Omaha Zoo Foundation
86% goes to programs $11 to raise $100 Strong reserves
Omaha Zoo Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Omaha, Nebraska, registered in 2022, with $26,326,840 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 86% of spending to programs.
3701 S 10th St, Omaha, NE, 68107 EIN 36-3297716 Since 2022
Revenue (FY2024)
$26.3M
▼ 17.5% vs prior year
Animals median: $151K
Expenses (FY2024)
$24.7M
Net assets
$185.2M
Employees
12
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 rating86% to programs · $11 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 Omaha Zoo Foundation: 86% to programs · $11 to raise $100 earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
B+Financial health25% of the rating90 mo reserves · +6% 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 Omaha Zoo Foundation: 90 mo reserves · +6% margin earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AGovernance25% of the rating5 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 Omaha Zoo Foundation: 5 of 6 checks met earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Transparency10% of the rating5 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 Omaha Zoo Foundation: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
Support the mission, research and programs benefitting omaha's henry doorly zoo and aquarium.
What they do
The foundation operates the lee g. simmons conservation park and wildlife safari, a drive-thru park that exhibits north american wildlife and maintains off-exhibit exotic animal breeding programs. in 2022, 13,498 memberships to the safari park were sold and a total of 174,006 guests visited the park.
Contact & location
- Address
- 3701 S 10th St, Omaha, NE, 68107
- City
- Omaha
- State
- Nebraska
- Category
- Animal-Related
- Subcategory
- Wildlife Preservation
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue declined from $53.6M (FY2015) to $26.3M (FY2024) across 7 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $600KNet assets $185.2M
Operating margin
6.1%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$185.8M
Total liabilities
$600K
Net assets
$185.2M
Salaries & benefits
$1.6M
6% of expenses
Board members
3
3 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $26,326,840▼17.5% | $24,708,993▲127% | $185,159,715▲5.3% | $185,760,101▲5.3% | 990 |
| 2023 | $31,905,904▲27.6% | $10,861,921▼50.0% | $175,806,273▲22.0% | $176,399,926▲21.6% | 990 |
| 2022 | $25,005,850▼0.8% | $21,713,185▼0.9% | $144,100,662▼8.1% | $145,072,070▼8.6% | 990 |
| 2021 | $25,199,115▲28.6% | $21,920,907▼53.8% | $156,738,065▲2.2% | $158,676,876▲2.4% | 990 |
| 2020 | $19,596,567▼69.2% | $47,421,639▲37.3% | $153,419,362▼11.2% | $154,960,524▼11.0% | 990 |
| 2019 | $63,534,749▲18.6% | $34,539,812▼35.8% | $172,710,696▼11.6% | $174,016,826▼11.1% | 990 |
| 2015 | $53,585,594 | $53,820,690 | $195,322,819 | $195,793,567 | 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: Tina Cherica — $403,033 (1.63% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tina Cherica | President & Ceo | 40 | $403,033 |
| Dr Lee G Simmons | Vp of Donor Relations | 40 | $342,786 |
| Kiley Thiele | Vp of Development | 40 | $180,518 |
| Calvin Sisson | Vice Chair | 1 | — |
| Howard L Hawks | Director (thru 12/6/2024) | 1 | — |
| Michael R Mccarthy | Director | 1 | — |
| Mogens C Bay | Chairman | 1 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Agent Branding Inc | Advertising | $298,131 |
Grants received · $10.0M total
35 grants to Omaha Zoo Foundation totaling $10.0M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha Zoological Society Inc | General support | 2024 | $2,062,737 |
| Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation | Event | 2024 | $26,000 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Animal-related | 2024 | $12,500 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $6,083 |
| Omaha Zoological Society Inc | General support | 2023 | $2,375,062 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Environmental and animals | 2023 | $659,550 |
| Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation | Program support | 2023 | $205,200 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2023 | $150,000 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Animal-related | 2023 | $12,500 |
| Omaha Zoological Society Inc | General support | 2022 | $3,295,251 |
| Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation | Program support | 2022 | $64,500 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Environmental and animals | 2022 | $41,800 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Culture | 2021 | $101,000 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Environmental and animals | 2021 | $84,700 |
| Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation | General operating support | 2021 | $25,000 |
Grants made · $20.8M in FY2024
1 grant totaling $20.8M in FY2024. All grants made by Omaha Zoo Foundation →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha Zoological Society Inc | General support | $20,751,271 |
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Compare Omaha Zoo Foundation
Frequently asked questions
- Is Omaha Zoo Foundation a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Omaha Zoo Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 36-3297716, based in Omaha, Nebraska. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Omaha Zoo Foundation's EIN?
- Omaha Zoo Foundation's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 36-3297716.
- How much revenue does Omaha Zoo Foundation report?
- Omaha Zoo Foundation reported $26,326,840 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Omaha Zoo Foundation's spending goes to programs?
- Omaha Zoo Foundation spends about 86% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Omaha Zoo Foundation have?
- CharityIndex grades Omaha Zoo Foundation A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Omaha Zoo Foundation's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Omaha Zoo Foundation's latest Form 990 is $403,033, paid to Tina Cherica (President & Ceo).
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Explore more
Data for Omaha Zoo Foundation (EIN 36-3297716) 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.