Omaha Zoological Society
Omaha Zoological Society reported $82.0 million in revenue and $79.8 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $93.17 went to program services, $6.16 to management and general costs and $0.67 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 50.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $687,338 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 36 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 13% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $80MFor 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 $82M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$46.24 $38M
- Government grants$3.58 $3.0M
- Program service revenue$33.41 $28M
- Other revenue$16.77 $14M
Investment income was negative: −$543K. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 93.2% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.2% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.7% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.01 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 50.2% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 3.6% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 33.6% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $687,338 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.86% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 36 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 47.0 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 7 of 7 | 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 expenseOmaha Zoological Society operates and maintains omaha's henry doorly zoo and aquarium. The zoo sits on 160 acres and houses approximately 1,035 animal species including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. It boasts natural, immersive exhibit spaces, including asian highlands, bay family children's adventure trails, scott african grasslands, suzanne and walter scott aquarium, owen sea lion shores, hubbard gorilla valley and orangutan forest, the world's largest indoor desert covered by a transparent glazed geodesic dome, lied jungle (america's largest indoor…
Omaha's henry doorly zoo and aquarium's center for conservation and research conducts valuable conservation science research in the areas of veterinary medicine, reproductive sciences, genetics, nutrition, and behavioral husbandry and welfare. The scientific teams conducting research in 2025 included seven veterinarians, six ph.d. Scientists and post-docs, two master's level researchers and eight additional technical staff. These teams were actively participating in multiple research projects that led to the publication of manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals. In addition, our researchers…
Omaha Zoological Society's educational initiatives are local, national, and internationally focused. More than 2,750 educational programs were conducted in 2024. This programming, which included day camps, classes, distance learning classes, campouts, and on-grounds programming reached over 72,500 individuals. In addition, interpretive programs at the zoo and wildlife safari park reached over 893,000 guests.the zoo also has conservation-oriented education programs in veterinary medicine, reproductive sciences, molecular genetics, nutrition, and animal management and husbandry in the grewcock…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $662,360 | $0 | $24,978 | $687,338 |
| SVP OF FINANCE & ADMIN, & CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $252,820 | $0 | $22,908 | $275,728 |
| VP OF CAPITAL PROJECTS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $220,826 | $0 | $30,969 | $251,795 |
| VP OF HR, SAFETY & SECURITY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $177,349 | $0 | $18,359 | $195,708 |
| VP OF CONSERVATION & ANIMAL HEALTH Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $171,672 | $0 | $13,909 | $185,581 |
| DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $152,907 | $0 | $23,327 | $176,234 |
| DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL HEALTH Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $149,786 | $0 | $16,032 | $165,818 |
| SVP OF GUEST EXP, BRAND Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $154,949 | $0 | $8,245 | $163,194 |
36 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Omaha Zoological Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.5M (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–1b7 · 7 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 51,344
- Volunteers Part I, line 6975
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| KIEWIT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Construction | $13,310,986 |
| JE DUNN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Construction | $2,160,786 |
| EDGE THEMED ENVIRONMENTS LLC Construction | $1,340,745 |
| FBG SERVICE CORPORATION Cleaning services | $1,108,350 |
| HOLLAND BASHAM ARCHITECTS Architectural services | $978,508 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 33 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
3 private foundations reported grants to Omaha Zoological Society totaling $27,831 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 Omaha 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 Omaha Zoological Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Omaha Zoological Society spent in 2024, $93.17 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Great Lakes Fishery CommissionAnn Arbor, MI · revenue $80M · programs 92.4% · FY2025
- Houston ZooHouston, TX · revenue $83M · programs 86.2% · 2024
- RewildAustin, TX · revenue $75M · programs 92.3% · FY2025
- Woodland Park Zoological SocietySeattle, WA · revenue $84M · programs 83.5% · 2024
- Petsmart CharitiesPhoenix, AZ · revenue $71M · programs 92.9% · FY2026
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Nebraska
Questions people ask
How much of Omaha Zoological Society's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Omaha Zoological Society reported that 93.2% of its $79.8 million in expenses went to program services, 6.2% to management and general and 0.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Omaha Zoological Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Omaha Zoological Society reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $687,338, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Omaha Zoological Society get its money?
Of $82.0 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 50.2% came from contributions and grants (including 3.6% from government grants) and 33.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Omaha Zoological Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 47-0469782 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 202503149349306215 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202443179349305774 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202343079349301804 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202202769349301305 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202103169349305675 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202003179349308630 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 47-0469782: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.