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Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches Inc

EIN 59-1259270 · West Palm Bch, FL

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

THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE PALM BEACHES, INC. EXISTS TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO ACT ON BEHALF OF WILDLIFE AND THE NATURAL WORLD. WE ADVANCE OUR CONSERVATION MISSION THROUGH ENDANGERED SPECIES PROPAGATION, EDUCATION AND SUPPORT OF CONSERVATION INITIATIVES IN THE FIELD. OUR COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES ELEVATES OUR CAPACITY TO INSPIRE OTHERS.

Income
$26.7 million
Spending
$14.6 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
12.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
125
Volunteers
113
Highest pay
$257,907, president/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 45% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 September 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. $10.6 million spent. WILDLIFE PROGRAMS:THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE PALM BEACHES IS A FULLY ACCREDITED PUBLIC ZOO CARING FOR OVER 400 ANIMALS, MANY OF WHOM ARE ENDANGERED AND WHOSE NATIVE TERRITORIES ARE THREATENED. THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THE ZOO IS TO INSPIRE THE ALMOST 400,000 GUESTS WHO VISIT THE ZOO ANNUALLY TO TAKE ACTION THAT WILL HAVE A POSITIVE, LIFE-SAVING IMPACT ON THESE SAME SPECIES IN THE WILD. WE DO THIS THROUGH A SERIES OF DAILY ZOOLOGIST CHATS, TRAINING DEMONSTRATIONS AND UP CLOSE ANIMAL EXPERIENCES FOR THE PUBLIC. INCLUDED WITHIN THIS PRIMARY FUNCTION IS THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE ZOO'S GROUNDS, GUEST EXPERIENCES, ANIMAL HABITATS AND A STATE OF THE ART ANIMAL HOSPITAL WHICH PROVIDES BOTH PREVENTATIVE AND RESPONSIVE CARE FOR THE ANIMALS WHO MAKE THEIR HOME AT THE PALM BEACH ZOO.
  2. $507,485 spent. CONSERVATION PROGRAMS: THE ZOO IS COMMITTED TO CONSERVATION OF ANIMALS IN THE WILD AND THEIR HOMES IN THE WILD. WE PARTICIPATE IN PROJECTS IN THE FIELD THAT ALIGN WITH OUR MISSION BY PROVIDING MONETARY SUPPORT TO OTHER CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH OUR GRANT PROGRAM AS WELL AS PERFORMING HANDS ON CONSERVATION WORK BOTH WITHIN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OTHER WILD AREAS OF THE WORLD. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE SUPPORT OF AVIAN RESEARCH & CONSERVATION INSTITUTE'S SWALLOW TAIL KITE AND SNAIL KITE PROGRAMS AND THE BELIZE ZOO & TROPICAL EDUCATION CENTER'S JAGUAR CONSERVATION PROGRAMS.OUR STAFF WORKS DIRECTLY IN OUR COMMUNITY IN CONSERVATION PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE SWALLOW TAIL KITE AND SNAIL KITE PROGRAMS IN ASSOCIATION WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, CORAL MONITORING OFF THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA IN COOPERATION WITH THE FLORIDA WILDLIFE COMMISSION AND SHEDD AQUARIUM, CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAMS INCLUDING FROG WATCH AND OTHER SMALLER PROGRAMS THAT ARE SAVING WILDLIFE.
  3. $273,020 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS:WE ROLLED OUT A NEW APPROACH TO EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT AT THE ZOO DURING OUR FISCAL YEAR '23 THAT REDEFINES OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO CREATE CONNECTIONS WITH ALL OUR AUDIENCES. WE SPENT THE NEXT YEAR PILOTING THE NEW PROGRAMMING WITH TWO OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS. THE PROGRAMMING PROVIDES A MORE PURPOSEFUL ALIGNMENT OF OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS WITH OUR CORE MISSION OF INSPIRING PEOPLE TO ACT ON BEHALF OF WILDLIFE. AND THIS YEAR, WE HAVE LAUNCHED A NEW TEEN SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM AS WELL AS A TEEN VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, PROVIDING A VERY IMPORTANT CONNECTION BETWEEN NATURE AND OUR NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATIONISTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 November 6, 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 September 2025.

    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 1969.

    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 November 4, 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.