The Saint Louis Zoo Association
The Saint Louis Zoo Association reported $53.8 million in revenue and $38.8 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $83.55 went to program services, $8.73 to management and general costs and $7.72 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 70.0% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $769,806 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 16 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 126% between 2020 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $39MFor 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 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $54M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$70.01 $38M
- Program service revenue$6.73 $3.6M
- Investment income$23.26 $13M
Other revenue was negative: −$9,114. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.6% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.7% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.7% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.08 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 70.0% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 6.7% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $769,806 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.99% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 16 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 100.4 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 68 of 68 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseFinancial support - direct financial support to the Saint Louis Zoo for renovations, new facilities, programs, conservation and research
Membership - the association maintained a membership base of over 50,583 households, representing approximately 126,458 individuals in the community. This program generated $3,233,136 in revenue in 2025
Development administration - administering donor development and cultivation that generates proceeds to be used to renovate exhibits and expand programs at the Saint Louis Zoo, educating and benefiting millions of visitors each year
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 Officer, 32.00 hrs/week | $0 | $683,510 | $86,296 | $769,806 |
| DIRECTOR - SAINT LOUIS ZOO Officer, 6.00 hrs/week | $0 | $316,075 | $74,885 | $390,960 |
| VICE PRESIDENT- FINANCE Officer, 12.00 hrs/week | $0 | $321,262 | $62,612 | $383,874 |
| DIRECTOR - WILDCARE PARK Officer, 3.00 hrs/week | $0 | $306,009 | $76,005 | $382,014 |
| VICE PRESIDENT - INTERNAL RELATIONS Highest compensated employee, 14.00 hrs/week | $0 | $300,197 | $75,776 | $375,973 |
| VICE PRESIDENT - PHILANTHROPY Highest compensated employee, 10.00 hrs/week | $0 | $292,392 | $70,859 | $363,251 |
| VICE PRESIDENT - ARCHITECTURE & PLANNING Highest compensated employee, 3.00 hrs/week | $0 | $241,114 | $60,901 | $302,015 |
| VICE PRESIDENT - ANIMAL OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 8.00 hrs/week | $0 | $200,777 | $42,404 | $243,181 |
16 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Saint Louis Zoo Association (Part VII, line 2).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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–1b68 · 68 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 15aNo
- 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 549
- Volunteers Part I, line 6921
Private foundation grants it received
83 private foundations reported grants to The Saint Louis Zoo Association totaling $5.9M 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 The Saint Louis Zoo Association's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Saint Louis Zoo Association, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Saint Louis Zoo Association spent in 2025, $83.55 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Friends of the Zoo Inc. of Kansas City Missouri C/O Linda FalkKansas City, MO · revenue $54M · programs 93.0% · 2024
- The Seattle Aquarium SocietySeattle, WA · revenue $54M · programs 77.7% · 2024
- Jacksonville Zoological SocietyJacksonville, FL · revenue $51M · programs 84.8% · FY2025
- National AquariumBaltimore, MD · revenue $54M · programs 69.5% · 2025
- Lincoln Park Zoological SocietyChicago, IL · revenue $51M · programs 87.0% · FY2025
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Missouri
Questions people ask
How much of The Saint Louis Zoo Association's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, The Saint Louis Zoo Association reported that 83.6% of its $38.8 million in expenses went to program services, 8.7% to management and general and 7.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Saint Louis Zoo Association pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Saint Louis Zoo Association reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $769,806, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Saint Louis Zoo Association get its money?
Of $53.8 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 70.0% came from contributions and grants and 6.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Saint Louis Zoo Association a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 43-1727309 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 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202642469349300019 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202523039349302922 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202432409349300603 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202303149349304885 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202203189349304520 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202123129349302432 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 43-1727309: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.