North Carolina Zoological Society
North Carolina Zoological Society reported $15.5 million in revenue and $12.5 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $90.49 went to program services, $3.66 to management and general costs and $5.85 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 67.0% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $233,256 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 40% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $13MFor 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 $15MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 90.5% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 3.7% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.9% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.07 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 67.0% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $233,256 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.86% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 4 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 63.0 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 13 of 14 | 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 expenseProvide financial and promotional support to the nc zoological park and its capital projects, operations and program initiatives - with a priority focus on field research, wildlife conservation, science and welfare. The society has provided funds for specific conservation and research projects working with elephants, vultures and gorillas in africa, raised for capital projects, animal and horticulture purchases, marketing, staffing, training, and operations of a wildlife rehabilitation center, a wildlife learning/residential center, an education website and other park needs
Membership services (including information and referral, education, member benefit and identifcation administration, record-keeping and special events) extend to member households and the employees of businesses enrolled in the corporate member program, as well as all of the people around the world who benefit from the protection the society's program extends to the natural resources they depend on for survival
Through its support of zoo education programs, the society serves visitors and member households (including n.c. School children). Through field research and veterinarian overnight camps for a wide range of ages, shadow a vet program, educational and family-friendly behind the scenes tours for children and adults who come to the park each year to learn about wildlife and the environment
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Director/trustee, officer, 55.00 hrs/week | $207,123 | $0 | $26,133 | $233,256 |
| DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $121,709 | $0 | $17,541 | $139,250 |
| DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND HU Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $112,784 | $0 | $19,842 | $132,626 |
| DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATIONS Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $113,894 | $0 | $18,551 | $132,445 |
4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from North Carolina Zoological Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $366K (Part IX, line 5).
7 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–1b14 · 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 572
- Volunteers Part I, line 6240
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses onlyIndividuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
18 private foundations reported grants to North Carolina Zoological Society totaling $1.1M 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina Zoological Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 North Carolina Zoological Society spent in 2025, $90.49 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Anti-Cruelty SocietyChicago, IL · revenue $15M · programs 77.6% · FY2025
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- Sacramento Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsSacramento, CA · revenue $15M · programs 82.6% · 2024
- Pasadena HumanePasadena, CA · revenue $16M · programs 80.8% · 2024
- Chimp HavenKeithville, LA · revenue $15M · programs 74.8% · FY2025
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in North Carolina
Questions people ask
How much of North Carolina Zoological Society's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, North Carolina Zoological Society reported that 90.5% of its $12.5 million in expenses went to program services, 3.7% to management and general and 5.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does North Carolina Zoological Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation North Carolina Zoological Society reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $233,256, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does North Carolina Zoological Society get its money?
Of $15.5 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 67.0% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is North Carolina Zoological Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 56-0990900 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, 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 202601419349301655 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202501439349300400 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202412019349300606 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202301719349301100 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202242079349300739 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202141349349304769 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202033159349303768 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 56-0990900: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.