Conservation Society of California
Conservation Society of California reported $35.0 million in revenue and $36.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $79.34 went to program services, $15.27 to management and general costs and $5.39 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 63.7% of the total. Government grants made up 6.5%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $358,624 (CEO). 16 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 59% 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 $36MFor 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 $35MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 79.3% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 15.3% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.4% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.19 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 29.0% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 6.5% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 63.7% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $358,624 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.99% | 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 | 28.5 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 20 of 20 | 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 expenseOakland zoo is proud of its continued success in animal care and welfare, learning and engagement, and conservation initiatives. The zoo is home to over 700 animals that our staff provide industry leading care for to ensure their physical and social wellbeing. Conservation is core to our mission, and the zoo continues to focus its efforts on ten species including african elephants, chimpanzees, bison, african lions, california condors, and more. Our veterinary and animal care teams continue our local wildlife rescue work with oakland's city bird, the black crowned night heron, and we rescued…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $339,561 | $0 | $19,063 | $358,624 |
| CFAO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $199,560 | $0 | $16,218 | $215,778 |
| DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $188,847 | $0 | $9,906 | $198,753 |
| SVP IMPACT & REVENUE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $190,547 | $0 | $5,714 | $196,261 |
| VP PEOPLE & CULTURE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $169,295 | $0 | $12,586 | $181,881 |
| VP VETERINARY SERVICES Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $165,442 | $0 | $15,771 | $181,213 |
| VP MARKETING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $140,923 | $0 | $4,077 | $145,000 |
16 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Conservation Society of California (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $574K (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–1b20 · 20 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5464
- Volunteers Part I, line 6570
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| OB CHAMBERS Construction | $267,679 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 1 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
13 private foundations reported grants to Conservation Society of California totaling $229K 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 Conservation Society of California's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Conservation Society of California, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Conservation Society of California spent in FY2025, $79.34 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoological SocietyColorado Springs, CO · revenue $34M · programs 82.8% · FY2026
- Humane World for Animals InternationalWashington, DC · revenue $35M · programs 74.3% · 2024
- Commonwealth Zoological CorporationBoston, MA · revenue $34M · programs 76.3% · FY2025
- Dove Lewis Emergency Animal HospitalPortland, OR · revenue $36M · programs 89.6% · FY2025
- Karuna FoundationCheyenne, WY · revenue $34M · programs 99.9% · 2025
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Conservation Society of California's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Conservation Society of California reported that 79.3% of its $36.1 million in expenses went to program services, 15.3% to management and general and 5.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Conservation Society of California pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Conservation Society of California reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $358,624, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Conservation Society of California get its money?
Of $35.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 29.0% came from contributions and grants (including 6.5% from government grants) and 63.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Conservation Society of California a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 94-1687847 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 202632249349302618 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202522189349300322 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202402159349300615 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202332269349303038 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202222249349302827 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202132289349301048 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 94-1687847: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.