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Rolling Hills Zoo Foundation

EIN 30-0180215 · Salina, KS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ROLLING HILLS ZOO FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF WILDLIFE THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AND BY PROVIDING FUN AND INTERACTIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$4.8 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
69
Volunteers
57
Highest pay
$116,455, executive di

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $4.1 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE O
  2. $161,117 spent. ROLLING HILLS ZOO FOUNDATION PROVIDES INCREDIBLE EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO VISITORS. FOR SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN, WE PROVIDE ON DEMAND PROGRAMS CONSISTING OF SPECIALLY DESIGNED THEMES THAT ARE TAILORED TO SPECIFIC AGE GROUPS, AND EACH THEME IS TIED TO SPECIFIC KANSAS STATE SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS. OUR EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ALSO ENGAGES PARTICIPANTS IN OVERNIGHT ADVENTURES WHERE STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO LEARN EVEN MORE ABOUT OUR ANIMALS, CONSERVATION, AND BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR ECOSYSTEM WITHOUT TIME CONSTRAINTS.
  3. LINE 4A - PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ROLLING HILLS ZOO FOUNDATION RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 84,000 VISITORS TO ITS WORLD-CLASS ZOO AND STATE OF THE ART MUSEUM DURING YEAR 2024. 100+ SPECIES OF WILDLIFE ARE AT HOME AT THE BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED ZOO, WHERE GREAT CARE IS TAKEN TO PROVIDE OUR ANIMALS SPACIOUS AND NATURALISTIC ENVIRONMENTS. OUR ZOOKEEPERS ARE SPECIALLY TRAINED TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR ANIMALS, WHICH IN TURN HELPS THE ANIMALS THRIVE AND BE EXTRA RESPONSIVE TO ZOO VISITORS. OUR ZOOKEEPERS KNOW THE ANIMALS WELL AND ARE HAPPY TO RELATE THEIR OWN INSIGHTS TO THE MANY ANIMAL PERSONALITIES HERE AT THE ZOO. A JOURNEY THROUGH THE 64,000 SQUARE FOOT MUSEUM TAKES YOU AROUND THE WORLD TO EXPERIENCE THE DELICATE SYMMETRY BETWEEN HUMANS, ANIMALS AND NATURE IN SEVEN UNIQUE REGIONS FROM THE ARCTIC TO THE RAINFOREST. OUR STATE-OF-THE ART ANIMATRONIC HUMAN ROBOTS NARRATE STORIES OF HOW THEY WEAVE THE THREAD OF THEIR EXISENCE INTO THE DELICATE BALANCE OF LIFE. AS YOU MOVE THROUGH THE VARIETIES OF FOLIAGE AND LANDSCAPING, YOU'LL SEE AND HEAR THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS OF EACH SECTION OF OUR WORLD. THE MUSEUM ALSO FEATURES AN EDUCATION CENTER AND GALLERY. THE EDUCATION CENTER PROVIDES HANDS-ON INTERACTIVE WAYS TO EXPLORE AND LEARN ABOUT THE WONDERFUL ANIMALS ON OUR PLANET. FROM ART SHOWS TO ROBOTIC BUGS, SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING WILL ALWAYS BE ON EXHIBIT IN THE GALLERY AREA.

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 June 2003.

    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.

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