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Friends of the Zoo Inc of Kansas City Mo

EIN 43-6048888 · Kansas City, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE KANSAS CITY ZOO & AQUARIUM CONNECTS ALL PEOPLE TO EACH OTHER AND THE NATURAL WORLD TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING, APPRECIATION, AND CONSERVATION.

Income
$53.6 million
Spending
$51.5 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
5.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 50%
Employees
725
Volunteers
730
Highest pay
$378,411, executive director/ceo

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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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 (3)
  1. $30.3 million spent. COLLECTION OF ANIMALS AS WELL AS CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH- MODERN ZOOS, INCLUDING THE KANSAS CITY ZOO & AQUARIUM, PROVIDE A MULTITUDE OF SERVICES AND ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN CONSERVATION AND REINTEGRATION EFFORTS, AND IN SOME CASES, REMAIN THE LAST REFUGE FOR SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST ENDANGERED SPECIES. THE ANIMAL HEALTH CENTER PROVIDES DIGITAL RADIOLOGY, ULTRASOUND, SURGERY, THERMOGRAPHY, NOMAD DENTAL RADIOLOGY, LASER THERAPY, AND ANIMAL CARE FACILITIES THAT CAN HOUSE SMALL AND LARGE ANIMALS DURING QUARANTINE OR CONVALESCENCE. SPECIALIZED ANIMAL CARE STAFF IS ON-SITE 7 DAYS A WEEK. EDUCATION PROGRAMS PROVIDE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING FROM THE VETERINARY TECHNICIAN, VETERINARY STUDENT AND DENTAL HYGIENE ASPECTS OF ZOOLOGICAL MEDICINE AND CARE. ALL ANIMALS, FROM INVERTEBRATES TO ELEPHANTS, RECEIVE THE BEST PREVENTATIVE AND MEDICAL CARE POSSIBLE.
  2. $13.1 million spent. MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS - THE FRIENDS OF THE ZOO (FOTZ) MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE ZOO'S MISSION BY GAINING AND SUSTAINING SUPPORTERS AND PROVIDING THEM EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES. THE KANSAS CITY ZOO AND AQUARIUM PROVIDES FUN AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL TYPES OF FAMILIES. FOTZ MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES A PASS TO ANIMAL EXPLORATION, GREAT DISCOUNTS ON DAILY AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ONE-ON-ONE LEARNING. FOTZ MEMBERS ALSO SUPPORT THE FUTURE OF WILDLIFE BY PARTICIPATING IN CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS. FOTZ MEMBERS BECOME PART OF A NETWORK OF OTHER ZOO ENTHUSIASTS WHO RECEIVE BENEFITS AT OVER 150 ACCREDITED ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS THROUGH THE UNITED STATES.
  3. $4.5 million spent. EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS - EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS INTERPRET LIVING COLLECTIONS TO ATTRACT, INSPIRE AND ENABLE INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND GROUPS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE TO ACT AND RESPOND POSITIVELY TO CONSERVATION AND OUR ENVIRONMENT. FROM DELIVERING FORMAL SCRIPTED PROGRAMMING AT THE ZOO TO ENTICING A VISITOR TO LEARN ABOUT ANIMALS THROUGH SELF-DIRECTED SIGNAGE, INTERACTIVE AND GRAPHICS, CONSERVATION EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO INSTILLING A SUSTAINED RESPECT FOR NATURE. CONSTANTLY CHANGING CURRICULUM HELPS ENSURE CURRENT CONSERVATION MESSAGES AND PRACTICES STAY TIMELY AND ACCURATE. WITH THE CREATION OF OUR ZOO LEARNING CENTER, LOCATED IN THE DERAMUS EDUCATION PAVILION, CONNECTING STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO THE SCIENCE OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION HAS BECOME MORE ACCESSIBLE AND RELEVANT. ENRICHING STUDENTS THROUGH NEW TECHNOLOGY AND HANDS-ON INTERACTION ALLOWS NEW LEVELS OF CONSERVATION LITERACY, AND CREATIVELY SHOWCASES OUR PROGRAMS AND APPROACHES. WE ALSO ENCOURAGE INFORMAL LEARNING AMONG STUDENTS OF ALL AGES, AS WELL AS HIGHLIGHTING FOR TEACHERS INNOVATIVE WAYS IN WHICH CONSERVATION APPROACHES CAN BE USED TO MEET FORMAL SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 April 1964.

    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.

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.