresnos Chaffee Zoo Corporation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 42-1661145 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 202522399349300222 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202442279349302194 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202302699349300425 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202213199349308851 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202113199349310201 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202041969349301619 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 42-1661145: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.