Santa Barbara Zoological Foundation
Santa Barbara Zoological Foundation reported $21.8 million in revenue and $18.0 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $82.11 went to program services, $9.02 to management and general costs and $8.87 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 47.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $404,591 (CEO). 19 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 98% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $18MFor 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 $22MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.1% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.0% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 8.9% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.23 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 31.5% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 47.5% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $404,591 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.25% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 19 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 30.1 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 23 of 23 | 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 expenseHighest 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $367,610 | $0 | $36,981 | $404,591 |
| COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $228,205 | $0 | $18,397 | $246,602 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $181,219 | $0 | $24,897 | $206,116 |
| VP OF ANIMAL CARE AND HEALTH Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $169,678 | $0 | $12,899 | $182,577 |
| VP OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $166,347 | $0 | $12,990 | $179,337 |
| VETERINARIAN Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $131,790 | $0 | $10,425 | $142,215 |
| DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $128,240 | $0 | $9,685 | $137,925 |
| DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $129,102 | $0 | $61 | $129,163 |
19 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Santa Barbara Zoological Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $857K (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–1b23 · 23 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 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5428
- Volunteers Part I, line 6159
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| TIANYU ARTS & CULTURE INC Consulting | $886,552 |
| SCHIPPER CONSTRUCTION Construction | $620,739 |
| JORDANO'S INC Food for sale, supplies & equip | $393,063 |
| RINCON CATERING INC Catering | $376,553 |
| CEMROCK LANDSCAPES INC Landscaping | $240,447 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
10 private foundations reported grants to Santa Barbara Zoological Foundation totaling $558K 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 Santa Barbara Zoological Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Santa Barbara Zoological Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Santa Barbara Zoological Foundation spent in 2024, $82.11 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Austin Pets AliveAustin, TX · revenue $22M · programs 77.7% · 2024
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- Humane Society of the Pikes Peak RegionColorado Springs, CO · revenue $22M · programs 79.6% · 2024
- The Humane LeagueRockville, MD · revenue $22M · programs 67.4% · 2025
- The North Carolina Aquarium SocietyRaleigh, NC · revenue $22M · programs 73.2% · 2025
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Santa Barbara Zoological Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Santa Barbara Zoological Foundation reported that 82.1% of its $18.0 million in expenses went to program services, 9.0% to management and general and 8.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Santa Barbara Zoological Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Santa Barbara Zoological Foundation reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $404,591, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Santa Barbara Zoological Foundation get its money?
Of $21.8 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 31.5% came from contributions and grants and 47.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Santa Barbara Zoological Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 95-2268554 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 202503219349319850 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202423189349306122 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202343189349315854 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202223199349319607 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202143199349327654 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202033169349304688 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 95-2268554: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.