Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Oregon Zoo Foundation

EIN 93-0718337 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood87 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO FOSTER COMMUNITY PRIDE AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE OREGON ZOO AND TO SECURE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE ZOO'S CONSERVATION, EDUCATION AND ANIMAL WELL-BEING PROGRAMS.

Income
$10.7 million
Spending
$10.6 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
23.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
24
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$200,397, former executive director

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: 87 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 30 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 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 (2)
  1. $876,381 spent. MEMBERSHIP SERVICES- OPERATE A MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF THE OREGON ZOO AND FOSTERS THE MEANINGFUL AND LASTING IMPACT OF THE ZOO IN OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING MEMBERS ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN AND LEARN ABOUT THE ZOO'S CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, AND ANIMAL WELL-BEING EFFORTS.
  2. $7.5 million spent. ZOO SUPPORT- RAISE FUNDS THAT ARE GRANTED TO THE OREGON ZOO TO SUPPORT ITS WORK IN: CONSERVATION TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM SURVIVAL OF SPECIES AND THEIR HABITATS, INCLUDING RESTORING POPULATIONS OF NATIVE SPECIES IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST; PUBLIC EDUCATION TO EMPOWER LEARNERS OF ALL AGES TO TAKE ACTION ON BEHALF OF WILDLIFE AND NATURE; AND ANIMAL WELL-BEING THAT PROVIDES THE BEST LIVES POSSIBLE FOR THE ANIMALS IN THE ZOO'S CARE. PROVIDE OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE OREGON ZOO INCLUDING UPGRADES TO EXISTING HABITATS, INTERPRETIVE DISPLAYS, AND PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES.

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 September 1979.

    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.