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Seneca Zoological Society

EIN 16-0905390 · Rochester, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHARTERED AS AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION BY NEW YORK STATE IN 1957, THE SOCIETY PROVIDES EDUCATION AND PROGRAMMING & CONSERVATION, FUNDRAISING, SPECIAL EVENTS, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MARKETING, AND MEMBERSHIP TO MONROE COUNTY'S SENECA PARK ZOO. WE ALSO AID IN THE DESIGN AND BUILDING OF NEW EXHIBITS AND HAVE, OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN $21 MILLION TO THIS EFFORT.

Income
$5.4 million
Spending
$4.5 million
Spent on programs
50%
Reserves
12.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
73
Volunteers
890
Highest pay
$172,233, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    50% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 37 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 29 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (2)
  1. $1.3 million spent. EDUCATION AND PROGRAMMING CONSERVATION ACTION- EDUCATION 9,427 PARTICIPANTS LEARNED TO ACT FOR WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES THROUGH 515 EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDING ONSITE SCHOOL PROGRAMS, ZOOCAMPS, SCOUTS AND KINDERZOO. WE ALSO HAD 121 TEEN VOLUNTEERS LOGGING OVER 5900 HOURS WITH 44,970 GUEST INTERACTIONS. PROGRAMMING & CONSERVATION ACTION DELIVERED 651 PROGRAMS FOR 41,980 PARTICIPANTS. THE PROGRAMS INCLUDE URBAN ECOLOGY, THE NATURE CART, COMMUNITY CLEANUPS, THE ZOOMOBILE AND THE BUTTERFLY BELTWAY PROJECT.
  2. $849,963 spent. MEMBERSHIPWE HAD THE SUPPORT OF OVER 14,000 MEMBERS IN 2024 INCLUDING 1,289 HEAD OF THE HERD HOUSEHOLDS WHO HAVE MAINTAINED THEIR MEMBERSHIP FOR 10 OR MORE CONSECUTIVE YEARS. MEMBER ATTENDANCE WAS OVER 115,000 AND 78% OF MEMBERS WENT DIGITAL WITH THEIR MEMBER CARDS HELPING US DRAMATICALLY REDUCE PAPER CONSUMPTION AND PRINTING COSTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1958.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.