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Minnesota Zoo Foundation

EIN 51-0147653 · Apple Valley, MN

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 MINNESOTA ZOO FOUNDATION RAISES CONTRIBUTED INCOME AND SUPPORTS CONSERVATION AND ANIMAL CARE PROGRAMS ON BEHALF OF THE MINNESOTA ZOO. THE MISSION OF THE MINNESOTA ZOO IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE, ANIMALS, AND THE NATURAL WORLD TO SAVE WILDLIFE.

Income
$14.5 million
Spending
$10.3 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
24
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$198,152, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 71% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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

    18 of 18 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 June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $4.4 million spent. ZOO CAPITAL PROJECTS:OUR SUPPORT PROPELS LEADING-EDGE IDEAS THAT REDEFINE THE ROLE AND IMPACT OF MODERN ZOOS, SUCH AS THE CREATION OF INNOVATIVE NATURE EXPERIENCES, BEST-IN-CLASS EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND INDUSTRY-LEADING CONSERVATION EFFORTS. WE EMPOWER THE MINNESOTA ZOO TO CONTINUOUSLY RAISE THE BAR FOR EXCELLENCE IN ANIMAL CARE AND OPERATIONS BY FUNDING THE MOST ADVANCED EQUIPMENT, BEST-IN-CLASS FACILITIES AND INDUSTRY-LEADING STAFF DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THE MINNESOTA ZOO FOUNDATION'S FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE TREETOP TRAIL HAS EXPANDED THE ZOO'S ROLE AND IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AS VISITORS HAVE EXPLORED THE INNOVATIVE, IMMERSIVE, AND ACCESSIBLE ATTRACTION, THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT WITH NATURE AND NURTURE THEIR PERSONAL WELL-BEING.THE FOUNDATION'S FUNDING OF THE ZOO'S FUTURE NEW ANIMAL HOSPITAL WILL ELEVATE THE ZOO'S EXCELLENCE IN ANIMAL CARE BY PROVIDING AN INDUSTRY-LEADING FACILITY AND HIGH-TECH EQUIPMENT. THE MINNESOTA ZOO'S WILDLIFE HOSPITAL AND WELLNESS CENTER WILL SERVE AS AN OASIS OF CARE AND WELLBEING FOR OUR ANIMALS AND AS A HIGH-POWERED RESEARCH CENTER BRINGING TOGETHER ZOOLOGICAL VETERINARIANS AND SCIENTISTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO LEARN AND WORK TOGETHER TO CHANGE THE FUTURE FOR WILDLIFE HERE AND AROUND THE GLOBE.
  2. $1.9 million spent. ZOO SUPPORT:THE MINNESOTA ZOO FOUNDATION HELPS OPEN DOORS TO UNIQUELY IMMERSIVE NATURE EXPERIENCES THAT BENEFIT THE WELL-BEING OF ALL BY SPONSORING PROGRAMS THAT BRING THE MINNESOTA ZOO EXPERIENCE TO MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES AND REDUCE PHYSICAL, FINANCIAL, AND CULTURAL BARRIERS TO THE ZOO. WE EMPOWER THE ZOO TO CONTINUOUSLY RAISE THE BAR FOR EXCELLENCE IN ANIMAL CARE AND OPERATIONS BY FUNDING THE MOST ADVANCED EQUIPMENT, BEST-IN-CLASS FACILITIES AND INDUSTRY-LEADING STAFF DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. EFFORTS BY THE MINNESOTA ZOO FOUNDATION, INCLUDING GRANTS TO THE MINNESOTA ZOO AND SUPPORT OF ZOO PROGRAMS AND LEADING-EDGE IDEAS REDEFINE THE ROLE AND IMPACT OF MODERN ZOOS, INCLUDING THROUGH THE CREATION OF INNOVATIVE NATURE EXPERIENCES, BEST-IN-CLASS EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND INDUSTRY-LEADING CONSERVATION EFFORTS. THESE EFFORTS DIRECTLY SUPPORT DEVELOPING A WORLD-CLASS NATURE ZOO EXPERIENCE FOR NEARLY 1.5 MILLION ANNUAL VISITORS TO THE ZOO, DELIVERING EXCEPTIONAL WELFARE FOR OVER 4,500 ANIMALS IN THE ZOO'S CARE (MANY OF WHICH ARE THREATENED OR ENDANGERED IN THE WILD), AND STEWARDSHIP OF 485 ACRES OF FOREST, PRAIRIE, AND WETLANDS.
  3. $578,086 spent. CONSERVATION:THE MINNESOTA ZOO IS ABLE TO LEAD AND PARTICIPATE IN INDUSTRY-LEADING CONSERVATION PROGRAMS THAT ARE SAVING WILDLIFE BECAUSE OF FUNDING FROM THE MINNESOTA ZOO FOUNDATION. FROM NATIVE MUSSEL RESTORATION WORK AND TURTLE HEAD-START PROGRAMS HERE IN MINNESOTA TO GLOBAL EFFORTS THROUGH THE ULYSSES S. SEAL CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM AND BLACK RHINO RESTORATION IN NAMIBIA, THE FOUNDATION HELPS FURTHER THE ZOO'S CONSERVATION FOOTPRINT.THE MINNESOTA ZOO FOUNDATION FUNDS SEVERAL SAVING ANIMALS FROM EXTINCTION (SAFE) PROGRAMS AND THE ZOO AND FOUNDATION CO-HOST THE TIGER CONSERVATION CAMPAIGN, BOTH PROGRAMS WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS. SUPPORTING THESE FIELD CONSERVATION PROGRAMS FURTHERS OUR WILDLIFE-SAVING IMPACT AROUND THE WORLD.THE MINNESOTA ZOO FOUNDATION HELPS TO FUND FOUR PAID INTERNSHIPS THAT SUPPORT PRAIRIE BUTTERFLY, FRESHWATER TURTLE, AND FRESHWATER MUSSEL CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AT THE ZOO. THE SUPPORT FROM THESE INTERNS ALLOWS OUR CONSERVATION BIOLOGISTS TO FOCUS ON HIGHER-LEVEL PROJECTS AND PRIORITIES THAT HELP US RAISE THE BAR FOR EXCELLENCE IN OUR CONSERVATION WORK.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 2025.

    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 October 1975.

    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.