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American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums Inc

EIN 55-0526930 · Silver Spring, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ASSOCIATION IS AN EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF ZOOLOGICAL PARKS AND AQUARIUMS IN THE AREAS OF SPECIES CONSERVATION, ANIMAL WELFARE, AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION.

Income
$20.9 million
Spending
$18.3 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
9.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 53%
Employees
50
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$574,000, 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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 57% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 (7)
  1. $6.2 million spent. ENDANGERED SPECIES RELIEF FUND: THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS (AZA) AND THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (FWS) HAVE ENTERED INTO A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT TO IMPLEMENT SECTION 6003(A)(2) OF PUBLIC LAW (P.L.) 117-2, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.FWS ENTERED INTO A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH AZA TO PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENTS TO ELIGIBLE FACILITIES THAT CARED FOR NATIVE ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES AND RESCUED AND CONFISCATED WILDLIFE AND THAT EXPERIENCED EARNED REVENUE DECLINES AS A RESULT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. FUNDS WERE DIRECTED TOWARD REIMBURSING ELIGIBLE FACILITIES FOR THE FOLLOWING THREE CAPTIVE CARE CATEGORIES: 1) U.S. NATIVE PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES LISTED (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT (ESA); 2) U.S. NATIVE ANIMAL SPECIES LISTED UNDER THE ESA THAT WERE RESCUED FROM THE WILD; AND 3) ANIMALS LISTED AS THREATENED OR ENDANGERED UNDER THE ESA AND/OR SPECIES LISTED IN THE APPENDICES OF THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES) CONFISCATED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AT, OR DESTINED FOR, U.S. PORTS AND BORDERS AND HELD IN ANIMAL CARE FACILITIES. ELIGIBLE FACILITIES DO NOT HAVE TO BE AZA-ACCREDITED OR CERTIFIED TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE CAPTIVE CARE REIMBURSEMENTS. AZA RECEIVED, PROCESSED, AND SCREENED ALL PROPOSALS FOR COMPLETENESS AND CONTACTED APPLICANTS IF QUESTIONS AROSE. AZA RESPONDED TO QUERIES FROM APPLICANTS ABOUT THE PROGRAM, SUBMISSION, PROCESS, AND STATUS OF PROPOSALS. ELIGIBLE APPLICATIONS WERE REVIEWED BY FWS (IN COORDINATION WITH THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE) AND APPROVED BY THE FWS DIRECTOR.
  2. $3.1 million spent. CONSERVATION EDUCATION: AZA PROVIDES SUPPORT TO AZA MEMBERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ZOO AND AQUARIUM EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO ADVANCE THE UNDERSTANDING OF WILDLIFE. AZA PROVIDES ON-GOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, BOTH ON SITE AND ONLINE AND THROUGH CONFERENCES, PUBLICATIONS, WEBSITES, NEWSLETTERS, ETC. OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE EXCHANGE OF EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION ON A RANGE OF TOPICS RELEVANT TO THE ZOO AND AQUARIUM COMMUNITY.
  3. $2.8 million spent. CONSERVATION & SCIENCE: AZA FACILITATES, SUPPORTS, PROMOTES AND COORDINATES COOPERATIVE ANIMAL MANAGEMENT, CONSERVATION AND SCIENTIFIC INITIATIVES OF AZA MEMBER INSTITUTIONS. PROGRAM PROVIDES GRANTS FOR CONSERVATION THROUGH THE CONSERVATION GRANTS FUND.
  4. $547,165 spent. GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
  5. $428,782 spent. WILDLIFE TRAFICKING ALLIANCE
  6. $729,163 spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION & COMMUNICATION
  7. $2.0 million spent. ACCREDITATION & MEMBERSHIP

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 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 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 June 1972.

    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.