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Red River Zoological Society

EIN 36-3938878 · Fargo, ND

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AS CONSERVATION LEADERS, THE RED RIVER ZOO CONNECTS OUR COMMUNITY TO NATURE AND INSPIRES PEOPLE TO HELP SAVE SPECIES.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
-4.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 61%
Employees
60
Volunteers
252
Highest pay
$112,200, executive director

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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 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 (1)
  1. $1.6 million spent. EDUCATION PROGRAM: THE RED RIVER ZOO'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS REACHED OVER 16,000 PARTICIPANTS DURING THE YEAR. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION THROUGH VARIOUS INTERACTIVE AND ENGAGING ACTIVITIES. THE BREAKDOWN OF PARTICIPATION IS AS FOLLOWS: - ZOOMOBILE OUTREACH STUDENTS REACHED: 4,661 - ZOOKEEPER CHAT ATTENDANCE: 5,013 - ON SITE CLASS ATTENDANCE: 38 - ON SITE PRESENTATIONS (BIRTHDAY PARTIES, CRITTER CLOSE-UPS): 2,110 - JR. ZOOKEEPER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM: 133 - DAY CAMP ATTENDANCE: 253THESE PROGRAMS AIM TO INSPIRE AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WILDLIFE, CONSERVATION, AND THE ENVIRONMENT, FOSTERING A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION FOR THE NATURAL WORLD.ANIMAL PURCHASES/CARE: TO ACQUIRE AND EXHIBIT ANIMALS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST AS PART OF A REGIONAL WILDLIFE PARK ZOO.PECIES SURVIVAL PLAN PARTICIPATION: THE RED RIVER ZOO'S EXEMPT PURPOSE INCLUDES THE ACQUISITION AND CARE OF ANIMALS TO EXHIBIT AS PART OF A REGIONAL WILDLIFE PARK. THE ZOO CARES FOR OVER 124 INDIVIDUAL ANIMALS REPRESENTING 49 SPECIES. IN 2024, THE ZOO PARTICIPATED IN SPECIES SURVIVAL PLANS (SSPS) FOR THE FOLLOWING SPECIES: CHINESE RED PANDAS, PALLAS CATS, WHITE-NAPED CRANES, SICHUAN TAKIN, LINNAEUS'S TWO-TOED SLOTH, WHITE-FACED SAKI MONKEYS, NORTH AMERICAN RIVER OTTERS, LAUGHING KOOKABURRA, AND NORTH AMERICAN PORCUPINES.PURPOSE AND IMPACT: TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION OF ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES THROUGH MANAGED BREEDING PROGRAMS, GENETIC DIVERSITY, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION INITIATIVES. BY PARTICIPATING IN SSPS, THE ZOO CONTRIBUTES TO THE GLOBAL EFFORT TO PREVENT SPECIES EXTINCTION, RAISES PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY, AND FOSTERS A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.. THESE SSPS ARE CRUCIAL FOR THE CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION OF ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES, ENSURING THEIR SURVIVAL THROUGH MANAGED BREEDING PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION INITIATIVES.

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 November 6, 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 June 1994.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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