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Woodland Park Zoological Society

EIN 91-6070005 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WOODLAND PARK ZOO SAVES WILDLIFE AND INSPIRES EVERYONE TO MAKE CONSERVATION A PRIORITY IN THEIR LIVES.

Income
$83.7 million
Spending
$77.9 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 38%
Employees
645
Volunteers
506
Highest pay
$614,430, chief executive officer

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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    37 of 37 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 (5)
  1. $13.1 million spent. ANIMAL CARE: THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF AT THE ZOO CARE FOR MORE THAN 834 VERTABRATES AND 5,270 INVERTEBRATES, REPRESENTING 247 SPECIES, OF WHICH 26 ARE ENDANGERED AND 5 ARE THREATENED. THE ZOO'S SCIENTIFIC NUTRITION PROGRAMS, WELFARE RESEARCH, REHABILITATION MEDICINE, HUSBANDRY AND BEHAVIORAL ENRICHMENT ENSURE ALL ANIMALS AT THE ZOO THRIVE. TOGETHER, ANIMAL CARE STAFF, INCLUDING CURATORS, VETERINARIANS AND KEEPERS, HAVE MORE THAN 1,000 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERTISE IN THEIR FIELDS. THE PROGRAM REVENUE IS GENERATED BY SELECT ANIMAL EXPERIENCES FACILITATED BY A KEEPER OR ATTENDANT WHO PROVIDES INFORMAL SCIENCE AND EMPATHY BUILDING CONTENT. WILDLIFE CONSERVATION EFFORTS ON ZOO GROUNDS INCLUDE PARTICIPATION IN SPECIES SURVIVAL PLANS AND RE-INTRODUCTION PROGRAMS.
  2. $30.5 million spent. GROUNDS, FACILITIES AND EXHIBITRY: THE GROUNDS AND MAINTENANCE STAFF IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR 92 ACRE COMMUNITY ASSET, INCLUDING RESOURCE SUSTAINABILITY, DAILY UPKEEP, MAJOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS, SECURITY, CONSTRUCTION OF NEW FACILITIES, HORTICULTURE AND SIGNAGE. EXPENSES IN THIS CATEGORY INCREASED BY $15 MILLION OVER PRIOR YEAR DUE TO $16 MILLION SPENT ON THE NEW FOREST TRAILHEAD EXHIBIT OPENING IN MAY 2026. MANY OF THE THOUSANDS OF PLANTS AND TREES AT THE ZOO PROVIDE VITAMIN-PACKED FOOD FOR OUR HERBIVORES AND ENRICHMENT FOR ALL SPECIES. IN ADDITION TO THE ZOO, STAFF MAINTAIN A 100-YEAR-OLD HISTORIC CAROUSEL, AN ORGANIC ROSE GARDEN, A GREENHOUSE COMPLEX, A STATE OF THE ART COMPOSTING SYSTEM AND TWO NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS.
  3. $9.1 million spent. CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION: THE ZOO ADVANCES BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH THE PROTECTION OF MORE THAN 2.2 MILLION ACRES OF ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITATS REGIONALLY AND GLOBALLY THROUGH 28 WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDIGENOUS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND NGO'S. PARTNERS INCLUDE THE TREE KANGAROO CONSERVATION PROGRAM IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA. INTEGRAL IN THE INFORMAL SCIENCE EDUCATION ECOSYSTEM, THE ZOO PROVIDES PUBLIC PROGRAMS, CAMPS, COMMUNITY SCIENCE PROJECTS, OUTREACH LEARNING AND CLASSES THAT FOSTER CONNECTIONS WITH THE NATURAL WORLD AND SUPPORT PARTICIPANTS' DEVELOPMENT OF EMPATHY FOR WILDLIFE TO ADVANCE CONSERVATION. SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, CAMPS, PROGRAMS AND CLASSES ARE SUBSIDIZED FOR COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS THAT SERVE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) FAMILIES BY KING COUNTY LEVY FUNDS AND PRIVATE FUNDRAISING. THE ZOO ALSO SUPPORTS PEER INSTITUTIONS' DEVELOPMENT OF EMPATHY-FOCUSED PROGRAMS THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS.
  4. $8.2 million spent. MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM AND VISITOR SERVICES: THE ZOO'S MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE STATE WITH MEMBERSHIP COUNTS IN THE MID-THIRTY THOUSANDS, ALLOWING UNLIMITED GENERAL ADMISSIONS ACCESS TO THE ZOO FOR ONE YEAR. MEMBERS ALSO ENJOY SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS, DISCOUNTS, PRESALES AND AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION. VISITORS SERVICES ENCOMPASSES ADMISSIONS, GUEST SERVICES, THE HISTORIC CAROUSEL, GROUP SALES AND EVENT SUPPORT.
  5. $4.2 million spent. COMMUNICATIONS, MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS: THE ZOO SHARES ITS MISSION WITH BOTH LOCAL AND EXTENDED AUDIENCES VIA SEVERAL COMMUNICATIONS METHODS. THE ZOO CREATES ITS OWN SIGNAGE, MAPS, ETC AND IS ACTIVE ON VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. THE ZOO RAISES AWARENESS FOR AND ENGAGES CONSERVATION EFFORTS.

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 October 13, 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 January 1967.

    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 October 21, 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.