The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches
Also known as Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society
The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches reported $26.7 million in revenue and $14.6 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $78.18 went to program services, $12.18 to management and general costs and $9.64 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 70.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $257,907 (PRESIDENT/CEO). 7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 168% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $15MFor 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 September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $27M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$69.10 $19M
- Government grants$0.97 $262K
- Program service revenue$26.86 $7.2M
- Investment income$3.07 $824K
Other revenue was negative: −$172K. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 78.2% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.2% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.6% | 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 | 70.5% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 27.0% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $257,907 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.77% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 7 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 53.6 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 17 of 17 | 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 expenseWildlife programs:the Zoological Society of the palm beaches is a fully accredited public zoo caring for over 400 animals, many of whom are endangered and whose native territories are threatened. The primary mission of the zoo is to inspire the almost 400,000 guests who visit the zoo annually to take action that will have a positive, life-saving impact on these same species in the wild. We do this through a series of daily zoologist chats, training demonstrations and up close animal experiences for the public. Included within this primary function is the operation and management of the zoo's…
Conservation programs: the zoo is committed to conservation of animals in the wild and their homes in the wild. We participate in projects in the field that align with our mission by providing monetary support to other conservation organizations through our grant program as well as performing hands on conservation work both within our local community as well as other wild areas of the world. These programs include support of avian research & conservation institute's swallow tail kite and snail kite programs and the belize zoo & tropical education center's jaguar conservation programs.our…
Education programs:we rolled out a new approach to education and engagement at the zoo during our fiscal year '23 that redefines our education programs to create connections with all our audiences. We spent the next year piloting the new programming with two of our neighborhood schools. The programming provides a more purposeful alignment of our education programs with our core mission of inspiring people to act on behalf of wildlife. And this year, we have launched a new teen summer camp program as well as a teen volunteer programs, providing a very important connection between nature and…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT/CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $249,399 | $0 | $8,508 | $257,907 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $180,416 | $0 | $5,448 | $185,864 |
| CHIEF OPERATING & SECURITY OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $152,047 | $0 | $5,470 | $157,517 |
| CHIEF ANIMAL & CONSERVATION OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $135,281 | $0 | $4,006 | $139,287 |
| DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $111,824 | $0 | $4,444 | $116,268 |
| VP OF GUEST SERVICES Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $109,612 | $0 | $4,280 | $113,892 |
| DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE DESIGN & DESIGN DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $100,353 | $0 | $2,256 | $102,609 |
7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $913K (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–1b17 · 17 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 5125
- Volunteers Part I, line 6113
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| NOSH CATERING AND EVENTS Catering and event services for zoo's ga | $107,285 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 1 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
9 private foundations reported grants to The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches 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 The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches spent in FY2025, $78.18 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Omaha Zoo FoundationOmaha, NE · revenue $26M · programs 86.4% · 2024
- American Bird ConservancyMarshall, VA · revenue $27M · programs 75.4% · 2024
- EmancipetAustin, TX · revenue $26M · programs 84.8% · 2024
- Peninsula Humane Society & SPCABurlingame, CA · revenue $28M · programs 80.8% · FY2025
- Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida ITallahassee, FL · revenue $26M · programs 90.6% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches reported that 78.2% of its $14.6 million in expenses went to program services, 12.2% to management and general and 9.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $257,907, for the role of PRESIDENT/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches get its money?
Of $26.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 70.5% came from contributions and grants (including 1.0% from government grants) and 27.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 59-1259270 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
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, object 202622309349300732 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202522269349300442 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202432239349300208 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202322169349301552 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202232279349301633 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202132239349301818 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 59-1259270: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.