Jacksonville Zoological Society
Also known as Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Jacksonville Zoological Society reported $50.6 million in revenue and $29.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $84.75 went to program services, $13.05 to management and general costs and $2.20 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 59.9% of the total. Government grants made up 38.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $284,241 (PRESIDENT & N CEO). 5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 145% 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 $30MFor 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 $51MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 84.8% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 13.0% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.2% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.02 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 59.9% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 38.1% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 33.7% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $284,241 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.96% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 5 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 47.3 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 26 of 26 | 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 expenseOperation and maintenance of zoological and botanical gardens for public enjoyment. The Jacksonville Zoological Society, inc. Operates and maintains the jacksonville zoo & gardens, a 119 acre facility accredited by the american zoo & aquarium association (aza). 873,436 guests visited the zoo with its award winning animal and botanical exhibits, and over 64,000 guests enjoyed specific educational programs, in addition to those educational experiences throughout the park
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 & N CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $275,776 | $0 | $8,465 | $284,241 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $157,061 | $0 | $9,632 | $166,693 |
| CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $142,760 | $0 | $10,454 | $153,214 |
| CHIEF LIFE SCIENCES OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $126,448 | $0 | $9,437 | $135,885 |
| CHIEF PEOPLE & CULTURE OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $106,603 | $0 | $20,138 | $126,741 |
5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Jacksonville Zoological Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $451K (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–1b26 · 26 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 4No
- 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 5362
- Volunteers Part I, line 6400
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| DANIS CONSTRUCTION LLC Construction services | $15,262,458 |
| SUPERIOR FENCE & RAIL OF NOFL LLC Construction services | $338,610 |
| MEMOIR AGENCY LLC Special events | $330,000 |
| CLEAN SLATE HOSPITALITY Food and beverage | $220,236 |
| SMILE AND WAVE SOLUTIONS LLC Construction services | $121,190 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
9 private foundations reported grants to Jacksonville Zoological Society totaling $49,959 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 Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville Zoological Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Jacksonville Zoological Society spent in FY2025, $84.75 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Lincoln Park Zoological SocietyChicago, IL · revenue $51M · programs 87.0% · FY2025
- Friends of the Zoo Inc. of Kansas City Missouri C/O Linda FalkKansas City, MO · revenue $54M · programs 93.0% · 2024
- The Toledo Zoological SocietyToledo, OH · revenue $50M · programs 85.1% · 2024
- The Saint Louis Zoo AssociationSaint Louis, MO · revenue $54M · programs 83.6% · 2025
- Lowry Park Zoological Society of TampaTampa, FL · revenue $49M · programs 88.4% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Jacksonville Zoological Society's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Jacksonville Zoological Society reported that 84.8% of its $29.7 million in expenses went to program services, 13.0% to management and general and 2.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Jacksonville Zoological Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Jacksonville Zoological Society reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $284,241, for the role of PRESIDENT & N CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Jacksonville Zoological Society get its money?
Of $50.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 59.9% came from contributions and grants (including 38.1% from government grants) and 33.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Jacksonville Zoological Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 59-1319010 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 202602399349301230 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202531639349300848 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202431809349301308 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202321579349300847 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202241229349301689 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202112249349300226 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 59-1319010: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.