San Antonio Zoological Society
San Antonio Zoological Society reported $61.1 million in revenue and $43.5 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $88.80 went to program services, $7.64 to management and general costs and $3.56 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 50.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $507,001 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 16 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 114% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $44MFor 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 $61MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 88.8% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 7.6% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.6% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.05 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 50.6% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 39.4% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $507,001 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.17% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 16 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 31.4 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 55 of 57 | 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 expenseProvide the highest standard of care for our animal and plant collection and exhibit them for the 1,178,947 visitors to the zoo in each fiscal year. Utilize all resources at our disposal for the conservation of the earth's flora and fauna. Included in the experience is quality food and novelty concessions for the comfort of all guests.in addition, the zoo provides a diverse and high-quality recreational experience for over 350,000 guests annually at its educational center
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $498,805 | $0 | $8,196 | $507,001 |
| CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $262,294 | $0 | $24,581 | $286,875 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $202,084 | $0 | $23,713 | $225,797 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $176,104 | $0 | $18,097 | $194,201 |
| DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $159,006 | $0 | $25,197 | $184,203 |
| VP OF CONSERVATION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $154,908 | $0 | $25,672 | $180,580 |
| VP OF MARKETING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $133,112 | $0 | $24,310 | $157,422 |
| SR DIRECTOR OF VETERINARY (RET 10/17/24) Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $122,056 | $0 | $23,876 | $145,932 |
16 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from San Antonio Zoological Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.2M (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–1b57 · 55 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13No
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- 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 5735
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| GUIDO BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION Construction | $27,614,100 |
| SPAWGLASS CONTRACTORS INC Construction | $2,875,800 |
| ADDISON PRIME LLC DBA ADDISON PRIME Construction | $1,247,530 |
| PGAV DESTINATIONS Design services | $778,558 |
| SAND CREEK TIMBER FRAMES LLC DBA TIMBERL Construction | $674,213 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 36 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
18 private foundations reported grants to San Antonio Zoological Society totaling $480K 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 San Antonio 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 San Antonio Zoological Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 San Antonio Zoological Society spent in 2024, $88.80 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Aquarium of the Pacific CorporationLong Beach, CA · revenue $59M · programs 85.6% · 2024
- Audubon Nature InstituteNew Orleans, LA · revenue $61M · programs 67.9% · 2024
- The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsSan Francisco, CA · revenue $58M · programs 85.4% · FY2025
- The Fort Worth Zoological AssociationFort Worth, TX · revenue $62M · programs 78.5% · FY2025
- Indianapolis Zoological SocietyIndianapolis, IN · revenue $58M · programs 88.1% · 2024
Questions people ask
How much of San Antonio Zoological Society's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, San Antonio Zoological Society reported that 88.8% of its $43.5 million in expenses went to program services, 7.6% to management and general and 3.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does San Antonio Zoological Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation San Antonio Zoological Society reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $507,001, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does San Antonio Zoological Society get its money?
Of $61.1 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 50.6% came from contributions and grants (including 0.5% from government grants) and 39.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is San Antonio Zoological Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 74-1323695 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 202543189349303454 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202413209349317421 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022 (amended), object 202412709349301661 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021 (amended), object 202322219349301507 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202101039349300720 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202011269349301121 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 74-1323695: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.