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North Carolina Zoological Society Inc

EIN 56-0990900 · Asheboro, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CHAMPION OUR ZOO AND ITS INITIATIVES, WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE FUTURE.

Income
$15.5 million
Spending
$12.5 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
26.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
72
Volunteers
240
Highest pay
$233,256, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 26.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% 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 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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

    13 of 14 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, 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. $9.4 million spent. PROVIDE FINANCIAL AND PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO THE NC ZOOLOGICAL PARK AND ITS CAPITAL PROJECTS, OPERATIONS AND PROGRAM INITIATIVES - WITH A PRIORITY FOCUS ON FIELD RESEARCH, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, SCIENCE AND WELFARE. THE SOCIETY HAS PROVIDED FUNDS FOR SPECIFIC CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH PROJECTS WORKING WITH ELEPHANTS, VULTURES AND GORILLAS IN AFRICA, RAISED FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, ANIMAL AND HORTICULTURE PURCHASES, MARKETING, STAFFING, TRAINING, AND OPERATIONS OF A WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER, A WILDLIFE LEARNING/RESIDENTIAL CENTER, AN EDUCATION WEBSITE AND OTHER PARK NEEDS.
  2. $1.9 million spent. MEMBERSHIP SERVICES (INCLUDING INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, EDUCATION, MEMBER BENEFIT AND IDENTIFCATION ADMINISTRATION, RECORD-KEEPING AND SPECIAL EVENTS) EXTEND TO MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS AND THE EMPLOYEES OF BUSINESSES ENROLLED IN THE CORPORATE MEMBER PROGRAM, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD WHO BENEFIT FROM THE PROTECTION THE SOCIETY'S PROGRAM EXTENDS TO THE NATURAL RESOURCES THEY DEPEND ON FOR SURVIVAL.
  3. $61,466 spent. THROUGH ITS SUPPORT OF ZOO EDUCATION PROGRAMS, THE SOCIETY SERVES VISITORS AND MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS (INCLUDING N.C. SCHOOL CHILDREN). THROUGH FIELD RESEARCH AND VETERINARIAN OVERNIGHT CAMPS FOR A WIDE RANGE OF AGES, SHADOW A VET PROGRAM, EDUCATIONAL AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO COME TO THE PARK EACH YEAR TO LEARN ABOUT WILDLIFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 March 1971.

    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.