Woodland Park Zoological Society
Also known as Woodland Park Zoo
Woodland Park Zoological Society reported $83.7 million in revenue and $77.9 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $83.51 went to program services, $9.93 to management and general costs and $6.56 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 62.3% of the total. Government grants made up 37.6%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $614,430 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 56 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 82% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $78MFor 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 $84MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.5% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.9% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.6% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 62.3% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 37.6% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 30.3% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $614,430 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.79% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 56 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 13.4 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 37 of 37 | 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 expenseAnimal care: the professional staff at the zoo care for more than 834 vertabrates and 5,270 invertebrates, representing 247 species, of which 26 are endangered and 5 are threatened. The zoo's scientific nutrition programs, welfare research, rehabilitation medicine, husbandry and behavioral enrichment ensure all animals at the zoo thrive. Together, animal care staff, including curators, veterinarians and keepers, have more than 1,000 years of combined expertise in their fields. The program revenue is generated by select animal experiences facilitated by a keeper or attendant who provides…
Grounds, facilities and exhibitry: the grounds and maintenance staff is responsible for our 92 acre community asset, including resource sustainability, daily upkeep, major maintenance and repairs, security, construction of new facilities, horticulture and signage. Expenses in this category increased by $15 million over prior year due to $16 million spent on the new forest trailhead exhibit opening in may 2026. Many of the thousands of plants and trees at the zoo provide vitamin-packed food for our herbivores and enrichment for all species. In addition to the zoo, staff maintain a 100-year-old…
Conservation and education: the zoo advances biodiversity conservation to mitigate climate change through the protection of more than 2.2 million acres of endangered species habitats regionally and globally through 28 wildlife conservation partnerships with indigenous and local communities and ngo's. Partners include the tree kangaroo conservation program in papua new guinea. Integral in the informal science education ecosystem, the zoo provides public programs, camps, community science projects, outreach learning and classes that foster connections with the natural world and support…
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 OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $559,597 | $0 | $54,833 | $614,430 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $291,857 | $0 | $40,655 | $332,512 |
| CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $254,010 | $0 | $40,610 | $294,620 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $259,894 | $0 | $26,525 | $286,419 |
| CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $231,422 | $0 | $14,905 | $246,327 |
| VP, LEARNING AND INNOVATION Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $195,972 | $0 | $32,024 | $227,996 |
| VP, ENGAGEMENT Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $208,553 | $0 | $16,261 | $224,814 |
| VP, CONSERVATION & CLIMATE Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $182,526 | $0 | $40,756 | $223,282 |
56 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Woodland Park Zoological Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.0M (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–1b37 · 37 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 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5645
- Volunteers Part I, line 6506
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SELLEN CONSTRUCTION Exhibit construction | $11,512,090 |
| TRUE WEST INC Concert promoter | $2,227,835 |
| TURNER CONSTRUCTION Exhibit construction | $1,664,073 |
| LMN ARCHITECTS Exhibit design | $1,285,026 |
| CMG SEATTLE Advertising | $783,447 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 30 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
19 private foundations reported grants to Woodland Park Zoological Society totaling $7.0M 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 Woodland Park 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 Woodland Park Zoological Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Woodland Park Zoological Society spent in 2024, $83.51 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Houston ZooHouston, TX · revenue $83M · programs 86.2% · 2024
- Ocean Habitat and Wildlife RescueWest Palm Beach, FL · revenue $86M · programs 69.8% · 2025
- Omaha Zoological SocietyOmaha, NE · revenue $82M · programs 93.2% · 2024
- Wildlife Conservation NetworkSan Francisco, CA · revenue $86M · programs 92.1% · 2025
- Great Lakes Fishery CommissionAnn Arbor, MI · revenue $80M · programs 92.4% · FY2025
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Washington
Questions people ask
How much of Woodland Park Zoological Society's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Woodland Park Zoological Society reported that 83.5% of its $77.9 million in expenses went to program services, 9.9% to management and general and 6.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Woodland Park Zoological Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Woodland Park Zoological Society reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $614,430, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Woodland Park Zoological Society get its money?
Of $83.7 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 62.3% came from contributions and grants (including 37.6% from government grants) and 30.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Woodland Park Zoological Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 91-6070005 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 202533089349302723 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202402989349301515 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202332839349301018 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202222939349300022 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202123059349302332 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202023189349307232 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 91-6070005: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.