Norristown Zoological Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ELMWOOD PARKS ZOO'S MISSION STATEMENT IS TO FOSTER AN APPRECIATION FOR WILDLIFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL INSPIRE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN CONSERVATION.
- Income
- $23.2 million
- Spending
- $17.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- -9.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 73%
- Employees
- 245
- Volunteers
- 569
- Highest pay
- $439,090, exec director/ ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 44% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (1)
- $15.8 million spent. PURPOSES, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT WILDLIFE, PRESERVATION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES & CONSERVATION. AS AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, THE ZOO HOSTS MANY PUBLIC EVENTS TO INFORM AND ENTERTAIN ITS GUESTS. SUCH EVENTS INCLUDE ANNUAL BREAKFAST WITH THE ANIMALS, BRUNCHES WITH ANTA, PARTY FOR THE PLANET, ZOOSNOOZE OVERNIGHT CAMPOUTS, BOO AT THE ZOO WEEKENDS, AND MANY MORE. EACH SUMMER, THE ZOO HOSTS BEAST OF A FEAST, ITS LARGEST ANNUAL FUNDRAISER WITH DOZENS OF LOCAL VENDORS THAT SHOWCASE THE BEST FOOD DROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY. PER ITS DESIGNATION AS A CERTIFED AUTISM CENTER, THE ZOO HOSTSMONTHLY EARLY ACCESS MORNINGS TO CATER TO GUESTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND THEIR CARETAKERS. THE ZOO OFFERS INTERSHIPS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN EACH OF ITS DEPARTMENTS. GUESTS OUTSIDE THE ZOO CAN ENJOY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS LIKE ZOO-ON-WHEELS, IN WHICH EDUCATORS ON STAFF TRAVEL WITH ANIMALS TO SCHOOLS, CAMPS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, SENIOR CENTERS, AND MALLS TO PROMOTE THE MISSION OF THE ZOO. CHILDREN AGES 6-11 CAN ENJOY THE ZOO'S DAY CAMPS, HELD EACH SPRING AND SUMMER. IN ADDITION TO THE SPECIAL EVENTS HELD THOUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE ZOO HOSTS REGULAR EVENTS EACH MONTH TO CATER TO ITS MEMBERS, AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. THERE ARE TWO MEMBER MORNINGS HELD EACH MONTH GIVING ZOO MEMBERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENTER THE ZOO BEFORE IT OPENS TO THE PUBLIC. THERE ARE ALSO REGULARLY SCHEDULED NORRISTOWN FREE DAYS, PROVIDING FREE ZOO ADMISSION ON THOSE DAYS TO RESIDENTS OF THE NORRISTOWN BOROUGH. THE ZOO FREQUENTLY PARTNERS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT ITS MISSION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1976.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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