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Lincoln Park Zoological Society

EIN 36-2512404 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LINCOLN PARK ZOO IS DEDICATED TO CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH NATURE BY PROVIDING A FREE, FAMILY-ORIENTED WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE IN THE HEART OF CHICAGO AND BY ADVANCING THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF ANIMAL CARE, HORTICULTURE, EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION.

Income
$50.5 million
Spending
$44.3 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
25.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 34%
Employees
546
Volunteers
406
Highest pay
$539,651, president/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 25.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 25

    64 of 65 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 March 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 (4)
  1. $11.6 million spent. BUILDING AND GROUNDS SITTING ON 49 ACRES ON THE LAKE MICHIGAN SHORELINE IN THE HEART OF CHICAGO, LINCOLN PARK ZOO IS THE ONLY PRIVATELY-MANAGED FREE ADMISSIONS ZOO IN THE NATION. CARING FOR MORE THAN 700 ANIMALS, MANY OF WHICH ARE ENDANGERED OR THREATENED, THAT RESIDE IN A VARIETY OF BUILDINGS DESIGNED TO HOUSE ANIMALS HABITATS, SOME OF WHICH ARE HISTORICALLY LANDMARKED. LINCOLN PARK ZOO IS ALSO AN ACCREDITED BOTANIC GARDEN BY BOTANIC GARDENS CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL AND AN ACCREDITED LEVEL III ARBORETUM.
  2. $14.7 million spent. ANIMAL CARE AND CONSERVATION LINCOLN PARK ZOO IS HOME TO BOTH THE LARGEST ZOO-BASED CONSERVATION & SCIENCE DEPARTMENTS AND THE LARGEST ZOO-BASED ANIMAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTRY, WITH EXPERTS IN AREAS INCLUDING URBAN WILDLIFE; BEHAVIOR COGNITION, STATISTICAL POPULATION MODELING; VETERINARY SERVICES; AND THE CORRELATION BETWEEN HUMAN, ANIMAL AND ECOSYSTEM HEALTH.
  3. $6.2 million spent. VISITOR SERVICES LINCOLN PARK ZOO WELCOMES MORE THAN 3.5 MILLION VISITORS EVERY YEAR TO DISCOVER THER WONDERS OF WILDLIFE IN THE HEART OF CHICAGO. THE ZOO IS OPEN 365 DAYS PER YEAR AND IS DEDICATED TO A FAMILY-FRIENDLY AND SAFE PLACE FOR VISITORS.
  4. $6.0 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES - INCLUDING PUBLIC EDUCATION AND MEMBERSHIP.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 March 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 March 1961.

    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.