Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $21.3 million
- Spending
- $23.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 17.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 61%
- Employees
- 138
- Volunteers
- 400
- Highest pay
- $391,769, interim president & general counsel
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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2530 of 30 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 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 (3)
- $11.7 million spent. MARKETING AND SPONSORSHIP (INTERIM AGREEMENT): GLAZA PROVIDES MARKETING, PUBLIC RELATIONS, AND STRATEGIC BRANDING SERVICES SIMILAR TO THE OPERATING AGREEMENT. GLAZA MANAGES THE ZOO'S SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMS. GLAZA REMITS 25% OF SPONSORSHIP REVENUE TO THE ZOO, WITH THE REMAINING 75% USED TO FUND DIRECT COSTS OF THE SPONSORSHIP AND MARKETING DEPARTMENTS. GLAZA REMITS TO THE ZOO ANY NET SURPLUS REMAINING AFTER SPONSORSHIP AND MARKETING EXPENSES ARE PAID. SITE RENTALS (INTERIM AGREEMENT): GLAZA FACILITATES AND MANAGES SITE RENTALS AND CATERED EVENTS AT THE ZOO FOR PRIVATE PARTIES. GLAZA REMITS 25% OF SITE RENTAL FEES TO THE ZOO, WITH THE REMAINING 75% USED TO FUND DIRECT COSTS OF THE DEPARTMENT. GLAZA REMITS TO THE ZOO ANY NET SURPLUS REMAINING AFTER DEPARTMENT EXPENSES ARE PAID. SPECIAL EVENTS PROGRAM (INTERIM AGREEMENT): GLAZA PRODUCES AND PROMOTES ZOO MEMBER EVENTS, DONOR EVENTS, AND NIGHT-TIME TICKETED EVENTS. TICKETED EVENT REVENUE FUNDS EXPENSES INCURRED TO PRODUCE AND MARKET EVENTS. EACH EVENT IS FINANCIALLY RECONCILED SEPARATELY, WITH THE ANY NET SURPLUS REMAINING AFTER DEPARTMENT EXPENSES ARE PAID TRANSFERRED BY GLAZA TO THE ZOO. FUNDRAISING FOCUS: FUNDRAISING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025 ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING SUCCESSES: -FUNDING FOR MAJOR RENOVATIONS TO THE LANGUR EXHIBIT. -A GRANT FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE TO COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SWAN LAKE EXHIBIT -CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THE CONSERVATION STRATEGIC PLAN. -FUNDS FOR VETERINARY EQUIPMENT AT THE GOTTLIEB HEALTH CENTER. -GIFTS TO SUSTAIN THE BETTY WHITE ZOOPALS PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS AND TRANSPORTATION FOR STUDENTS OF ALL GRADE LEVELS TO ATTEND THE ZOO. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: MEMBERSHIP, VISITOR AMENITIES, PUBLICATIONS, WEBSITE, DOCENTS AND VOLUNTEERS, AS WELL AS MEMBERSHIP AND CONCESSIONS TRANSFERS TO THE LOS ANGELES ZOO. GLAZA DIRECTS AND OPERATES THE ZOO'S MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS FOR NEARLY 35,000 HOUSEHOLDS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERIM AGREEMENT, GLAZA REMITS 35% OF MEMBERSHIP FEES RECEIVED TO THE ZOO. PUBLICATIONS AND WEBSITE MANAGEMENT: THE PUBLICATIONS DIVISION MANAGES THE ZOO'S WEBSITE AND CREATES AND DISTRIBUTES THE FOLLOWING PUBLICATIONS: - ZOO VIEW, THE AWARD-WINNING MAGAZINE FOR GLAZA MEMBERS, WHICH IS PUBLISHED QUARTERLY. - ZOOSCAPE, THE AWARD-WINNING NEWSLETTER, WHICH IS PUBLISHED 6 TIMES PER YEAR AND WHICH FEATURES MONTHLY ZOO EVENTS AND NEWS. GREATER LOS ANGELES ZOO ASSOCIATION 95-2369545 - GNUS, THE BIWEEKLY NEWSLETTER FOR ZOO STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS. VOLUNTEER AND DOCENT PROGRAMS: VOLUNTEERS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN FULFILLING THE ZOO'S MISSION OF "SAVING WILDLIFE, ENRICHING OUR COMMUNITIES, AND CREATING CONNECTIONS TO NATURE." - 401 LONG TERM GLAZA VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED OVER 51,672 HOURS OF SERVICE HELPING WITH 94 ACTIVE ASSIGNMENTS ON AND OFF SITE, AS WELL AS VIRTUALLY. TRAINING AND ONBOARDING: - 62 NEW DOCENT SPECIALISTS, AND GENERAL VOLUNTEERS WERE ONBOARDED IN THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025. DAILY PUBLIC FACING ASSIGNMENTS: - 314 VOLUNTEERS HAD OVER 488,490 INTERACTIONS WITH VISITORS HELPING WITH INTERPRETATION AND GUEST SUPPORT AT HABITATS, BIRD SHOW, AND OTHER ZOO SECTIONS, - 78 DOCENTS TOURED 47 SCHOOL GROUPS WITH OVER 3,000 STUDENTS; 11 COLLEGE GROUPS WITH OVER 350 STUDENTS; 18 MEMBER TOURS FOR 913 MEMBERS; AND 73 ADVANCEMENT TOURS FOR 458 DONORS. RESEARCH: - 45 VOLUNTEERS GAVE 1,883 HOURS OBSERVING ANIMAL BEHAVIORS TO SUPPORT ANIMAL CARE. BEHIND THE SCENES: - FOOD PREPARATION: 73 VOLUNTEERS, GAVE 9,767 HOURS WITH 12 ASSIGNMENTS HELPING PREPARE ANIMAL DIETS. - ENRICHMENT: 25 VOLUNTEERS GAVE 1,065 HOURS HELPING ANIMAL CARE CREATE AND PREPARE ENRICHMENT ITEMS AND MAINTAIN THE ENRICHMENT GARDEN. OUTREACH AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSIGNMENTS: - VIRTUAL FIELD VISITS: 17 VOLUNTEERS GAVE 746 HOURS, VISITING 198 CLASSES AND 5,300, STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS. - SPECIAL NEEDS OUTREACH TRIPS: 10 VOLUNTEERS GAVE 227 HOURS, VISITING 47 FACILITIES AND 1,226 PARTICIPANTS, TRAVELING 2,904 MILES. - ANIMAL INFORMATION: 3 DOCENTS GAVE 126 HOURS MAINTAINING THE NOTEBOOK AND FACT SHEETS FOR REFERENCE FOR ALL ZOO PERSONNEL AND DOCENT/VOLUNTEER TRAININGS. - DOCENT AND VOLUNTEER TRAINING: 85 VOLUNTEERS GAVE 1,931 HOURS ONBOARDING, TRAINING, AND MENTORING NEW DOCENT, SPECIALISTS, AND GENERAL VOLUNTEERS. PERIODIC ASSIGNMENTS: - EVENTS: 212 VOLUNTEERS GAVE 3,365 HOURS HELPING PREPARE AND SERVE AS AMBASSADORS AT EVENTS. - EPISODIC VOLUNTEERS: 10 CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT INCLUED 420 INDIVIDUALS, COLLECTIVELY GAVE 274 SERVICE HOURS SUPPORTING ANIMAL CARE THROUGH ENRICHMENT PROJECTS.
- $5.3 million spent. DIRECT SUPPORT OF THE ZOO INCLUDING TRANSFERS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, ZOO OPERATIONS, SPECIAL PROJECTS, CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS. DURING THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, GLAZA SUPPORTED THE ZOO IN A BREADTH OF PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS INCLUDING CONSERVATION GRANTS FOR THE NOONKOTIAK RESOURCE CENTER IN AFRICA, PENINSULAR PRONGHORNS, GORILLA REHABILITATION IN AFRICA, ASIAN ELEPHANTS, NTI-POACHING PROGRAMS, AND AFRICAN PAINTED DOGS. 29 GRANTS WERE FUNDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025.
- $702,842 spent. MARKETING, STRATEGIC BRANDING, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS, AS WELL AS SPECIAL GREATER LOS ANGELES ZOO ASSOCIATION 95-2369545 EVENTS, COMMUNITY EVENTS AND TRAVEL PROGRAMS. ON JULY 1, 2013, GLAZA ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR MARKETING, STRATEGIC BRANDING, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR THE ZOO. GLAZA'S AIM IS TO RAISE ATTENDANCE BY MAKING A STRATEGIC LONGTERM INVESTMENT IN MARKETING AND ADVERTISING THAT WILL INCREASE THE ZOO'S VISIBILITY WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS. GLAZA ALSO PRODUCES AND PROMOTES SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE ZOOGOERS' ENJOYMENT, ATTRACT NEW VISITORS, RAISE MONEY FOR ZOO PROGRAMS, AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION AND ENTERTAINMENT. ACTIVITIES DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 INCLUDED: - ZOO FRIDAY NIGHTS, A FAMILY-THEMED AFTER-HOURS EVENT HELD MOST FRIDAYS IN AUGUST 2024, WHICH FEATURED SELECTED ANIMALS ON EXHIBIT AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY ENTERTAINMENT. - BREW AT THE L.A. ZOO, AN ADULTS-ONLY EVENT FEATURING LOCAL CRAFT AND MICROBREWERIES, SELECT ANIMAL VIEWINGS, LIVE MUSIC, DANCING, AND FOOD TRUCKS, HELD IN AUGUST 2024. - MEMBER APPRECIATION MONTH IN AUGUST 2024, TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR THOSE WHO CONTINUED TO SUPPORT GLAZA. - BOO AT THE L.A. ZOO, IN OCTOBER 2024, CELEBRATING THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEEN WITH ENTERTAINMENT AND SPECIAL ANIMAL ENRICHMENT EXPERIENCES, WITH TRICK OR TREATING ON SELECT WEEKENDS. - L.A. ZOO LIGHTS, THE POPULAR EVENING HOLIDAY EVENT WITH ALL-NEW ANIMAL LIGHT DISPLAYS, PLUS SPECIAL HAPPY-HOUR NIGHTS AND A NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY. HELD MOST NIGHTS BETWEEN NOVEMBER 14, 2024 TO JANUARY 5, 2025. -LUNAR NEW YEAR, ACTIVITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT PLUS SPECIAL KEEPER TALKS WITH ANIMALS IN THE ZODIAC CALENDAR, HELD IN FEBRUARY 2025 -SPRING FLING, CELEBRATING ALL THINGS SPRING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, WITH KEEPER TALKS AND ENTERTAINMENT, HELD IN MARCH 2025 -WILD FOR THE PLANET, SPECIAL ACTIVITIES PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE PRACTICES, SPECIAL KEEPER TALKS, AND ENTERTAINMENT, HELD IN APRIL 2025. -DIA DE LOS NINOS, ACTIVITIES AND CULTURAL ENTERTAINMENT CELEBRATING CHILDREN, WITH BILINGUAL PROGRAMMING, HELD IN MAY 2025 - STAFFING FOR A FULL PROGRAM OF SPECIAL EVENTS FOR MEMBERS AND VISITORS, AND STAFF SUPPORT FOR MARKETING AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.
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
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 October 13, 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 June 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 January 1964.
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 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.