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Potawatomi Zoological Society Inc

EIN 35-1183974 · South Bend, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

POTAWATOMI ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC. (THE SOCIETY) IS AN INDIANA NONPROFIT CORPORATION WHOSE PRIMARY MISSION IS TO ASSIST AND ADVISE THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA (THE CITY) BY ACTING AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMUNITY, AND TO PROVIDE FUNDING WITH FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SOUTH BEND POTAWATOMI PARK ZOO (THE ZOO) IN AREAS THAT PROMOTE EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION, CONSERVATION AND IMPROVED ANIMAL QUALITY OF LIFE. THE ZOO IS RECOGNIZED AS A VITAL CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL COMMUNITY ASSET AND WISH TO ENHANCE THE ZOO'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY IN THE AREAS OF RECREATION, EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION. THE SOCIETY IS COMMITTED TO THE ONGOING DEVELOPMENT, SUPPORT AND ENRICHMENT OF THE ZOO AND SHARE THE GOAL OF PROVIDING A TOP FLIGHT ZOO FOR A CITY THE SIZE OF SOUTH BEND, FOR ITS CITIZENS OF ITS NEIGHBOR COMMUNITIES, AND FOR VISITORS TO THE SOUTH BEND AREA. THE SOCIETY IS ORGANIZED TO SOLICIT, COLLECT, AND PROVIDE FUNDS FOR SECURING AND MAINTAINING ANIMALS AND FACILITIES FOR THE CITY

Income
$9.5 million
Spending
$9.2 million
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 37%
Employees
192
Volunteers
74
Highest pay
$205,794, executive di

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 45 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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)
  1. $5.7 million spent. POTAWATOMI ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC. (THE SOCIETY) PRIMARY MISSION IS TO ASSIST AND ADVISE THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA (THE CITY) BY ACTING AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMUNITY, AND TO PROVIDE FUNDING WITH FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SOUTH BEND POTAWATOMI PARK ZOO (THE ZOO) IN AREAS THAT PROMOTE EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION, CONSERVATION AND IMPROVED ANIMAL QUALITY OF LIFE. THE ZOO IS RECOGNIZED AS A VITAL CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL COMMUNITY ASSET AND WISH TO ENHANCE THE ZOO'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY IN THE AREAS OF RECREATION, EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION. THE CITY AND THE SOCIETY ARE COMMITTED TO THE ONGOING DEVELOPMENT, SUPPORT AND ENRICHMENT OF THE ZOO AND SHARE THE GOAL OF PROVIDING A TOP FLIGHT ZOO FOR A CITY THE SIZE OF SOUTH BEND, FOR ITS CITIZENS OF ITS NEIGHBOR COMMUNITIES, AND FOR VISITORS TO THE SOUTH BEND AREA. THE SOCIETY IS ORGANIZED TO SOLICIT, COLLECT, AND PROVIDE FUNDS FOR SECURING AND MAINTAINING ANIMALS AND FACILITIES FOR THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND POTAWATOMI PARK ZOO; TO FOSTER INTEREST AMONG THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN THE ZOO; AND TO IMPLEMENT AND ASSIST IN THE STUDY OF ZOOLOGICAL NATURAL HISTORY. POTAWATOMI ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC. (THE SOCIETY) PRIMARY MISSION IS TO ASSIST AND ADVISE THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA (THE CITY) BY ACTING AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMUNITY, AND TO PROVIDE FUNDING WITH FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SOUTH BEND POTAWATOMI PARK ZOO (THE ZOO) IN AREAS THAT PROMOTE EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION, CONSERVATION AND IMPROVED ANIMAL QUALITY OF LIFE. THE ZOO IS RECOGNIZED AS A VITAL CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL COMMUNITY ASSET AND WISH TO ENHANCE THE ZOO'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY IN THE AREAS OF RECREATION, EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION. THE CITY AND THE SOCIETY ARE COMMITTED TO THE ONGOING DEVELOPMENT, SUPPORT AND ENRICHMENT OF THE ZOO AND SHARE THE GOAL OF PROVIDING A TOP FLIGHT ZOO FOR A CITY THE SIZE OF SOUTH BEND, FOR ITS CITIZENS OF ITS NEIGHBOR COMMUNITIES, AND FOR VISITORS TO THE SOUTH BEND AREA. THE SOCIETY IS ORGANIZED TO SOLICIT, COLLECT, AND PROVIDE FUNDS FOR SECURING AND MAINTAINING ANIMALS AND FACILITIES FOR THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND POTAWATOMI PARK ZOO; TO FOSTER INTEREST AMONG THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN THE ZOO; AND TO IMPLEMENT AND ASSIST IN THE STUDY OF ZOOLOGICAL NATURAL HISTORY.

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

  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 2025.

    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 November 1971.

    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.