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Friends of the Palo Alto Jr Museum and Zoo

EIN 77-0296155 · Palo Alto, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FRIENDS OF PALO ALTO JUNIOR MUSEUM & ZOO WORKS TO SUPPORT AND ENHANCE THE PALO ALTO JUNIOR MUSEUM & ZOO. WHOSE MISSION IS TO ENGAGE A CHILD'S CURIOSITY IN SCIENCE AND NATURE.

Income
$722,541
Spending
$556,422
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
86.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
4
Volunteers
36

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

Financial health

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 86.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 96% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 (1)
  1. $346,589 spent. THE MISSION OF THE FRIENDS OF THE PALO ALTO JUNIOR MUSEUM & ZOO (FRIENDS) IS TO SUPPORT AND ENHANCE THE PALO ALTO JUNIOR MUSEUM & ZOO (JMZ), AN EARLY YEARS SCIENCE EDUCATION FACILITY. NEARLY 200,000 PEOPLE VISIT THE JMZ ANNUALLY, AND JMZ EDUCATORS SERVE MORE THAN 20,000 STUDENTS EACH YEAR THROUGH HANDS-ON LEARNING AND CHILD-CENTRIC EXPLORATION TECHNIQUES OFTEN LACKING IN TRADITIONAL SCIENCE CLASSES. THE FRIENDS WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE CITY OF PALO ALTO TO PROVIDE FREE SCIENCE EDUCATION CLASSES TO ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN EAST PALO ALTO, MENLO PARK, AND REDWOOD CITY, WHERE BUDGET CUTS HAVE ELIMINATED MANY SCHOOL-BASED SCIENCE PROGRAMS. MORE THAN 3,000 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM EACH YEAR. IN FISCAL YEAR 2018, THE FRIENDS ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF PALO ALTO TO REBUILD THE JMZ THROUGH A $25 MILLION CAPITAL PROJECT. THE NEW FACILITIES OPENED IN NOVEMBER 2021 WITH INTERACTIVE SCIENCE EXHIBITS AND EXPANDED ZOO SPACES. TODAY, THE FRIENDS CONTINUES TO RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT SCIENCE EDUCATION, ANIMAL CARE, AND NEW EXHIBITS, ENSURING THE JMZ REMAINS AN ENGAGING, WELCOMING, AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY RESOURCE FOR ALL LEARNERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 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 October 1996.

    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.