The Living Desert
The Living Desert reported $48.0 million in revenue and $28.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $87.95 went to program services, $4.13 to management and general costs and $7.92 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 35.7% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $696,748 (PRESIDENT/CEO & ASST. SEC). 7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 100% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $29MFor context, the median across 371 covered environment charities: $85.82 programs, $10.80 management, $3.38 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $48MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 88.0% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 4.1% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.9% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.20 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 23.6% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 3.4% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 35.7% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $696,748 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.42% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 67.9 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 21 of 22 | 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 expenseConservation and education programing: the Living Desert is an agent of conservation with 100+ projects in 12 countries on 3 continents, collaborating with 70+ in-country organizations. We are global leaders in community-based conservation using successful biological and social science-based training, research, and implementation projects all around the world, while also inspiring resource sustainability efforts among our visitors. The educational programs of the Living Desert cover all elements of desert conservation awareness to provoke conservation actions and behavioral change. We reach…
Collections: the plants and animals at the Living Desert have important roles, as they are ambassadors for their wild counterparts. The Living Desert maintains one of the most notable and extensive collections of desert flora and fauna in the united states. As one of only two zoological and botanical gardens in the country with desert conservation as its mission, we proudly provide a home to almost 600 individual desert animals of over 152 species and over 10,000 desert plants of over 1000 species in over 50 themed gardens and habitats. The zoo and gardens is set within the natural sonoran…
Membership/park services: the Living Desert has been in operation for almost 55 years. Various memberships are offered including single, family, and other levels, up to donative memberships. The Living Desert's membership program expands the guest experience to include an ongoing connection to the mission and special events. Each department within the Living Desert team strives to assure excellence in their area of expertise to provide optimal animal well- being, park preservation and meaningful guests connections. The experience begins with the ease of parking and park entry; to the…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT/CEO & ASST. SEC Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $686,827 | $0 | $9,921 | $696,748 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $211,064 | $0 | $5,560 | $216,624 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $199,744 | $0 | $7,095 | $206,839 |
| CFO & VP OF TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $192,317 | $0 | $11,329 | $203,646 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $164,989 | $0 | $10,877 | $175,866 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF LEARNING & IMPACT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $161,202 | $0 | $10,145 | $171,347 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF CONSERVATION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $154,327 | $0 | $6,559 | $160,886 |
7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Living Desert (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $930K (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–1b22 · 21 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 26Yes
- 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 5327
- Volunteers Part I, line 6643
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| DW JOHNSTON CONSTRUCTION INC General contractor for tld projects | $14,125,360 |
| PREST VUKSIC ARCHITECTS Architect for tld projects | $1,435,772 |
| TIANYU ARTS AND CULTURE INC Professional holiday lights services | $624,892 |
| LANE TERRALEVER LLC Advertising | $566,253 |
| MOMENTOUS Zoobilee gala vendor | $443,798 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
48 private foundations reported grants to The Living Desert totaling $3.6M 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 The Living Desert's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Living Desert, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Living Desert spent in FY2025, $87.95 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Great Barrier Reef Foundation USAWashington, DC · revenue $48M · programs 99.7% · FY2025
- Center for International Forestry ResearchAlexandria, VA · revenue $49M · programs 84.2% · 2024
- Sustainable Markets FoundationNew York, NY · revenue $48M · programs 98.2% · FY2025
- Sustainable Energy UtilityDover, DE · revenue $49M · programs 95.1% · FY2025
- Grid AlternativesOakland, CA · revenue $47M · programs 72.3% · 2024
Questions people ask
How much of The Living Desert's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, The Living Desert reported that 88.0% of its $28.8 million in expenses went to program services, 4.1% to management and general and 7.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Living Desert pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Living Desert reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $696,748, for the role of PRESIDENT/CEO & ASST. SEC (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Living Desert get its money?
Of $48.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 23.6% came from contributions and grants (including 3.4% from government grants) and 35.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Living Desert a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 95-3385354 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 June 30, 2025, object 202543119349302519 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202530249349300348 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202343199349314184 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202213129349303031 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202133159349308813 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202043219349321204 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 95-3385354: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.