Denver Zoological Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
INSPIRING COMMUNITIES TO SAVE WILDLIFE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
- Income
- $66.0 million
- Spending
- $71.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 1.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 47%
- Employees
- 686
- Volunteers
- 648
- Highest pay
- $823,247, president en
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
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 39% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (5)
- $41.5 million spent. LIFE SCIENCES: THE DENVER ZOO'S MISSION IS INSPIRING COMMUNITIES TO SAVE WILDLIFE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE DENVER ZOO CARES FOR APPROXIMATELY 2,600 ANIMALS, REPRESENTING OVER 450 SPECIES, MANY OF WHICH ARE ENDANGERED OR THREATENED. OUR LARGEST PROGRAM AREA IS CARING FOR OUR ANIMAL RESIDENTS WHO CONNECT OUR GUESTS TO WILDLIFE AROUND THE WORLD. DENVER ZOO IS A RECOGNIZED LEADER IN ALL AREAS RELATING TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE FOR OUR ANIMAL COLLECTION AS WE ARE FOCUSED ON PROVIDING THE BEST NUTRITIONAL, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, AND PHYSICAL CARE POSSIBLE. WITH THE ADDITION OF THE LEMBKE FAMILY PRESERVE, A 570-ACRE PARCEL IN WELD COUNTY, COLORADO, THE DENVER ZOO WILL BE ABLE TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE ITS HOLDING, BREEDING, RESEARCH AND REINTRODUCTION EFFORTS. ANIMALS AT THE DENVER ZOO RECEIVE THE VERY BEST CARE FROM THEIR DEDICATED ANIMAL CARE STAFF, ANIMAL BEHAVIORISTS, VETERINARY MEDICINE STAFF, AND ZOO NUTRITION AND WELFARE STAFF. OUR ANIMALS ARE BRED UNDER THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS' (AZA) SPECIES SURVIVAL PLAN (SSP), WHICH ENSURES GENETIC DIVERSITY AND HEALTHY POPULATIONS. ANIMAL WELFARE IS EVERYONE'S JOB AT THE DENVER ZOO. THE DENVER ZOO IS ACCREDITED BY THE AZA AND CONSERVATION CERTIFIED BY AMERICAN HUMANE. AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP IN TACKLING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IS FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH ANIMALS. ONE OF THE UNIQUE BENEFITS OF A ZOO IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO SEE ANIMALS UP CLOSE, WHICH IS TYPICALLY MORE COMPELLING THAN SEEING THEM ON TV OR IN A PUBLICATION. LIFE SCIENCES: THE DENVER ZOO'S MISSION IS INSPIRING COMMUNITIES TO SAVE WILDLIFE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE DENVER ZOO CARES FOR APPROXIMATELY 2,600 ANIMALS, REPRESENTING OVER 450 SPECIES, MANY OF WHICH ARE ENDANGERED OR THREATENED. OUR LARGEST PROGRAM AREA IS CARING FOR OUR ANIMAL RESIDENTS WHO CONNECT OUR GUESTS TO WILDLIFE AROUND THE WORLD. DENVER ZOO IS A RECOGNIZED LEADER IN ALL AREAS RELATING TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE FOR OUR ANIMAL COLLECTION AS WE ARE FOCUSED ON PROVIDING THE BEST NUTRITIONAL, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, AND PHYSICAL CARE POSSIBLE. WITH THE ADDITION OF THE LEMBKE FAMILY PRESERVE, A 570-ACRE PARCEL IN WELD COUNTY, COLORADO, THE DENVER ZOO WILL BE ABLE TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE ITS HOLDING, BREEDING, RESEARCH AND REINTRODUCTION EFFORTS. ANIMALS AT THE DENVER ZOO RECEIVE THE VERY BEST CARE FROM THEIR DEDICATED ANIMAL CARE STAFF, ANIMAL BEHAVIORISTS, VETERINARY MEDICINE STAFF, AND ZOO NUTRITION AND WELFARE STAFF. OUR ANIMALS ARE BRED UNDER THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS' (AZA) SPECIES SURVIVAL PLAN (SSP), WHICH ENSURES GENETIC DIVERSITY AND HEALTHY POPULATIONS. ANIMAL WELFARE IS EVERYONE'S JOB AT THE DENVER ZOO. THE DENVER ZOO IS ACCREDITED BY THE AZA AND CONSERVATION CERTIFIED BY AMERICAN HUMANE. AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP IN TACKLING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IS FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH ANIMALS. ONE OF THE UNIQUE BENEFITS OF A ZOO IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO SEE ANIMALS UP CLOSE, WHICH IS TYPICALLY MORE COMPELLING THAN SEEING THEM ON TV OR IN A PUBLICATION.
- $9.8 million spent. GUEST EXPERIENCES: THE DENVER ZOO EXISTS TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY CONNECT WITH WILDLIFE HERE AND AROUND THE WORLD SO THAT WE CAN ALL BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO HELPING SPECIES THRIVE. OUR PASSION AND REASON FOR BEING IS TO INSPIRE COMMUNITIES TO SAVE WILDLIFE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE ACHIEVE THIS BY PROVIDING AN OUTSTANDING GUEST EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY. THE DENVER ZOO MONITORS AND EVALUATES THE GUEST EXPERIENCE THROUGH A MYSTERY SHOPPER PROGRAM, CONSISTENTLY MONITORING ONLINE FEEDBACK, AND EXTENSIVE GUEST SATISFACTION SURVEYS. THE DENVER ZOO CONTINUES TO MAKE A PROFOUND IMPACT, CREATING MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES FOR GUESTS, BOTH AT THE DENVER ZOO AND OFF-SITE IN THE COMMUNITY, ENGAGING CITIZENS THROUGH IMPACTFUL ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS THAT INSPIRE A LIFELONG LOVE OF SCIENCE LEARNING. THE DENVER ZOO IS A PLACE WHERE GUESTS MAKE LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS, LINKING PEOPLE, ANIMALS, AND NATURE. THE DENVER ZOO CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH ANIMALS, INSPIRING THEM TO CHAMPION THE DENVER ZOO'S MISSION TO INSPIRE COMMUNITIES TO SAVE WILDLIFE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. AS AN ACCREDITED ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS (AZA) INSTITUTION, THE DENVER ZOO IS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR THE DENVER METRO REGION TO UNDERSTAND WILDLIFE AND THE NEED TO CONSERVE THE PLACES ANIMALS LIVE. THE DENVER ZOO IS ALSO AMERICAN HUMANE CERTIFIED, RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE IN ANIMAL WELLBEING. THE DENVER ZOO'S GUESTS LEARN ABOUT THE IMPORTANT ROLE ZOOS HAVE AS LEADERS IN CONSERVATION RESEARCH. THROUGH UP-CLOSE EXPERIENCES, VISITORS EXPERIENCE A STRONGER CONNECTION TO NATURE, CONSIDER THEIR ROLE IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AND CONSERVATION ACTION, AND SEE THEMSELVES AS PART OF THE SOLUTION AS A RESULT OF THEIR VISIT. THE DENVER ZOO SERVED 1.8 MILLION PEOPLE IN 2025 THROUGH VISITS AND OUTREACH EDUCATION PROGRAMS. APPROXIMATELY 158,000 GUESTS WERE PROVIDED ACCESS TO THE DENVER ZOO WITH FREE ADMISSION AND APPROXIMATELY 203,000 GUESTS WERE PROVIDED ACCESS WITH REDUCED PRICED ADMISSION. GUEST EXPERIENCES: THE DENVER ZOO EXISTS TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY CONNECT WITH WILDLIFE HERE AND AROUND THE WORLD SO THAT WE CAN ALL BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO HELPING SPECIES THRIVE. OUR PASSION AND REASON FOR BEING IS TO INSPIRE COMMUNITIES TO SAVE WILDLIFE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE ACHIEVE THIS BY PROVIDING AN OUTSTANDING GUEST EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY. THE DENVER ZOO MONITORS AND EVALUATES THE GUEST EXPERIENCE THROUGH A MYSTERY SHOPPER PROGRAM, CONSISTENTLY MONITORING ONLINE FEEDBACK, AND EXTENSIVE GUEST SATISFACTION SURVEYS. THE DENVER ZOO CONTINUES TO MAKE A PROFOUND IMPACT, CREATING MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES FOR GUESTS, BOTH AT THE DENVER ZOO AND OFF-SITE IN THE COMMUNITY, ENGAGING CITIZENS THROUGH IMPACTFUL ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS THAT INSPIRE A LIFELONG LOVE OF SCIENCE LEARNING. THE DENVER ZOO IS A PLACE WHERE GUESTS MAKE LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS, LINKING PEOPLE, ANIMALS, AND NATURE. THE DENVER ZOO CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH ANIMALS, INSPIRING THEM TO CHAMPION THE DENVER ZOO'S MISSION TO INSPIRE COMMUNITIES TO SAVE WILDLIFE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. AS AN ACCREDITED ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS (AZA) INSTITUTION, THE DENVER ZOO IS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR THE DENVER METRO REGION TO UNDERSTAND WILDLIFE AND THE NEED TO CONSERVE THE PLACES ANIMALS LIVE. THE DENVER ZOO IS ALSO AMERICAN HUMANE CERTIFIED, RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE IN ANIMAL WELLBEING. THE DENVER ZOO'S GUESTS LEARN ABOUT THE IMPORTANT ROLE ZOOS HAVE AS LEADERS IN CONSERVATION RESEARCH. THROUGH UP-CLOSE EXPERIENCES, VISITORS EXPERIENCE A STRONGER CONNECTION TO NATURE, CONSIDER THEIR ROLE IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AND CONSERVATION ACTION, AND SEE THEMSELVES AS PART OF THE SOLUTION AS A RESULT OF THEIR VISIT. THE DENVER ZOO SERVED 1.8 MILLION PEOPLE IN 2025 THROUGH VISITS AND OUTREACH EDUCATION PROGRAMS. APPROXIMATELY 158,000 GUESTS WERE PROVIDED ACCESS TO THE DENVER ZOO WITH FREE ADMISSION AND APPROXIMATELY 203,000 GUESTS WERE PROVIDED ACCESS WITH REDUCED PRICED ADMISSION.
- $3.8 million spent. LEARNING EXPERIENCES: DENVER ZOOS CONSERVATION LEARNING, CONSERVATION ENGAGEMENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY RESEARCH & EVALUATION TEAMS AIM TO HELP STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES CONNECT WITH THE ENVIRONMENT, BECOME SCIENTIFIC THINKERS, AND ULTIMATELY CHAMPIONS FOR ANIMALS AND HABITATS. THE DENVER ZOO IS A ONE-OF-A-KIND PLACE WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS CAN EXPERIENCE THE JOY AND WONDERS OF ANIMALS, CONSERVATION, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THE CONSERVATION LEARNING TEAM PROVIDED A VARIETY OF IN-PERSON LEARNING EXPERIENCES WHICH WERE VERY WELL RECEIVED BY OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THE DENVER ZOO HAD OVER 33,000 PARTICIPANTS IN EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN 2025. LEARNING EXPERIENCES: DENVER ZOOS CONSERVATION LEARNING, CONSERVATION ENGAGEMENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY RESEARCH & EVALUATION TEAMS AIM TO HELP STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES CONNECT WITH THE ENVIRONMENT, BECOME SCIENTIFIC THINKERS, AND ULTIMATELY CHAMPIONS FOR ANIMALS AND HABITATS. THE DENVER ZOO IS A ONE-OF-A-KIND PLACE WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS CAN EXPERIENCE THE JOY AND WONDERS OF ANIMALS, CONSERVATION, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THE CONSERVATION LEARNING TEAM PROVIDED A VARIETY OF IN-PERSON LEARNING EXPERIENCES WHICH WERE VERY WELL RECEIVED BY OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THE DENVER ZOO HAD OVER 33,000 PARTICIPANTS IN EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN 2025.
- $1.7 million spent. FIELD CONSERVATION: THE DENVER ZOO IS A ZOO-BASED CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION AND A DEDICATED PLAYER IN THE MOVEMENT TO SAVE WILDLIFE. WE CONDUCT EXTENSIVE FIELD WORK IN COLORADO AND GLOBALLY FOR ANIMALS AND HABITATS IN THE WILD. OUR APPROACH IS TO WORK WITH COMMUNITIES TO UNDERSTAND CONSERVATION ISSUES, THEN CO-DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES TO PROTECT WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES. DENVER ZOO IS A LEADER AMONG ZOOS IN FIELD CONSERVATION. IN ADDITION TO CONNECTING AUDIENCES WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF SPECIES AT OUR 80-ACRE URBAN CAMPUS, WE WORK TO PROTECT ANIMALS AND HABITATS THROUGH CORE PROGRAMS AROUND THE WORLD IN - LAOS, AFRICA, PERU, AND THE COLORADO ROCKY MOUNTAINS AND GREAT PLAINS. WE COMMIT FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, AND CONTRACT STAFF ALONG WITH OTHER RESOURCES TO THESE PROGRAMS EACH YEAR. WE DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATION LEADERS THROUGH INTERNSHIPS, APPRENTICESHIPS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. USING BOTH SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL SCIENCE TO IDENTIFY AND UNDERSTAND TARGET SPECIES AND THREATS TO THEIR SURVIVAL, WE WORK TO MITIGATE THREATS BY STRENGTHENING PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT, ENGAGING LOCAL COMMUNITIES, INFLUENCING CONSERVATION POLICY, AND BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO ENGAGE IN CONSERVATION ACTION.
- FIELD CONSERVATION: THE DENVER ZOO IS A ZOO-BASED CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION AND A DEDICATED PLAYER IN THE MOVEMENT TO SAVE WILDLIFE. WE CONDUCT EXTENSIVE FIELD WORK IN COLORADO AND GLOBALLY FOR ANIMALS AND HABITATS IN THE WILD. OUR APPROACH IS TO WORK WITH COMMUNITIES TO UNDERSTAND CONSERVATION ISSUES, THEN CO-DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES TO PROTECT WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES. DENVER ZOO IS A LEADER AMONG ZOOS IN FIELD CONSERVATION. IN ADDITION TO CONNECTING AUDIENCES WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF SPECIES AT OUR 80-ACRE URBAN CAMPUS, WE WORK TO PROTECT ANIMALS AND HABITATS THROUGH CORE PROGRAMS AROUND THE WORLD IN - LAOS, AFRICA, PERU, AND THE COLORADO ROCKY MOUNTAINS AND GREAT PLAINS. WE COMMIT FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, AND CONTRACT STAFF ALONG WITH OTHER RESOURCES TO THESE PROGRAMS EACH YEAR. WE DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATION LEADERS THROUGH INTERNSHIPS, APPRENTICESHIPS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. USING BOTH SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL SCIENCE TO IDENTIFY AND UNDERSTAND TARGET SPECIES AND THREATS TO THEIR SURVIVAL, WE WORK TO MITIGATE THREATS BY STRENGTHENING PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT, ENGAGING LOCAL COMMUNITIES, INFLUENCING CONSERVATION POLICY, AND BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO ENGAGE IN CONSERVATION ACTION.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1952.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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