Fort Wayne Zoological Society Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CONNECTING KIDS AND ANIMALS, STRENGTHENING FAMILIES, AND INSPIRING PEOPLE TO CARE.
- Income
- $18.2 million
- Spending
- $18.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 7.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 62%
- Employees
- 425
- Volunteers
- 459
- Highest pay
- $251,094, executive director - zoo
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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 21% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 24 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, 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 (4)
- $4.0 million spent. EDUCATIONAL & MEMBERSHIP SERVICES:AT THE END OF 2024, WE HAD JUST OVER 19,000 ACTIVE MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS, ABOUT AN 8% INCREASE FROM 2023. WE KICKED OFF OUR 2024 SEASON WITH AN EXCLUSIVE MEMBER DAY ON APRIL 26TH. MEMBERS WERE PROVIDED WITH A NUMBER OF SPECIAL DISCOUNTS AND EARLY-ACCESS OFFERINGS ALL SEASON LONG, INCLUDING A DISCOUNT IN THE WILD THINGS GIFT SHOP, A MEMBER PRESALE OF ZOOFARI TICKETS, ETC. AS PART OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS (AZA) RECIPROCITY PROGRAM, ZOO MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN DISCOUNTED ADMISSION TO OVER 150 ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA. THIS INCLUDED TEMPORARY, 100% ADMISSION RECIPROCITY WITH TOLEDO ZOO. IN AUGUST, MEMBER APPRECIATION MONTH WAS ONCE AGAIN A BIG HIT WITH OUR MEMBERS. FAMILIES ALSO ENJOYED FREE ADMISSION TO OUR WILD ZOO HALLOWEEN AND WILD ZOO WONDERLAND EVENTS. LAST YEAR'S CYBER MONDAY INCENTIVE WAS EXTENDED THIS YEAR TO BLACK FRIDAY THROUGH GIVING TUESDAY, GIVING TWO COMPLIMENTARY GUEST PASSES TO NEW, RENEWING, OR GIFT MEMBERSHIPS PURCHASED FROM NOVEMBER 29TH - DECEMBER 3RD. THIS PROMOTION DROVE HOLIDAY MEMBERSHIP SALES, WITH OVER 660 MEMBERSHIPS SOLD IN FIVE DAYS. CONSERVATION EDUCATION CONTINUES TO BE A FOCUS OF THE FORT WAYNE ZOO EDUCATORS. IN 2024 16,439 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN 1,681 ZOO EDUCATION PROGRAMS. 446 AREA SCHOOL CLASSROOMS WERE VISITED AND KIDS FOR NATURE SUMMER CAMP HOSTED 1,448 CAMPERS WHERE ZOO CONSERVATION EDUCATORS CONNECTED KIDS TO ANIMALS AND THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND THEM. 286 TEENS FOR NATURE VOLUNTEER AND LEADERSHIP PARTICIPANTS SPENT THE SUMMER AT THE ZOO PARTICIPATING IN LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES, CONSERVATION PROJECTS, ZOO KEEPING, INTERACTING WITH ZOO GUESTS, AND VOLUNTEERING FOR OVER 23,240 HOURS. VOLUNTEERS HELP THE ZOO FULFILL OUR MISSION BY ACTIVELY ENGAGING WITH GUESTS DURING THE SEASON AND HELPING BEHIND THE SCENES DURING THE OFF SEASON. 459 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS DONATED 41,184 HOURS WITH A VALUE OF MORE THAN $1.31 MILLION DOLLARS (BASED ON THE INDEPENDENT SECTOR'S CURRENT VALUE OF VOLUNTEER HOURS).
- $5.1 million spent. ANIMAL EXHIBITS AND IMPROVEMENTS:ANIMAL PROGRAMS: IN 2024, THE FORT WAYNE ZOO CONTINUED TO GROW AND EVOLVE IN EXCITING WAYS, FROM NEW BIRTHS AND ANIMAL ADDITIONS TO MAJOR EXHIBIT TRANSFORMATIONS THAT DEEPEN OUR COMMITMENT TO CONSERVATION AND GUEST ENGAGEMENT. IN AUGUST WE CELEBRATED THE BIRTH OF A FEMALE GIRAFFE CALF, A SIGNIFICANT CONSERVATION MILESTONE FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS (AZA) SPECIES SURVIVAL PROGRAM (SSP). THE ZOO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN OVER 60 SSP PROGRAMS, WORKING TO ENSURE GENETICALLY DIVERSE, SUSTAINABLE POPULATIONS OF THREATENED SPECIES. EARLIER IN APRIL, WE WELCOMED THE RETURN OF TWO MALE RING-TAILED LEMURS, REINTRODUCING THEM TO THE AFRICA SECTION. THEY WERE SOON JOINED BY ANOTHER MALE AND A FEMALE. BEHIND-THE-SCENES INTRODUCTIONS HAVE GONE SMOOTHLY, WITH PROMISING SIGNS OF A COHESIVE SOCIAL GROUP FORMING. IN OUR LUSH, TROPICAL INDONESIAN RAIN FOREST DOME AVIARY, THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED MARIANA FRUIT DOVES WERE ADDED AND HAVE ALREADY BEEN OBSERVED ENGAGING IN NEST-BUILDING BEHAVIOR, AN ENCOURAGING STEP FOR THIS RARE SPECIES. OUR SCHMIDT'S GUENONS (MONKEYS) ALSO HAD EXCITING NEWS: A NEW PAIR WAS SUCCESSFULLY INTRODUCED. ON NOVEMBER 16, THEY WELCOMED A MALE INFANT, ANOTHER SUCCESS FOR OUR PRIMATE CONSERVATION AND BREEDING PROGRAMS. TODAY, MORE THAN 1,500 ANIMALS CALL THE FORT WAYNE ZOO HOME. OUR DEDICATED ANIMAL CARE AND HEALTH TEAMS PROVIDE DAILY CARE THAT INCLUDES ENRICHMENT, BEHAVIORAL TRAINING FOR VOLUNTARY MEDICAL PARTICIPATION, AND ASSESSMENTS OF ANIMAL WELLBEING. WITH OVER 80 KEEPER CHATS EACH WEEK, OUR TEAM WORKS TIRELESSLY TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE OUR GUESTS WHILE ENSURING EVERY ANIMAL RECEIVES THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF CARE.
- $376,823 spent. CONSERVATION & RESEARCH: CONSERVATION & RESEARCH THE ZOO IS A CONSERVATION LEADER, PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO 40 CONSERVATION PARTNERS AROUND THE GLOBE IN 2024. THE KIDS FOR NATURE CONSERVATION KIOSK CONTINUES TO INVOLVE GUESTS IN CONSERVATION, ALLOWING THEM TO VOTE AMONG THREE PROJECTS WITH THEIR ZOO PROVIDED PENNY AT THE ENTRANCE. FUNDS ARE GENERATED THROUGH TICKET SALES AND MEMBERSHIPS, ALONG WITH CORKS FOR CONSERVATION EVENT PROCEEDS, EMPLOYEE GIVING, GUESTS DONATIONS AND WILD THINGS GIFT SHOP "ROUND UP" PROGRAM. THE ZOO PARTICIPATES IN VARIOUS RESEARCH PROJECTS INITIATED BY EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL INVESTIGATORS THAT WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ANIMALS THAT CALL OUR ZOO HOME. ONE OF OUR SIGNATURE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS IS HEADSTARTING EASTERN HELLBENDERS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PURDUE UNIVERSITY, THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, AND SEVERAL OTHER MIDWEST ZOOS. WE CURRENTLY HAVE OVER 300 HELLBENDERS THAT ARE BEING RAISED FOR FUTURE RELEASE INTO THE WILD. IN COLLABORATION WITH PURDUE UNIVERSITY, WE HAVE COMPLETED OUR INITIAL GROWTH RATE TRENDS AND UNIQUE SPOT PATTERN RETENTION POTENTIAL. THE DATA WILL THEN BE USED AS WE INVESTIGATE IF SIZE VERSUS AGE HAS A MORE SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON SURVIVABILITY IN THE WILD WITH THEIR RELEASE OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. AS PART OF THE ONE-YEAR VETERINARY INTERNSHIP AT THE FORT WAYNE ZOO, POST-GRADUATE VETERINARIANS ARE MENTORED AND TRAINED IN ZOO MEDICINE AND CONSERVATION RESEARCH. THE CURRENT INTERN, DR. EMMA ZHANG, HAS INITIATED A RESEARCH STUDY THAT AIMS TO DETERMINE REFERENCE RANGES OF SEVERAL GASTROINTESTINAL TESTS IN RED PANDAS SO THAT POTENTIAL ABNORMAL RESULTS CAN BE BETTER INTERPRETED. THIS MAY ASSIST IN DIAGNOSING GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASE IN THIS ENDANGERED SPECIES AND GUIDE FUTURE TREATMENTS. SERUM SAMPLES ARE BEING UTILIZED FROM RED PANDAS ACROSS THE U.S. AND ANALYZED AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY DIAGNOSTIC LAB, WHO IS COLLABORATING ON THIS ENDEAVOR. DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL HEALTH AND CONSERVATION, DR. KAMI FOX REPRESENTED THE FORT WAYNE ZOO BY PARTICIPATING IN THE MARIANA AVIFAUNA CONSERVATION PROGRAM (MAC) IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. HEADING UP THE VETERINARY AND RESEARCH COMPONENTS OF THIS PROJECT, SHE AND THE TEAM FOCUSED ON AN ENDANGERED BIRD, THE SAIPAN REED WARBLER, THAT ONLY EXISTS ON THE SINGLE ISLAND OF SAIPAN. WITH VERY LITTLE INFORMATION KNOWN ABOUT THIS SPECIES, DATA WAS COLLECTED ON BEHAVIOR, HUSBANDRY, HEALTH, AND DISEASE DURING THE TRIP. OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS, THE FOCUS WILL BE SHIFTED TO ANOTHER ENDANGERED SPECIES, THE ROTA WHITE-EYE, WITH AN EXTENSIVE RECOVERY PLAN THAT INVOLVES FUTURE TRANSLOCATIONS TO CREATE INSURANCE POPULATIONS, IN HOPES OF SECURING THEIR LONG-TERM SURVIVAL. THE FORT WAYNE ZOO HAS BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THE MAC PROGRAM FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS.
- $3.0 million spent. ATTENDANCE: IN 2024, THE ZOO HOSTED OVER 630,000 GUESTS. THE ZOO WAS OPEN 9 MONTHS FOR GUESTS AND MEMBERS EXTENDING THE TRADITIONAL 6 MONTH ZOO SEASON. THE ZOO OPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME DURING SPRING BREAK AND REMAINED OPENED FOR THE WILD ZOO SPRING PREVIEW THROUGHOUT WEEKENDS IN APRIL. EXTENDING PAST HALLOWEEN, THE ZOO WAS OPEN WEEKENDS IN NOVEMBER FOR FALL WEEKENDS AND ENDED THE YEAR WITH THE FAMILY FAVORITE WILD ZOO WONDERLAND IN DECEMBER. NEW CONSUMER EVENTS WERE A HIT WITH GUESTS AND HELPED THE ZOO REACH NEW AUDIENCES, INCLUDING THE BIG BUGABALOO, FEATURING GIANT ANIMATRONIC BUGS ON EXHIBIT IN AUGUST, OUR NEW ADULT ONLY ROCK & ROAR EVENTS SAW 2,800 GUESTS OVER 5 EVENINGS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. WILD ZOO HALLOWEEN, OUR LARGEST ANNUAL CONSUMER EVENT HOSTED 2 SOLD OUT BRUNCHES WHERE KIDS COULD INTERACT WITH THEIR FAVORITE PRINCESSES.
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
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 November 6, 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 2024.
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 1967.
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 November 4, 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.