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Sedgwick County Zoological Society Inc

EIN 48-6120530 · Wichita, KS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SEDGWICK COUNTY ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY IS DEDICATED TO INSPIRING RESPECT AND CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES THROUGH OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT CARE AND WELFARE FOR OUR ANIMALS, BUILDING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN OUR GUESTS AND THE ANIMALS IN OUR CARE, AND PROMOTING CONSERVATION INITIATIVES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND AROUND THE WORLD.

Income
$22.9 million
Spending
$18.6 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 40%
Employees
184
Volunteers
668
Highest pay
$195,231, president/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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    27 of 27 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, 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 (2)
  1. $14.5 million spent. OPERATIONS OF THE SEDGWICK COUNTY ZOO. SEDGWICK COUNTY ZOO IS ACCREDITED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS AND IS NATIONALLY RENOWNED. IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST ZOOS IN THE UNITED STATES AND IS KANSAS' MOST POPULAR TOURIST ATTRACTION WITH OVER HALF A MILLION VISITORS ANNUALLY. THE SEDGWICK COUNTY ZOO HAS OVER 2,500 ANIMALS OF NEARLY 500 SPECIES.
  2. $2.4 million spent. GUEST SERVICES RELATED TO THE SEDGWICK COUNTY ZOO. THERE WERE 18,048 ACTIVE MEMBERSHIPS IN 2024 WITH 649,284 VISITORS TO THE ORGANIZATION IN 2024.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1965.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.