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Cleveland Zoological Society

EIN 34-0816490 · Cleveland, OH

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

CLEVELAND ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY IS THE NONPROFIT PARTNER OF CLEVELAND METROPARKS ZOO, COMMITTED TO RAISING AWARENESS OF THE ZOO AS A COMMUNITY PRIORITY; SECURING PRIVATE DONATIONS; AND RUNNING A MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES OPERATING AND CONSERVATION FUNDING.

Income
$14.6 million
Spending
$16.9 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
13.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
26
Volunteers
54
Highest pay
$221,417, 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    48 of 48 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 (3)
  1. $4.4 million spent. WE EXCEEDED OUR REVENUE GOALS FOR ANNUAL OPERATIONS INCLUDING MEMBERSHIP REVENUE OF OVER $5 MILLION. THE ZOO SOCIETY CONTINUED DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP COMMUNICATIONS AND IN-PERSON DONOR EVENTS. IN TURN, THE ZOO SOCIETY PROVIDED $3,023,411 IN GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT TO CLEVELAND METROPARKS ZOO.
  2. $9.2 million spent. IN 2024, THE ZOO SOCIETY SECURED $6,028,840 IN CAPITAL PROJECT SUPPORT. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMITTED $9,000,000 IN SUPPORT FOR PRIMATE FOREST AND $205,400 TO SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE PRIMATE FOREST PROJECT, THE ZOO SOCIETY WILL MAKE ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE DIFFERENT PHASES OF THE PROJECT.
  3. $1.2 million spent. THE ZOO SOCIETY PROVIDED IN TOTAL OVER $1.2 MILLION TO THE ZOO IN SUPPORT OF ITS EDUCATION, CONSERVATION, ANIMAL CARE PROGRAMS, AND OTHER SPECIAL PROJECTS.THAT $1.2 MILLION THE ZOO SOCIETY PROVIDED IS COMPRISED OF $407,194 IN SUPPORT OF ANIMAL CARE PROGRAMMING, $164,148 IN SUPPORT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING, AND $661,038 IN SUPPORT OF CONSERVATION PROGRAMMING. THIS FUNDING WAS A BLEND OF GENEROUS DONATIONS, INVESTMENT SPINOFFS, AS WELL AS A PORTION OF EACH MEMBERSHIP PURCHASED IN THE YEAR.

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 January 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.

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