Zoological Society of San Diego
Also known as San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Zoological Society of San Diego reported $437.6 million in revenue and $391.4 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $84.96 went to program services, $12.84 to management and general costs and $2.20 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 68.7% of the total. Government grants made up 6.5%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $2,056,676 (PRESIDENT/CEO). 163 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 4% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $391MFor 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 $438MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 85.0% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.8% | 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 | $0.10 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 19.2% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 6.5% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 68.7% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $2,056,676 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.53% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 163 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 26.4 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 12 of 12 | 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 expenseSdzwa categorizes all activities into one program: wildlife care and conservation. Sdzwa is an international organization with two front doors: the San Diego zoo and the San Diego zoo safari park. Sdzwa is committed to saving species worldwide by uniting our expertise in wildlife care and conservation science with our dedication to inspiring passion for nature. Conservation is at the heart of everything sdzwa pursues and it starts with connecting people with wildlife through our zoological parks and education programs, inspiring and educating our guests everyday. Continued on schedule…
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, 50.00 hrs/week | $1,993,422 | $0 | $63,254 | $2,056,676 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $820,184 | $0 | $50,685 | $870,869 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $757,377 | $0 | $42,631 | $800,008 |
| CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $631,492 | $0 | $28,765 | $660,257 |
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAFARI PARK Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $495,003 | $0 | $38,522 | $533,525 |
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAN DIEGO ZOO Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $479,637 | $0 | $39,732 | $519,369 |
| CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $450,014 | $0 | $49,697 | $499,711 |
| CHIEF CONSERVATION/WILDLIFE Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $478,428 | $0 | $16,145 | $494,573 |
163 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Zoological Society of San Diego (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $5.9M (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–1b12 · 12 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 54,211
- Volunteers Part I, line 62,019
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| THE SHIPYARD LLC Advertising services | $7,550,436 |
| MOORE A SERIES LLC Consulting services | $3,430,937 |
| LEGACY ROCK AND WATERSCAPES Construction services | $2,828,724 |
| SCOTT FENCE Construction services | $1,140,685 |
| WHOLE TREES LLC Construction services | $1,128,370 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 38 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
88 private foundations reported grants to Zoological Society of San Diego totaling $4.2M 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 Zoological Society of San Diego's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Zoological Society of San Diego, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Zoological Society of San Diego spent in 2024, $84.96 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Wildlife Conservation SocietyBronx, NY · revenue $401M · programs 88.3% · FY2025
- The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsNew York, NY · revenue $446M · programs 74.5% · 2024
- Humane World for AnimalsWashington, DC · revenue $217M · programs 71.4% · 2025
- National Fish and Wildlife FoundationWashington, DC · revenue $584M · programs 96.5% · FY2025
- Monterey Bay Aquarium FoundationMonterey, CA · revenue $208M · programs 81.4% · 2024
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Zoological Society of San Diego's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Zoological Society of San Diego reported that 85.0% of its $391.4 million in expenses went to program services, 12.8% to management and general and 2.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Zoological Society of San Diego pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Zoological Society of San Diego reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $2,056,676, for the role of PRESIDENT/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Zoological Society of San Diego get its money?
Of $437.6 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 19.2% came from contributions and grants (including 6.5% from government grants) and 68.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Zoological Society of San Diego a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 95-1648219 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 202523039349303262 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202422899349300502 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202342869349300304 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233089349301448 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202123079349303552 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202012869349302006 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 95-1648219: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.