Friends of the Topeka Zoo
Friends of the Topeka Zoo reported $18.5 million in revenue and $7.9 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $73.42 went to program services, $21.14 to management and general costs and $5.44 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 55.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $100,042 (CEO). 1 person received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 580% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $7.9MFor 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 $18MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 73.4% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 21.1% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.4% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.04 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 55.2% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 5.8% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $100,042 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.27% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 1 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 42.9 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 14 of 15 | 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 expenseFriends of Topeka Zoo operates the municipal Zoo of Topeka, kansas. The organization underwrites events and educational programs for the general public and its membership
Membership expenses and services support the zoo by promoting frequent attendance at the zoo and at zoo special events and exhibit openings. Membership provides opportunities for members to volunteer their services at the zoo and to contribute financially to zoo projects. There are 4,781 single, family, and special memberships at any particular time of the year concentrated in the shawnee county kansas area
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here1 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Friends of the Topeka Zoo (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $100K (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–1b15 · 14 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5158
- Volunteers Part I, line 6942
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| TESSERE Other services | $697,431 |
| COMPASS MARKETING & ADVERTISING Marketing | $204,770 |
| PREMIER ONE It and other | $150,373 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
3 private foundations reported grants to Friends of the Topeka Zoo totaling $10,438 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 Friends of the Topeka 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 Friends of the Topeka Zoo, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Friends of the Topeka Zoo spent in 2024, $73.42 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Oregon Coast AquariumNewport, OR · revenue $18M · programs 76.4% · FY2025
- Big Dog Ranch RescueLoxahatchee Groves, FL · revenue $19M · programs 89.0% · 2024
- Progressive Animal Welfare SocietyLynnwood, WA · revenue $18M · programs 72.7% · 2024
- Safari Club International FoundationSan Antonio, TX · revenue $19M · programs 37.1% · FY2025
- Wisconsin Humane SocietyMilwaukee, WI · revenue $18M · programs 77.9% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Friends of the Topeka Zoo's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Friends of the Topeka Zoo reported that 73.4% of its $7.9 million in expenses went to program services, 21.1% to management and general and 5.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Friends of the Topeka Zoo pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Friends of the Topeka Zoo reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $100,042, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Friends of the Topeka Zoo get its money?
Of $18.5 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 55.2% came from contributions and grants and 5.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Friends of the Topeka Zoo a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 48-6117369 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 202503169349304755 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202413209349308021 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202332859349301563 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202213189349317126 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202143199349324614 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202042739349300924 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 48-6117369: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.