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Sacramento Zoological Society

EIN 94-2861667 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SACRAMENTO ZOO INSPIRES APPRECIATION, RESPECT AND A CONNECTION WITH WILDLIFE AND NATURE THROUGH EDUCATION, RECREATION AND CONSERVATION.

Income
$12.4 million
Spending
$11.9 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
12.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 67%
Employees
155
Volunteers
119
Highest pay
$233,890, executive director/ceo

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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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

    15 of 16 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 (3)
  1. $4.9 million spent. ANIMAL CARE - THE SACRAMENTO ZOO IS PROUD TO HAVE AN OUTSTANDING COLLECTION OF ANIMALS TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE OUR COMMUNITY. THE ZOO IS HOME TO 335 ANIMALS REPRESENTING 94 SPECIES. OF THAT NUMBER, 66 SPECIES ARE CONSIDERED CRITICALLY ENDANGERED, ENDANGERED, OR VULNERABLE BY THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE (IUCN). OF THE SPECIES HOUSED AT THE ZOO, 38 ARE MANAGED COOPERATIVELY AS PART OF THE ZOO'S PARTICIPATION IN PROGRAMS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS (AZA). NOTABLE BIRTHS DURING THE YEAR INCLUDED A CAPYBARA, TWO RED PANDAS, A MASAI GIRAFFE, AND A SUMATRAN ORANGUTAN. ALSO, DURING THE YEAR, THE ZOO CONTINUED OR EXPANDED PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES IN RESPONSE TO AVIAN INFLUENZA, A VIRAL INFECTION THAT OCCURS NATURALLY IN WILD BIRDS. IN SOME INSTANCES, THESE PRECAUTIONARY STEPS INCLUDED REMOVING CERTAIN BIRDS FROM THEIR HABITATS AND RELOCATING THEM TO AREAS OF THE ZOO THAT ARE BETTER PROTECTED FROM EXPOSURE TO WILD BIRDS.
  2. $2.7 million spent. MEMBERSHIP AND VISITOR SERVICES - THE SACRAMENTO ZOO HAD OVER 11,000 MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS AT THE END OF 2024, AND ENTERTAINED, INSPIRED, AND EDUCATED 460,219 GUESTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. IN ADDITION TO A VIBRANT LIVING COLLECTION, THE ZOO HOSTED A TRAVELING EXHIBIT OF CLIMBABLE ANIMAL SCULPTURES THAT WAS POPULAR WITH OUR YOUNG GUESTS.
  3. $1.1 million spent. EDUCATION AND SUSTAINABILITY - THE ZOO'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO COMPLY WITH CALIFORNIA SCIENCE STANDARDS. THESE PROGRAMS INCORPORATE EDUCATION, RECREATION, AND THE UNIQUE SETTING OF THE ZOO. OVER 55,000 GUESTS ENJOYED THE ZOO AS PART OF SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS IN 2024. THIS REPRESENTS A 22% INCREASE OVER 2023. AS A CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION, THE SACRAMENTO ZOO REMAINS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING WILDLIFE CONSERVATION THROUGH FINANCIAL AND IN-KIND SUPPORT. IN 2024, THE SACRAMENTO ZOO DISTRIBUTED OR COMMITTED CONSERVATION GRANT FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF THE FOLLOWING SPECIES: WESTERN POND TURTLES, AMERICAN ALLIGATOR, ORANGUTAN, LEMURS, GIRAFFE, OKAPI, RHINOCEROS, GREVY ZEBRA, JAGUAR, LION, SNOW LEOPARD, CHEETAH, RED PANDA, GALAPAGOS TORTOISE, GROUND HORNBILL, AND THICK-BILLED PARROTS.

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 March 1959.

    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.