Birmingham Zoo
Birmingham Zoo reported $14.4 million in revenue and $13.5 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $89.98 went to program services, $5.15 to management and general costs and $4.87 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 55.4% of the total. Government grants made up 11.0%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $314,886 (President & CEO). 4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 17% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · 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 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $14MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 90.0% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 5.2% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 4.9% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.08 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 55.4% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 11.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 38.4% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $314,886 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.34% | 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 | 44.8 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 25 of 25 | 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 expenseManagement of facility operations of the Birmingham Zoo, sponsorship of educational, environmental, and conservation programs, and promotion of the zoo and animal and horticultural life through exhibits, programs and activities, enlightening visitors about the plight of endangered animals and the support needed for global wildlife conservation efforts. The Birmingham Zoo is accredited by the association of zoos and aquariums, relationship with the Birmingham chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers, this partnership furthers conservation awareness and the education and appreciation…
Birmingham Zoo's Educational Programs -Students visiting Zoo on field trips was 32,570 and 35 out of 67 Alabama counties and 12 states outside of Alabama served by educational programs. The number of individuals served in ALL programming is below.o Behind the Scenes Tour Participants - 91o Twilight Tour Participants -152o Zoo Snooze Participants -227o Endangered Species Day 1,154o Digital Discovery Program Participants 1,067o Digital Field Experience Program Participants 771o ZooSchool Participants 659o Field Trip Program Participants 1,617o Zoo Events Participants (CCC Day, eRecycling Day)…
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 | $296,886 | $0 | $18,000 | $314,886 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $173,013 | $0 | $0 | $173,013 |
| Deputy Director Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $150,990 | $0 | $0 | $150,990 |
| VP of Development Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $101,046 | $0 | $0 | $101,046 |
4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Birmingham Zoo (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $488K (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–1b25 · 25 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5210
- Volunteers Part I, line 6276
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Rives Construction Construction | $2,231,998 |
| Univ of Alabama Construction | $572,097 |
| Hanart Culture LLC Holiday Light Show | $395,263 |
| Thermeq Company Construction | $270,386 |
| Chance Rides Manufacturing Inc Construction | $246,658 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 11 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
32 private foundations reported grants to Birmingham Zoo totaling $943K 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 Birmingham Zoo's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Birmingham Zoo, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Birmingham Zoo spent in 2024, $89.98 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Richmond Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsRichmond, VA · revenue $14M · programs 83.6% · FY2025
- Minnesota Zoo FoundationApple Valley, MN · revenue $14M · programs 66.5% · FY2025
- Inter-American Tropical Tuna CommissionLA Jolla, CA · revenue $14M · programs 82.9% · 2024
- Save the ChimpsFt Pierce, FL · revenue $14M · programs 77.2% · 2024
- Charleston Animal SocietyNorth Charleston, SC · revenue $14M · programs 82.4% · 2025
Questions people ask
How much of Birmingham Zoo's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Birmingham Zoo reported that 90.0% of its $13.5 million in expenses went to program services, 5.2% to management and general and 4.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Birmingham Zoo pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Birmingham Zoo reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $314,886, for the role of President & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Birmingham Zoo get its money?
Of $14.4 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 55.4% came from contributions and grants (including 11.0% from government grants) and 38.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Birmingham Zoo a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 62-1231591 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
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202533029349302413 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202433189349305088 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202333199349323413 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202243199349325769 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202103199349321660 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202043189349303499 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 62-1231591: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.