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Tulsa Zoo Management Inc

EIN 73-0930870 · Tulsa, OK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CONNECTING, CARING, ADVOCATING FOR WILDLIFE, PEOPLE, AND WILD PLACES.

Income
$22.8 million
Spending
$18.4 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 63%
Employees
245
Volunteers
749
Highest pay
$163,033, president and 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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 21% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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 (1)
  1. $15.8 million spent. TULSA ZOO MANAGEMENT, INC., FOMERLY TULSA ZOO FRIENDS, INC., WAS FORMED FOR THE PURPOSES OF PROMOTING AND SUPPORTING THE IMPROVEMENT OF TULSA ZOO WHICH EXHIBITS OVER 3,500 ANIMALS. THE ZOO GROUNDS AND PHYSICAL STRUCTURES ARE OWNED BY THE CITY OF TULSA, BUT TULSA ZOO MANAGEMENT HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF TULSA TO RUN ALL OPERATIONS AT THE ZOO. THESE OPERATIONS INCLUDE COLLECTING ADMISSIONS, OPERATING VARIOUS CONCESSIONS, OPERATING SPECIAL EVENTS, OPERATING ALL ANIMAL DEPARTMENTS, MAINTAINING BUILDING AND GROUND MAINTENANCE OF THE ZOO, PROVIDING SECURITY FOR THE ZOO, PROMOTING THE ZOO AND MAINTAINING A ZOO MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM. TULSA ZOO MANAGEMENT IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR DIRECTING ALL FUNDRAISING FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND FUTURE EXHIBITS AT THE TULSA ZOO. TZMI EDUCATION ENGAGED 245,717 VISITORS AND PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS THROUGH ITS EDUCATION INITIATIVES, INCLUDING CAMPS, CLASSES, OUTREACH PROGRAMS, NATURE EXCHANGE, ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS, AND EDUCATOR CHATS. TZMI EDUCATION, WITH SUPPORT FROM THE OPPORTUNITY PROJECT AND QUIKTRIP, PROVIDED HIGH IMPACT EDUCATION PROGRAMMING TO YOUTH IN THE CITY OF TULSA. FUNDING AWARDED TO TZMI THROUGH THE OPPORTUNITY PROJECT'S EXPANDED LEARNING INITIATIVE AND QUIKTRIP SPONSORSHIP FUNDING SUPPORTED OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR 6,330 TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS YOUTH THROUGH OST (OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME) EXPANDED LEARNING AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS. IN TOTAL, 492 OUTREACH PROGRAMS ENGAGED 11,018 PARTICIPANTS IN 2024.

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 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 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 April 1975.

    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.