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Como Friends

EIN 41-1943928 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE INSPIRE COMMUNITY GENEROSITY IN SUPPORT OF COMO PARK ZOO & CONSERVATORY SO IT THRIVES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

Income
$5.4 million
Spending
$7.0 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
9.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
57
Volunteers
175
Highest pay
$149,794, director of

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

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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, 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 (2)
  1. $4.3 million spent. COMO FRIENDS SECURES DONATIONS AND GENERATES RETAIL REVENUES TO INVEST IN COMO PARK ZOO & CONSERVATORY. INVESTMENTS SUPPORT NEW CAPITAL PROJECTS SUCH AS COMO HARBOR AND THE ORDWAY GARDENS, ANNUAL IMPROVEMENTS TO ANIMAL EXHIBITS AND GARDENS, CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS AROUND THE WORLD, PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND FREE AND EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR ALL VISITORS. THE PAST DECADE OF TRANSFORMATIVE IMPROVEMENTS CHAMPIONED BY COMO FRIENDS HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR COMO TO MEET AND EXCEED BEST PRACTICE STANDARDS FOR ANIMAL CARE, GROW AND CURATE WORLD-CLASS HORTICULTURAL COLLECTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FREE ADMISSION FOR ALL.
  2. $942,776 spent. COMO FRIENDS OPERATES GARDEN SAFARI GIFTS IN THE VISITOR CENTER. THREE SATELLITE LOCATIONS ARE OPEN DURING THE SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL MONTHS. PROCEEDS ARE INVESTED AT COMO PARK ZOO & CONSERVATORY TO HELP COMO THRIVE TODAY AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

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 August 1999.

    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.