Maryland Zoological Society
Also known as The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Maryland Zoological Society reported $25.0 million in revenue and $21.6 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $86.72 went to program services, $10.00 to management and general costs and $3.28 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 65.3% of the total. Government grants made up 52.0%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $331,967 (PRESIDENTCEO). 10 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 35% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $22MFor 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 June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $25MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 86.7% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 10.0% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.3% | 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 | 65.3% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 52.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 31.1% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $331,967 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.53% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 10 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 42.5 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 44 of 44 | 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 expenseVisitor services: provide assistance to over 383,000 guests, annually. Services include ticket and membership sales, shuttle service, carousel and train rides and animal experiences, including giraffe feeding and penguin encounters. The zoo also provides security and first aid. Zoo publications include an annual report and monthly e-mail updates. The zoo maintains public relations and marketing programs (including website and social media) to inform visitors of zoo news and support positive guest experiences
Flora and fauna: zoo staff provide daily care for over 1,130 animals from routine husbandry procedures, I.e. Care and feeding, training and enrichment, special assistance with breeding and births. Zoo animal, horticulture, maintenance and exhibit staff provide upkeep to exhibit areas, as well as gardens and fauna found elsewhere on zoo grounds
Educational services: the zoo offers a variety of educational programs for students and teachers, both on and off zoo grounds. Staff and volunteers are stationed throughout the zoo daily to teach guests about wildlife and conservation through stations, scripted talks, exhibit interpretation, and handling animal ambassadors. The zoo to you mobile outreach program takes the zoo to classrooms, senior centers and other facilities all over the state
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENTCEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $318,722 | $0 | $13,245 | $331,967 |
| EXEC VP OF FINANCECFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $169,964 | $0 | $38,480 | $208,444 |
| EXECUTIVE VP OF ANIMAL PROGRAMS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $148,122 | $0 | $33,505 | $181,627 |
| SR DIR OF HEALTH & CONSERVATION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $131,653 | $0 | $26,563 | $158,216 |
| CONTROLLER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $122,863 | $0 | $26,784 | $149,647 |
| SR DIR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $135,391 | $0 | $10,364 | $145,755 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF GUEST EXPERIENCE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $111,192 | $0 | $31,365 | $142,557 |
10 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Maryland Zoological Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $549K (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–1b44 · 44 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 2Yes
- 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 5262
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,169
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MISSION MEDIA Marketingadvertis | $432,696 |
| AZOLA BUILDING REHAB INC Contractorbuilder | $356,028 |
| JOSHUA WAGNER DBA WAGNERS CONSTRUC Contractorbuilder | $353,633 |
| CROCKETT FACILITIES SERVICES INC Maintenance | $246,260 |
| OX CONSTRUCTION Maintenance | $190,080 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 7 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
11 private foundations reported grants to Maryland Zoological Society totaling $129K 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 Maryland 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 Maryland Zoological Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Maryland Zoological Society spent in FY2025, $86.72 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Animal Humane SocietyGolden Valley, MN · revenue $25M · programs 69.3% · FY2025
- Akron Zoological ParkAkron, OH · revenue $25M · programs 80.6% · 2024
- California TroutSan Francisco, CA · revenue $25M · programs 83.9% · FY2025
- Lifeline Animal ProjectAtlanta, GA · revenue $25M · programs 92.1% · 2024
- K9S for WarriorsPonte Vedra, FL · revenue $24M · programs 74.1% · 2024
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Maryland
Questions people ask
How much of Maryland Zoological Society's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Maryland Zoological Society reported that 86.7% of its $21.6 million in expenses went to program services, 10.0% to management and general and 3.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Maryland Zoological Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Maryland Zoological Society reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $331,967, for the role of PRESIDENTCEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Maryland Zoological Society get its money?
Of $25.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 65.3% came from contributions and grants (including 52.0% from government grants) and 31.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Maryland Zoological Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-0996352 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 June 30, 2025, object 202601279349303065 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202541189349302414 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202411249349301606 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202321119349301312 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201369349304560 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202111359349301656 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-0996352: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.