Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc
88% goes to programs $8 to raise $100 Strong reserves
Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Indianapolis, Indiana, registered in 1966, with $57,679,714 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 88% of spending to programs.
1200 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN, 46222 EIN 35-1074747 Since 1966
Revenue (FY2024)
$57.7M
▲ 15.2% vs prior year
Animals median: $151K
Expenses (FY2024)
$44.4M
Net assets
$234.1M
Employees
745
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
AProgram efficiency40% of the rating88% to programs · $8 to raise $100
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 Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc: 88% to programs · $8 to raise $100 earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
B+Financial health25% of the rating63 mo reserves · +23% margin
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 Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc: 63 mo reserves · +23% margin earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
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 Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
ATransparency10% of the rating4 of 5 disclosure signals
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 Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc: 4 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
The mission of the indianapolis zoo is to protect nature and inspire people to care for our world.
Contact & location
- Address
- 1200 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN, 46222
- City
- Indianapolis
- State
- Indiana
- Category
- Animal-Related
- Subcategory
- Zoos & Aquariums
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $32.4M (FY2013) to $57.7M (FY2024) across 12 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $11.3MNet assets $234.1M
Operating margin
23.0%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$245.4M
Total liabilities
$11.3M
Net assets
$234.1M
Salaries & benefits
$22.8M
51% of expenses
Board members
39
39 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $57,679,714▲15.2% | $44,416,857▲10.4% | $234,052,756▲9.6% | $245,351,054▲8.0% | 990 |
| 2023 | $50,063,288▲18.7% | $40,234,027▲11.9% | $213,514,798▲8.1% | $227,094,570▲7.8% | 990 |
| 2022 | $42,184,759▼33.2% | $35,942,289▲4.4% | $197,545,046▼1.2% | $210,617,870▲0.4% | 990 |
| 2021 | $63,172,595▲166% | $34,421,325▲7.8% | $199,869,914▲20.9% | $209,802,041▲18.3% | 990 |
| 2020 | $23,714,934▼49.0% | $31,941,726▼11.3% | $165,329,419▲0.1% | $177,325,453▲1.9% | 990 |
| 2019 | $46,518,850▲57.4% | $36,011,430▲3.7% | $165,166,060▲13.7% | $174,028,184▲15.2% | 990 |
| 2018 | $29,548,526▼5.1% | $34,733,592▲5.3% | $145,316,860▼6.0% | $151,028,850▼6.1% | 990 |
| 2017 | $31,126,208▲8.1% | $32,985,416▲2.4% | $154,579,662▲2.6% | $160,809,047▲3.0% | 990 |
| 2016 | $28,798,704▼24.8% | $32,221,078▲7.5% | $150,700,233 | $156,059,824▲0.7% | 990 |
| 2015 | $38,306,324▼3.8% | $29,982,286▼0.7% | $150,713,678▲4.1% | $154,952,752▲4.4% | 990 |
| 2014 | $39,816,954▲23.0% | $30,182,503▲15.2% | $144,748,914▲7.4% | $148,466,719▲4.1% | 990 |
| 2013 | $32,383,877 | $26,193,185▲2.3% | $134,817,858▲4.6% | $142,626,913▲7.3% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $25,601,984▲7.5% | $128,918,030▲7.7% | $132,939,179▲7.7% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $23,808,251▼0.2% | $119,712,440▲4.3% | $123,422,875▲4.5% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $23,846,130 | $114,735,543 | $118,135,707 | 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.
Leadership & compensation (FY2024)
Highest-paid: Robert Shumaker — $349,920 (0.79% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Shumaker | President and Ceo | 40 | $349,920 |
| Karen Burns | Executive Vice President | 40 | $245,882 |
| Karl Traeger | Director | 40 | $177,805 |
| Mary Jane Bennett | Vice President | 40 | $175,589 |
| Dana Canfield | Vice President | 40 | $171,207 |
| Sarah Edwards | Senior Vice President | 40 | $170,180 |
| Jeff Proudfoot | Vice President | 40 | $167,054 |
| Sara Inman | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | 40 | $162,592 |
| John Gullion | Vice President | 40 | $156,111 |
| Amy Willis | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Andy Sellers | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Anita Harden | Trustee | 1 | — |
| April Sasso | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Bethanie Danko | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Beth Klapper | 1st Vice Chair | 1 | — |
| Blake Koriath | 2nd V Chair | 1 | — |
| Bonnie Gallivan | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Carolina Rashidfarokhi | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Cheri Dick | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Christa Adkins | Trustee | 1 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Turner Construction Company | Construction Services | $4,082,522 |
| Borshoff Inc | Advertising | $2,035,000 |
| B Morrow Productions LLC | Design Services | $969,594 |
| Sullivan & Poore Inc | Mechanical Contractor | $615,413 |
| Howard Asphalt LLC | Construction Services | $483,324 |
Grants received · $8.8M total
73 grants to Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc totaling $8.8M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Endowment Foundation | Animal-related | 2024 | $150,250 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Animal protection and welfare | 2024 | $120,000 |
| Central Indiana Community Foundation Inc | Charitable contribution | 2024 | $57,003 |
| Indianapolis Foundation Inc | To be used at the organization's discretion | 2024 | $47,022 |
| Mdwise Inc | General support | 2024 | $27,500 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $23,538 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $5,000 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2023 | $2,996,523 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Culture | 2023 | $130,000 |
| Indianapolis Foundation Inc | Charitable contribution | 2023 | $82,413 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Environmental and animals | 2023 | $74,150 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Animal-related | 2023 | $65,250 |
| Central Indiana Community Foundation Inc | Charitable contribution | 2023 | $54,275 |
| Mdwise Inc | General support | 2023 | $25,000 |
| Mdwise Inc | General support | 2023 | $25,000 |
Grants made · $153K in FY2024
5 grants totaling $153K in FY2024. All grants made by Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Park Zoological Society | Conservation | $80,000 |
| Regents of the University of Colorado | Conservation | $25,000 |
| Sycamore Land Trust Incorporated | Conservation | $23,000 |
| University of North Carolina At Greensboro | Conservation | $15,000 |
| Wildlife Conservation Network Inc | Conservation | $10,000 |
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Compare Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc
Frequently asked questions
- Is Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 35-1074747, based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc's EIN?
- Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 35-1074747.
- How much revenue does Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc report?
- Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc reported $57,679,714 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc's spending goes to programs?
- Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc spends about 88% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc have?
- CharityIndex grades Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc's latest Form 990 is $349,920, paid to Robert Shumaker (President and Ceo).
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Data for Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc (EIN 35-1074747) 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.