Conservation Society of California
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THROUGH MANAGEMENT OF OAKLAND ZOO, THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA DEEPENS CONNECTION WITH ANIMALS, SAVES WILDLIFE, AND INSPIRES CHAMPIONS FOR THE NATURAL WORLD.
- Income
- $35.0 million
- Spending
- $36.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 3.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 64%
- Employees
- 464
- Volunteers
- 570
- Highest pay
- $358,624, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 2520 of 20 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 September 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)
- $28.6 million spent. OAKLAND ZOO IS PROUD OF ITS CONTINUED SUCCESS IN ANIMAL CARE AND WELFARE, LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT, AND CONSERVATION INITIATIVES. THE ZOO IS HOME TO OVER 700 ANIMALS THAT OUR STAFF PROVIDE INDUSTRY LEADING CARE FOR TO ENSURE THEIR PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL WELLBEING. CONSERVATION IS CORE TO OUR MISSION, AND THE ZOO CONTINUES TO FOCUS ITS EFFORTS ON TEN SPECIES INCLUDING AFRICAN ELEPHANTS, CHIMPANZEES, BISON, AFRICAN LIONS, CALIFORNIA CONDORS, AND MORE. OUR VETERINARY AND ANIMAL CARE TEAMS CONTINUE OUR LOCAL WILDLIFE RESCUE WORK WITH OAKLAND'S CITY BIRD, THE BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERON, AND WE RESCUED OUR 30TH MOUNTAIN LION IN 2025. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.WE ARE THE FIRST ZOO IN THE UNITED STATES TO RECEIVE FUNDING FOR A DEDICATED POSITION TO ADDRESS ANIMAL WELFARE RESCUE AND THE WILDLIFE TRADE, WHICH IS DEVASTING SPECIES AND HABITATS INTERNATIONALLY. LAST YEAR WE EXPANDED OUR ONSITE GUEST EDUCATION PROVIDING ANIMAL HIGHLIGHT PROGRAMS TO 30,000 GUESTS AND ENHANCING OUR DOCENT OFFERINGS TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE OF BIODIVERSITY. AND WE CELEBRATED THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONSERVATION EDUCATION CENTER WE HELPED TO OPEN IN UGANDA, WHICH HAS NOW PROVIDED SERVICES FOR OVER 5,000 LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS COEXISTING WITH CHIMPANZEES AND OTHER SPECIES. ALONGSIDE OUR PROGRAMMATIC WORK THE ZOO WELCOMED 58,000 GUESTS FOR FREE DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, PROVIDING OUR COMMUNITY WITH A SPACE FOR CONNECTION, HOPE, AND LIFELONG MEMORIES. IN 2023, THE ZOO ESTABLISHED A FOUR-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN WITH INPUT FROM THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. THE FOLLOWING KEY PRIORITIES REMAIN OUR FOCUS THROUGH 2027:- INSPIRING ACTION FOR ANIMALS AND THE PLANET- EXPANDING LEADERSHIP IN ANIMAL WELLBEING AND RESCUE- DEEPENING OUR CONSERVATION IMPACT- ENHANCING OUR TEAM CULTURE AND ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 November 6, 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 September 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 October 1953.
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 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.