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Utah Zoological Society

EIN 87-0217405 · Salt Lake Cty, UT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CREATE CHAMPIONS FOR WILDLIFE BY MAKING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND ANIMALS TO INSPIRE ACTION.

Income
$23.9 million
Spending
$26.1 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
12.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
319
Volunteers
1,077
Highest pay
$428,822, president & chief executive officer

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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 21% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 (1)
  1. $23.1 million spent. SINCE 1931, UTAH'S HOGLE ZOO-NESTLED AT THE MOUTH OF HISTORIC EMIGRATION CANYON-HAS BEEN HOME TO MORE THAN 650 EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS, FROM MAJESTIC RHINOS AND GRACEFUL GIRAFFES TO PLAYFUL POLAR BEARS AND POWERFUL LIONS. ACROSS GENERATIONS, FAMILIES HAVE CREATED UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES HERE, IMMERSING THEMSELVES IN THE WONDERS OF THE NATURAL WORLD AND FORMING LASTING BONDS WITH THESE MAGNIFICENT CREATURES. STEP INTO HOGLE ZOO AND EMBARK ON A JOURNEY UNLIKE ANY OTHER. FEEL THE GENTLE TOUCH OF AN 18-INCH GIRAFFE TONGUE AS IT DELICATELY TAKES LETTUCE FROM YOUR HAND. HEAR THE RHYTHMIC SLURP OF A RHINO SAVORING AN APPLE. WATCH POLAR BEARS GLIDE GRACEFULLY BENEATH SHIMMERING WATER, OR CAPTURE A SELFIE WITH A CURIOUS SEAL AS IT SWIMS BEHIND THE GLASS. BUT OUR MISSION GOES FAR BEYOND ENTERTAINMENT. WE STRIVE TO HARNESS THESE MAGICAL ENCOUNTERS TO INSPIRE MEANINGFUL CHANGE. OUR ANIMALS ARE AMBASSADORS, AND OUR ZOO IS A POWERFUL CATALYST FOR TRANSFORMATION. THROUGH DYNAMIC EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, WE IGNITE A PASSION FOR NATURE IN OVER 249,694 K-12 STUDENTS EACH YEAR VIA CLASSES, FREE FIELD TRIPS, AND INFORMAL SCIENCE EDUCATION ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVES. THESE EXPERIENCES FOSTER WONDER AND A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR PLANET'S FUTURE. WE ALSO BRING JOY AND COMFORT TO 1,000 CHILDREN WITH PHYSICAL CHALLENGES, SPECIAL NEEDS, AND CHRONIC ILLNESSES THROUGH DREAM NIGHT-OFFERING MOMENTS OF PEACE AND HEALING IN THE HEART OF NATURE. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE, WE EXTEND OUR REACH TO PLACES LIKE PRIMARY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE, BRINGING THE MAGIC OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. LOCALLY, WE ACT AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE, CREATING OVER 350 JOBS AND CONTRIBUTING MORE THAN $25 MILLION ANNUALLY TO UTAH'S ECONOMY. BEYOND FINANCIAL IMPACT, OUR ZOO TEEN PROGRAM EQUIPS YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS AND FOSTERS A DEEP COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. OUR 400+ DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT DIVERSE INITIATIVES-FROM RESTORING THE JORDAN RIVER ALONGSIDE THE JORDAN RIVER COMMISSION TO AIDING THE UTAH DIVISION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES IN REPATRIATING BOREAL TOAD POPULATIONS AND PROMOTING "WILD AWARE" LIVING, WHICH ENCOURAGES SAFE COEXISTENCE WITH WILDLIFE. GLOBALLY, OUR REACH CONTINUES. WE SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION BY FUNDING EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT FOR THOSE PROTECTING ELEPHANTS AND LIONS IN AFRICA, WHILE ENHANCING SAFETY PROTOCOLS IN THE ARCTIC THROUGH POLAR BEAR MONITORING. WE ENVISION A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE THRIVE TOGETHER. AT HOGLE ZOO, EVERY CONNECTION IS A SPARK FOR COMPASSION AND ACTION. TOGETHER, WE CAN BUILD A FUTURE WHERE HUMANS AND ANIMALS FLOURISH SIDE BY SIDE, UNITED BY A SHARED LOVE FOR OUR PLANET AND ITS INCREDIBLE INHABITANTS.

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 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 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 September 1954.

    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.