Passes our checks

Chahinkapa Zoo Association

EIN 51-0188367 · Wahpeton, ND

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

What it says it does

CHAHINKAPA ZOO IS ORGANIZED TO EDUCATE AND PROMOTE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND FAMILY RECREATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
0 of 35
Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20
It owes 32% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 27% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15
Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
7 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15
Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8
Reports no 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
0 of 10
Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15
Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$1.0 million spent. CHAHINKAPA ZOO IS ORGANIZED TO EDUCATE AND PROMOTE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND FAMILY EDUCATION. CHAHINKAPA ZOO SEEK TO ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION BY PRESENTING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND PROVIDING INTERPRETIVE INFORMATION THROUGHOUT THE ZOO GROUNDS AND THE NATURE CENTER TO ENHANCE UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION THROUGH EDUCATION. HIGH QUALITY ANIMAL CARE AND SERVING THE WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER. DEVELOPING A SAFE, NATUAL AND HEALTHY HABITAT FOR EACH SPECIES. PROVIDING VISITORS WITH CLEAN, GREEN AND NATURAL SETTING WHERE THEY CAN VIEW NATIVE NORTH DAKOTA WILDLIFE AND ANIMALS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND SELECTED ENDANGERED SPECIES. CHAHINKAPA ZOO OFFERS A QUALITY EXPERIENCE IN A FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE IN ITS FACILITIES WHILE PROVIDING A HOME TO OVER 300 ANIMALS REPRESENTING 6 CONTINIENTS AND 70 SPECIES, PROVIDING HEALTHY CARE FROM ZOOLOGISTS AND WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS UNDER GUILDLINES ESTABLISHED BY THE USDA AND ZAZ.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1976.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.

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