Fort Worth Zoological Association Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Fort Worth, Texas, registered in 1952, with $52,839,535 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 79% of spending to programs.
Revenue (FY2023)
$52.8M
▼ 0.5% vs prior year
Animals median: $151K
Expenses (FY2023)
$55.3M
Net assets
$110.1M
Employees
950
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For Fort Worth Zoological Association Inc: 79% to programs · $17 to raise $100 earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For Fort Worth Zoological Association Inc: 24 mo reserves · -5% margin earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For Fort Worth Zoological Association Inc: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For Fort Worth Zoological Association Inc: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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The fort worth zoo is dedicated to the conservation of wildlife. through entertainment and education programs, the fort worth zoo attracts, motivates, inspires, and engages the public in order to promote wildlife conservation locally, regionally, nationally, and globally.
Admissions and attractions: more than 1 million guests visit the zoo each year during regular operating hours. approximately 75% of our visitors coming from the dallas-fort worth metroplex. zoo visitors are treated to naturalistic animal habitats, interactive learning experiences, and entertaining attractions.
Educational programs: approximately 30,000 students and teachers attended zoo education programs including weekday zoo school, summer zoo camp, zoo careers camp, home school days, overnights, birthday parties, teacher workshops, and more. more than 100,000 students and chaperones visit the zoo on organized field trips. the wild ones mobile education serves more than 5,000 children attending title i schools in tarrant county, extending the zoo's educational outreach beyond its 64 acres.
Membership activities: the zoo has more than 50,000 members, who receive exclusive membership privileges including free admission to the zoo, free parking, gift shop discounts, an annual subscription to roar magazine, priority registration for zoo education programs, and invitations to habitat openings and special members-only events.
Revenue declined from $55.0M (FY2013) to $52.8M (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Operating margin
-4.6%
Spent more than it raised in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$117.2M
Total liabilities
$7.1M
Net assets
$110.1M
Salaries & benefits
$26.4M
48% of expenses
Board members
45
45 independent
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $52,839,535▼0.5% | $55,294,997▼20.4% | $110,081,959▲4.3% | $117,169,906▲3.6% | 990 |
| 2022 | $53,079,471▼26.0% | $69,456,335▲82.6% | $105,557,029▼13.3% | $113,048,894▼12.1% | 990 |
| 2021 | $71,775,822▲36.2% | $38,028,152▼42.0% | $121,741,708▲35.1% | $128,573,398▲32.9% | 990 |
| 2020 | $52,699,554▲60.8% | $65,564,329▲84.5% | $90,136,694▼12.0% | $96,773,959▼11.4% | 990 |
| 2019 | $32,770,363▲0.8% | $35,543,507▼40.2% | $102,471,761▼2.0% | $109,259,463▼0.5% | 990 |
| 2018 | $32,497,026▼0.5% | $59,436,501▲156% | $104,561,449▼20.0% | $109,844,433▼18.8% | 990 |
| 2017 | $32,664,385▼36.5% | $23,187,534▲2.0% | $130,623,826▲8.5% | $135,269,684▲8.2% | 990 |
| 2016 | $51,479,178▲33.7% | $22,727,831▲11.9% | $120,362,795▲31.5% | $124,991,155▲30.7% | 990 |
| 2015 | $38,509,500▲1.4% | $20,307,410▼13.0% | $91,548,743▲25.3% | $95,629,099▲24.4% | 990 |
| 2014 | $37,994,973▼30.9% | $23,347,693▲19.9% | $73,077,785▲25.0% | $76,848,890▲23.3% | 990 |
| 2013 | $55,009,360 | $19,467,671▲2.0% | $58,478,679▲156% | $62,312,406▲147% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $19,081,496▲3.0% | $22,840,716▲8.8% | $25,254,001▲7.3% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $18,531,809▼48.1% | $20,994,897▲7.3% | $23,530,959▲7.6% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $35,699,649▲117% | $19,568,179▼49.8% | $21,873,222▼47.1% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $16,462,103 | $39,013,554 | $41,323,543 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Highest-paid: Michael Fouraker — $534,615 (0.97% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Fouraker | Executive Director | 40 | $534,615 |
| Megan Deen | Cfo | 40 | $261,998 |
| Alice Pritchett | Director of Development | 40 | $167,575 |
| Anthony Davis | Director Park Operations | 40 | $157,166 |
| David Dena | Director of Finance | 40 | $145,541 |
| Tarren Wagener | Director Animal Programs | 40 | $136,557 |
| Sondra Wilkie | Director of Hr | 40 | $136,364 |
| Amy Duncan | Capital Projects Director | 40 | $135,397 |
| Abel Sanchez | Board Member | 0.25 | — |
| Ardon Moore | President | 1 | — |
| Ashli Blumenfeld | Board Member | 0.25 | — |
| Breck Ray | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Bryan King | Board Member | 0.25 | — |
| Cheryl Hodge | Executive Committee | 1 | — |
| Debbie Head | Executive Committee | 1 | — |
| Dee Kelly Jr | Executive Committee | 1 | — |
| Dionne Johnson | Board Member | 0.25 | — |
| Douglas Bratton | Board Member | 0.25 | — |
| Edward Bass | Board Member | 0.25 | — |
| George Young Jr | Board Member | 0.25 | — |
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Schaefer Advertising Co | Advertising | $2,108,314 |
| N Studio LLC | Event Decor Rental | $956,783 |
| Stephanie Tommasello | Exhibit Fabrication | $245,675 |
| Viki Hall Staffing LLC | Staffing | $166,930 |
| L M Holder III Faia | Construction | $151,796 |
107 grants to Fort Worth Zoological Association Inc totaling $5.6M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communities Foundation of Texas | This grant is designated for general support. | 2024 | $166,807 |
| Community Foundation of North Texas | For support of boo at the zoo | 2024 | $30,000 |
| United Way of Greater St Louis Inc | Ccs-health and well-being | 2024 | $20,000 |
| Community Foundation of North Texas | For general operating, requested by annette williamson | 2024 | $20,000 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $19,986 |
| Community Foundation of North Texas | To support a wilder vision campaign - no benefits | 2024 | $10,000 |
| Community Foundation of North Texas | Donation for jameela's transportation to cleveland zoo | 2024 | $7,750 |
| Community Foundation of North Texas | Donation for jameela's transportation to cleveland zoo | 2024 | $7,750 |
| Community Foundation of North Texas | For operational costs involved with zoo ball, no benefits | 2024 | $7,500 |
| Community Foundation of North Texas | For the exploration and learning center | 2023 | $500,000 |
| Community Foundation of North Texas | For the exploration and learning center | 2023 | $500,000 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2023 | $344,580 |
| Communities Foundation of Texas | This grant is designated for general support. | 2023 | $171,787 |
| Houston Zoo Inc | Houston toad conservation support | 2023 | $41,142 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2023 | $35,400 |
2 grants totaling $110K in FY2023. All grants made by Fort Worth Zoological Association Inc →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wildlife Conservation Global Inc | Annual operating support and okapi project | $100,000 |
| The International Rhino Foundation | Annual operating support | $10,000 |
Explore more
Data for Fort Worth Zoological Association Inc (EIN 75-0991727) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.