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Commonwealth Zoological Corporation

EIN 04-3129124 · Boston, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE ALL ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER SERVICES AND SUPPORT REQUIRED OR CONTEMPLATED BY CHAPTER 92B OF THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL LAWS TO THE FRANKLIN PARK ZOO AND THE WALTER D. STONE MEMORIAL ZOO, TO ANY OTHER AGENCY OR ENTITY REFERENCED THEREIN, AND ACT INDEPENDENTLY IN CONNECTION WITH ZOOLOGICAL MATTERS. FURTHERMORE, ZOO NEW ENGLAND'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO PROTECT AND SUSTAIN THE NATURAL WORLD FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS BY CREATING FUN AND ENGAGING EXPERIENCES THAT INTEGRATE WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION.

Income
$34.4 million
Spending
$30.6 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 36%
Employees
448
Volunteers
186
Highest pay
$180,016, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $6.2 million spent. GUEST SERVICESIN FY 25, ZOO NEW ENGLAND'S DAYTIME ATTENDANCE REACHED 711,392 VISITORS, A DECREASE OF 44,662 VISITORS COMPARED TO 756,054 IN FY 24. STONE ZOO'S DAYTIME ATTENDANCE REACHED 289,140 VISITORS, A DECREASE OF 4,551 FROM 293,691 IN FY 24. TOTAL FY 25 ATTENDANCE FOR ZOOLIGHTS (STONE ZOO' EVENING HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOW, WHICH OPERATES PRIMARILY IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER) WAS 79,043 AN DECREASE OF 7,991 VISITORS COMPARED TO 87,034 IN FY 24. TOTAL FY 25 ATTENDANCE FOR BOSTON LIGHTS: A LANTERN EXPERIENCE (FRANKLIN PARK ZOO' EVENING SUMMER/FALL LANTERN EXPERIENCE) WAS 211,208, AN INCREASE OF 54,212 COMPARED TO 156,996 IN FY 24. TOTAL OVERALL ATTENDANCE INCLUSIVE OF ZOOLIGHTS AND BOSTON LIGHTS IN FY 25 WAS 1,001,643, AN INCREASE OF 1,559 VISITORS COMPARED TO 1,000,084 IN FY 24.
  2. $7.1 million spent. ANIMAL CARE & EXHIBITS AS OF JUNE 30, 2025, FRANKLIN PARK ZOO FEATURES 78 PUBLIC ANIMAL HABITATS AND STONE ZOO FEATURES 55. ZOO NEW ENGLAND IS HOME TO 1,069 ANIMALS REPRESENTING 193 SPECIES.DURING FY 25, SIGNIFICANT ACQUISITIONS AT FRANKLIN PARK ZOO INCLUDED BIRD SPECIES SUCH AS BLACKNAPED FRUIT DOVE, SCALY-SIDED MERGANSER, RED-CRESTED TURACO, HADADA IBIS, BOAT-BILLED HERON, SUNBITTERN, KEA, RED SISKIN, AND VIOLET TURACO, MAMMALS INCLUDING COTTON-TOP TAMARIN, AFRICAN WILD DOG, AND NYALA, AND INVERTEBRATES SUCH AS THE FLORIDA IVORY MILLIPEDE, EMPEROR SCORPION, BLUE BABOON TARANTULA AND SUN BEETLE. AT STONE ZOO, SIGNIFICANT ACQUISITIONS INCLUDED COTTON-TOP TAMARIN, RED-RUMPED AGOUTI, NORTH AMERICAN RIVER OTTER, SPINY-TAILED IGUANA AND CHUCKWALLA.NOTABLE BIRTHS AND HATCHES AT FRANKLIN PARK ZOO INCLUDED SCALY-SIDED MERGANSER, YELLOW-BILLED STORK, LAUGHING KOOKABURRA, WATTLED CRANE, HARTMANN'S MOUNTAIN ZEBRA, AND MASAI GIRAFFE. AT STONE ZOO, SIGNIFICANT BIRTHS INCLUDED LINNE'S TWO-TOED SLOTH, EASTERN BLACK-AND-WHITE COLOBUS, AND PREHENSILE-TAILED PORCUPINE.
  3. $1.6 million spent. EDUCATION CHAPTER 92B OF THE ACTS OF 1992 OF THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL LAWS PROVIDES THAT THE ZOOS WILL ADMIT MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL GROUPS AT NO CHARGE. FIELD TRIPS TO THE ZOO ARE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SCIENCE, WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION. THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT BEGAN OFFERING AT-SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR SCHOOLS, WHICH RESULTED IN 78 AT-SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS REACHING OVER 1,904 PARTICIPANTS.
  4. $8.4 million spent. EXPENSES INCURRED FOR FACILITIES AND GROUNDS INCLUDE SALARIES, FRINGE BENEFITS, UTILITIES, INSURANCE AND REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE WHICH ENABLE ZOO NEW ENGLAND TO OPERATE IN A COMFORTABLE, SAFE AND PROTECTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR STAFF AND VISITORS TO THE ZOOS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1992.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.