American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums
Also known as Association of Zoos & Aquariums
American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums reported $20.9 million in revenue and $18.3 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $86.21 went to program services, $12.29 to management and general costs and $1.50 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 52.9% of the total. Government grants made up 30.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $574,000 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 108% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $18MFor 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 $21MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 86.2% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.3% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.5% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 40.5% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 30.1% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 52.9% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $574,000 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.13% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 13 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 15.9 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 13 of 13 | 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 expenseEndangered species relief fund: the association of zoos and aquariums (aza) and the U.S. Fish and wildlife service (fws) have entered into a cooperative agreement to implement section 6003(a)(2) of public law (p.l.) 117-2, the american rescue plan act.fws entered into a cooperative agreement with aza to provide reimbursements to eligible facilities that cared for native endangered and threatened species and rescued and confiscated wildlife and that experienced earned revenue declines as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds were directed toward reimbursing eligible facilities for the…
Conservation education: aza provides support to aza members in the development and implementation of zoo and aquarium education programs to advance the understanding of wildlife. Aza provides on-going professional development opportunities, both on site and online and through conferences, publications, websites, newsletters, etc. Offers opportunities for the exchange of educational information on a range of topics relevant to the zoo and aquarium community
Conservation & science: aza facilitates, supports, promotes and coordinates cooperative animal management, conservation and scientific initiatives of aza member institutions. Program provides grants for conservation through the conservation grants fund
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 | $537,925 | $0 | $36,075 | $574,000 |
| EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $258,436 | $0 | $27,064 | $285,500 |
| SR. VP OF FINANCE Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $205,906 | $0 | $55,294 | $261,200 |
| GENERAL COUNSEL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $225,953 | $0 | $21,745 | $247,698 |
| SR. VP OF MEMBER SERVICES Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $194,944 | $0 | $48,171 | $243,115 |
| SR. VP CONSERVATION & MGMT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $196,250 | $0 | $41,266 | $237,516 |
| SR. ADVISOR ON WILDLIFE TR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $186,094 | $0 | $19,373 | $205,467 |
| SR. VP OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $139,982 | $0 | $8,979 | $148,961 |
13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.1M (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–1b13 · 13 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 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 550
- Volunteers Part I, line 613
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| CALGARY EXHIBITION & STAMPEDE Banquet services | $546,812 |
| MARKEY'S AUDIO VISUAL INC Audio/visual services | $393,304 |
| C2 IMAGING LLC Printing services | $215,258 |
| RK BLUFF CITY LLC Banquet services | $212,369 |
| CONSERVATION COORDINATION LLC Program coordinator | $166,612 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 14 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
1 private foundation reported grants to American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums totaling $101 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 American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums spent in 2024, $86.21 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Nebraska Humane SocietyOmaha, NE · revenue $20M · programs 84.6% · 2024
- Humane Society Silicon ValleyMilpitas, CA · revenue $21M · programs 78.7% · FY2025
- South Carolina AquariumCharleston, SC · revenue $20M · programs 75.3% · 2024
- Dallas Zoological SocietyDallas, TX · revenue $21M · programs 82.1% · FY2025
- Peaceful Valley Donkey RescueSan Angelo, TX · revenue $20M · programs 64.2% · 2025
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Maryland
Questions people ask
How much of American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums reported that 86.2% of its $18.3 million in expenses went to program services, 12.3% to management and general and 1.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $574,000, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums get its money?
Of $20.9 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 40.5% came from contributions and grants (including 30.1% from government grants) and 52.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 55-0526930 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 202503209349300085 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202433179349302523 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202322799349300302 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202212939349301206 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202142479349300404 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202003119349302065 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 55-0526930: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.