← LOWRY PARK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF TAMPA INC

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by LOWRY PARK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF TAMPA INC.

Totals

Total revenue: $48,621,526
Total expenses: $39,374,266
Contributions and grants received: $15,984,548
Grants paid: $12,324
Program service revenue: $25,423,270
Investment income: $756,888
Other revenue: $6,456,820
Total assets, end of year: $83,468,339
Total liabilities, end of year: $12,025,518
Net assets or fund balances, end of year: $71,442,821
Program services expenses (Part IX): $34,562,192
Management and general expenses: $3,768,290
Fundraising expenses: $1,043,784
Program service expenses (Part III): $34,562,192

Program services were 87.8% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

1c · Fundraising events

$508,658
1d · Related organizations

$937,328
1e · Government grants (contributions)

$5,424,217
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

$9,114,345
1g · Noncash contributions included above

$111,480
2a · Program service revenue: Zoo Annual Pass

total $14,531,530 · related or exempt $14,531,530
2b · Program service revenue: Admissions Revenues

total $8,989,265 · related or exempt $8,989,265
2c · Program service revenue: Interactive Experiences

total $962,095 · related or exempt $962,095
2d · Program service revenue: Educational Programs

total $940,380 · related or exempt $940,380
3 · Investment income

total $887,698 · excluded $887,698
6a · Gross rents

real property $349,767
6b · Less rental expenses

real property $410,428
6c · Rental income or loss

real property -$60,661
6d · Net rental income or loss

total -$60,661 · excluded -$60,661
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

other assets $130,810
7c · Gain or loss

other assets -$130,810
7d · Net gain or loss

total -$130,810 · excluded -$130,810
8a · Fundraising events: gross income

$124,749
8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

$508,658
8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

$223,982
8c · Net income from fundraising events

total -$99,233 · excluded -$99,233
10a · Gross sales of inventory

$14,595,649
10b · Cost of goods sold

$8,331,922
10c · Net income from sales of inventory

total $6,263,727 · related or exempt $6,263,727
11a · Other revenue: Marketing partnerships

total $85,000 · unrelated business $85,000
11d · All other revenue

total $267,987 · related or exempt $267,987
11e · Other revenue, total

$352,987

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

total $12,324 · program services $12,324
5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

total $1,439,355 · program services $249,104 · management and general $971,105 · fundraising $219,146
7 · Other salaries and wages

total $14,408,112 · program services $13,021,480 · management and general $914,906 · fundraising $471,726
8 · Pension plan contributions

total $252,687 · program services $202,980 · management and general $30,358 · fundraising $19,349
9 · Other employee benefits

total $2,189,218 · program services $2,016,797 · management and general $131,358 · fundraising $41,063
10 · Payroll taxes

total $1,183,022 · program services $1,015,537 · management and general $113,900 · fundraising $53,585
11b · Fees: legal

total $33,102 · management and general $33,102
11c · Fees: accounting

total $77,245 · management and general $77,245
11d · Fees: lobbying

total $113,000 · management and general $113,000
11g · Fees: other

total $1,967,951 · program services $1,768,687 · management and general $186,802 · fundraising $12,462
12 · Advertising and promotion

total $2,579,793 · program services $2,579,793
13 · Office expenses

total $3,312,196 · program services $2,307,587 · management and general $901,317 · fundraising $103,292
14 · Information technology

total $540,480 · program services $506,241 · management and general $1,152 · fundraising $33,087
16 · Occupancy

total $2,724,983 · program services $2,636,434 · management and general $70,551 · fundraising $17,998
17 · Travel

total $148,745 · program services $122,983 · management and general $17,669 · fundraising $8,093
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

total $71,798 · program services $60,009 · management and general $6,455 · fundraising $5,334
20 · Interest

total $124,741 · management and general $124,741
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

total $5,329,458 · program services $5,289,720 · management and general $39,738
23 · Insurance

total $972,244 · program services $898,715 · management and general $49,480 · fundraising $24,049
24a · Other expenses: Animal expenses

total $1,810,465 · program services $1,810,465
24b · Other expenses: Donor outreach

total $41,878 · program services $7,278 · fundraising $34,600
24c · Other expenses: Income tax

total $3,216 · management and general $3,216
24d · Other expenses: Bad debt (recovery)

total -$10,855 · program services $11,281 · management and general -$22,136
24e · All other expenses

total $49,108 · program services $44,777 · management and general $4,331

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

beginning of year $1,869,700 · end of year $1,079,837
3 · Pledges and grants receivable

beginning of year $2,407,598 · end of year $9,363,272
4 · Accounts receivable

beginning of year $520,085 · end of year $457,822
8 · Inventories for sale or use

beginning of year $660,674 · end of year $638,834
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

beginning of year $1,119,299 · end of year $1,130,286
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

$103,288,813
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

$47,205,920
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

beginning of year $47,797,605 · end of year $56,082,893
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

beginning of year $19,801,258 · end of year $14,586,411
15 · Other assets

beginning of year $261,757 · end of year $128,984
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

beginning of year $5,976,148 · end of year $5,392,140
19 · Deferred revenue

beginning of year $3,421,348 · end of year $3,860,091
20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities

beginning of year $1,014,850 · end of year $790,831
23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

beginning of year $100,315 · end of year $0
25 · Other liabilities

beginning of year $2,260,870 · end of year $1,982,456
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

beginning of year $58,698,461 · end of year $63,971,373
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

beginning of year $2,965,984 · end of year $7,471,448

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

The mission of the Lowry Park Zoological Society of Tampa a/k/a ZooTampa at Lowry Park is to rescue, rehabilitate and care for animals; create exceptional personalized experiences that connect people with wildlife (Continued on Schedule O)and each other in fun, immersive ways. ZooTampa's brand essence is "Unforgettable natural connections, and the vision is that "Everyone we reach is motivated to join us in taking action to protect and preserve wildlife."

Activities or mission (Part I)

Rescue, rehabilitate and care for animals; create experiences that connect people and wildlife.

ZooTampa at Lowry Park features 63 acres of lush, natural habitats comprising Florida, Asia, Primates, Australia, and Africa. As a nonprofit cultural organization committed to conservation, the focus is on animals from Florida, such as manatees and Florida panthers, and animals from Florida-like climates, such as elephants and orangutans. ZooTampa houses over 900 animals in naturalistic outdoor habitats year-round. The organization helps to ensure conservation goals and objectives as well as the sustainability of a healthy, genetically diverse, and demographically varied population of numerous species.(Continued on Schedule O)ZooTampa has contributed to the propagation of species, in conjunction with AZA species survival plans, to help save numerous species from extinction and participates in species conservation efforts locally, nationally, and internationally. ZooTampa manages a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital that is part of its larger medical campus that includes a nutrition center and animal care annex. It is the only zoological or aquarium facility in the nation that is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). ZooTampa is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and licensed to operate by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The Zoo is dedicated to serving as an educational resource for the community, and to providing an exciting, nature-based entertainment destination for families, schools, and organizations. Up-close experiences with the living animals at the zoo teach the value of the living world firsthand.ZooTampa is proud to list the following accomplishments in fiscal year 2024:Zoological Operations- ZooTampa at Lowry Park continues to provide leadership aimed at saving manatees: The manatee care and veterinary team at the David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Hospital received 23 manatees for rehabilitation, of which 10 were released back into the Florida waters; 14 manatees were transferred to other facilities after ZooTampa provided the critical care needed and are now awaiting the State of Florida to determine release dates; 3 manatees, originally under ZooTampa care, were transferred back in from other facilities to prepare for release; 2 non-releasable manatees were received from another facility for specialized care.- ZooTampa received the FAZA FWC Collaborative Conservation Award for our Manatee Critical Care program at the FWC Commission Meeting. This award from the Florida Association of Zoos and Aquariums (FAZA) recognizes excellence in field conservation efforts that benefit Florida species.- Notable births: - Notable births: African Penguin (2), Maylayan Tapir (1), Pygmy Hippo (1), Inca Tern (2), Bay duiker (1), Impala (3), Nyala (1), Roseate Spoonbill (3), Southern Bald Ibis (1), Southern White Rhino (1)- Notable acquisitions: - Notable acquisitions: African Penguin (2), Bali Myna (2), Cape Porcupine (2), Horseshoe crab (4), Eastern Bongo (1), Laughing Kookaburra (2), Nyala (1), Prehensile-tailed porcupine (1), Puerto Rican Crested toad (4), Southern Bald Ibis (2)- Number of animals at the zoo during fiscal year 2024 = 976 Conservation & Education- Partnerships with external conservation projects, including Association of Zoos and Aquariums- Saving Animals from Extinction Program, AZA's Wildlife Trafficking Alliance, International Rhino Foundation, International Elephant Foundation, Elephant Human Relations Aid, Tampa Bay Estuary, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, Florida Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Audubon Florida, Okapi Conservation Project, Coastal Plains Institute Striped Newt, Puerto Rican Crested Toad Conservancy, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUNC), South African Conservation Foundation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Hospital, Conservation Center for Species Survival, World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Conservation Centers for Species Survival, Orianne Society, Ecosphere Restoration Institute, Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, fStop Foundation, Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership, Bornean Orangutan Survival Foundation, Save Giraffes Now, and Macaw Recovery Network.- In partnership with the Tampa Bay Estuary, ZooTampa created an interactive educational exhibit to inspire actional solutions for preventing marine pollution across all ages. Over 52K guests participated in interactive watershed activities and games.- Implemented numerous educational initiatives to communicate our mission through Zoo School, mission-related content, diversity, equity, inclusion, and access and pathways through the nature outreach program. - In partnership with the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County, ZooTampa participated in the iSPY Tampa Bay Community Access program, reaching thousands of caregivers, teachers, and students in Hillsborough County. - Provided 8,000 community access tickets disseminated to under-resourced program partners in Tampa Bay. - Worked with MacDonald Training Center Project SEARCH program, a 9-month mentorship program for people transitioning from day programs to work. All nine interns graduated and are employed in the community. - Worked with Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, on understanding the transition of intestinal gut microbiota from birth to weaning in tapirs- In partnership with University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, we participated in Immune-related Outcomes Following Exposure to Florida Red Tide Brevetoxins in the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris).- Participated in over 30 research projects with various student partners on understanding how learning impacts action to care for wildlife. - In partnership with USF, Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, we created early morning sensory-friendly hours and resources. - Expanded partnerships with USF Early Learning and Program Wide Positive Behavior Supports, Eckerd College-Behavior and Research, Tampa General Hospital, Florida Southern-Research Program. - In partnership with the Hillsborough County School District, ZooTampa participated in STEM Family Nights and Sea Stars and STEM Cafe, both career mentoring programs for girls interested in STEM. - In partnership with the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County, we launched Nature in the Classroom training, that provides 10 VPK schools in Hillsborough County access to nature-based teacher training, onsite school coaching, and materials for classroom use.Additional local, national, and global involvement and achievements: - All seasons including 4 new episodes of NatGeo Wild's Secrets of the Zoo: Tampa aired internationally and were available to US audiences via multiple streaming services.- The Zoo's David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center was once again awarded USA Today's 10 Best Readers' Choice Award for Best Zoo Exhibit.- For the 13th time, the Zoo received the Trip Advisor Travelers' Choice Award, ranking ZooTampa among the top 10% of attractions worldwide.

Expenses $34,562,192 · Grants $12,324 · Revenue $31,954,984

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

Steve Stagg

Chair

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Nelson Castellano Vice Pres

Nominating & Governance Committee Chair

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Dan Honegger Treasurer

Finance Committee Chair

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Stephanie Stanfield

Secretary

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Robert Thomas

Immediate Past Chair

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Dr Ken Atwater

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Marylou Bailey

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Keenan Baldwin

Government Affairs Committee Chair

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Ashley Barnett

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Leah Bergoffen

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Charlotte Brittain

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Sean Butler

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Sandy Callahan

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Kerrie Campbell

Human Capital Committee Chair

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Casey Cathey

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Santiago Corrada

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Roz Doyle

Trustee (Term Start 01/2024)

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Patrick Dussault

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Commissioner Ken Hagan

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Stacy Hahn

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Frank Hancock

Audit Committee Chair

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Curt Harbsmeier

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Heather Jordan-Holmes

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Carl Lindell Jr

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Devanand Mangar MD

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Governor Bob Martinez

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Representative Lawrence McClure

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
John Medaska

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Councilman Charlie Miranda

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Tom Piccolo

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Bob Rasmussen

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Dennis Rogero

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
David Seldin

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Karen Sparkman

Trustee (Term Start 01/2024)

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Kim Stohler

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Catherine Lowry Straz

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Keebler Straz

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Jenna Tarapani

Trustee (Term Start 01/2024)

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Ryan Toth

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Carlton Ward Jr

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Randy Zavertnik

Trustee

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Melanie Lenz

Trustee (Term End 8/2024)

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Tracy McGrady Jr

Trustee (Term End 8/2024)

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Senator Darryl Rouson

Trustee (Term End 8/2024)

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Joseph Couceiro

President & CEO

Total calculated

$492,830

From this org

$457,188

From related orgs

$0

Other

$35,642

Hours/week

40 + 0.5 related

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$345,325

Bonus

$106,754

Other

$5,109

Deferred

$9,150

Nontaxable benefits

$26,492

Filer's total

$492,830
Karen Jubrail

CFO / Sr VP Finance

Total calculated

$257,546

From this org

$228,826

From related orgs

$0

Other

$28,720

Hours/week

40 + 2 related

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$197,579

Bonus

$30,297

Other

$950

Deferred

$7,049

Nontaxable benefits

$21,671

Filer's total

$257,546
Scott Rose

COO / Sr VP Operations

Total calculated

$234,085

From this org

$220,428

From related orgs

$0

Other

$13,657

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$189,616

Bonus

$28,612

Other

$2,200

Deferred

$6,676

Nontaxable benefits

$6,981

Filer's total

$234,085
Mark Haney Chief External

Relations Officer / Sr VP Government

Total calculated

$212,370

From this org

$196,594

From related orgs

$0

Other

$15,776

Hours/week

40 + 2 related

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$169,887

Bonus

$26,009

Other

$698

Deferred

$6,048

Nontaxable benefits

$9,728

Filer's total

$212,370
Michelle Coleman

Chief People Officer / Sr VP

Total calculated

$186,746

From this org

$165,184

From related orgs

$0

Other

$21,562

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$143,107

Bonus

$21,645

Other

$432

Deferred

$5,040

Nontaxable benefits

$16,522

Filer's total

$186,746
Cynthia Stringfield Sr VP

Animal Health, Conservation & Educ.

Total calculated

$185,017

From this org

$159,811

From related orgs

$0

Other

$25,206

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$136,877

Bonus

$22,049

Other

$885

Deferred

$0

Nontaxable benefits

$25,206

Filer's total

$185,017
JL Bielon

VP of Philanthropy

Total calculated

$184,738

From this org

$158,339

From related orgs

$0

Other

$26,399

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$144,154

Bonus

$13,504

Other

$681

Deferred

$4,937

Nontaxable benefits

$21,462

Filer's total

$184,738
Christopher Massaro

Sr VP, Chief Zoological Officer

Total calculated

$180,422

From this org

$152,609

From related orgs

$0

Other

$27,813

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$131,596

Bonus

$20,751

Other

$262

Deferred

$4,825

Nontaxable benefits

$22,988

Filer's total

$180,422
Cameron O'Connell

Sr Director Sales and Partnerships

Total calculated

$168,118

From this org

$137,547

From related orgs

$0

Other

$30,571

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$103,648

Bonus

$33,432

Other

$467

Deferred

$4,454

Nontaxable benefits

$26,117

Filer's total

$168,118
Cheryl Larsen

VP Revenue Programs & Partnerships

Total calculated

$161,206

From this org

$137,920

From related orgs

$0

Other

$23,286

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$127,757

Bonus

$9,834

Other

$329

Deferred

$4,260

Nontaxable benefits

$19,026

Filer's total

$161,206

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

1a · Health or social club dues or initiation fees
1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
3 · Compensation committee
3 · Form 990 of other organizations
3 · Compensation survey or study
3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings

Answered no

4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
7 · Other non-fixed payments
8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

Part I, Line 1a: Joe Couceiro (President & CEO) and Mark Haney (Chief External Relations Officer) were provided University Club memberships for the primary purpose of partner/donor relations. These memberships are used for business purposes only and are not treated as taxbale income to the individual.
Part I, Line 5: Annual cash incentive awards are based on a predetermined dollar amount and percentage of base salary. The incentive award amounts are determined according to a sliding scale ranging from 50% to 150% of the target award amounts, based on achieving financial and other non-financial goals. If the goals are not met, the incentive award is not paid.
Part I, Line 6: Annual cash incentive awards are based on a predetermined dollar amount and percentage of base salary. The incentive award amounts are determined according to a sliding scale ranging from 50% to 150% of the target award amounts, based on achieving financial and other non-financial goals. If the goals are not met, the incentive award is not paid.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Lowry Park Zoo Endowment Foundation Inc

501(c)(3) · Endowment Fund · FL · controlled entity

Directly controlled by Lowry Park Zoological Society of Tampa

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Related partnerships

Part III: related organizations taxable as a partnership, with the filer's share.

KML Properties LLC

Rental Real Estate · FL

Provenance

Return type: form_990
Tax year: 2023
Filed: 7 July 2025
IRS schema version: 2023v6.0
Source object: 202511899349300041

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