Totals
- Total revenue
- $35,907,046
- Total expenses
- $31,947,473
- Contributions and grants received
- $10,224,784
- Grants paid
- $848,174
- Program service revenue
- $11,520,100
- Investment income
- $4,191,143
- Other revenue
- $9,971,019
- Total assets, end of year
- $182,691,024
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $8,350,255
- Net assets or fund balances, end of year
- $174,340,769
- Program services expenses (Part IX)
- $27,005,953
- Management and general expenses
- $3,171,945
- Fundraising expenses
- $1,769,575
- Program service expenses (Part III)
- $27,005,953
Program services were 84.5% 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.
-
1b · Membership dues
$5,855,004
-
1c · Fundraising events
$38,327
-
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants
$4,331,453
-
1g · Noncash contributions included above
$328,301
-
2a · Program service revenue: ZOO ADMISSIONS
total $10,832,613 · related or exempt $10,832,613
-
2b · Program service revenue: EDUCATION PROGRAMS
total $687,487 · related or exempt $687,487
-
3 · Investment income
total $1,592,081 · excluded $1,592,081
-
6a · Gross rents
real property $280,153 · personal property $1,162,750
-
6b · Less rental expenses
real property $254,484 · personal property $1,001,102
-
6c · Rental income or loss
real property $25,669 · personal property $161,648
-
6d · Net rental income or loss
total $187,317 · unrelated business $187,317
-
7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory
securities $6,089,390 · other assets $28,919
-
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses
securities $3,515,749 · other assets $3,498
-
7c · Gain or loss
securities $2,573,641 · other assets $25,421
-
7d · Net gain or loss
total $2,599,062 · excluded $2,599,062
-
8a · Fundraising events: gross income
$3,974,657
-
8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c
$38,327
-
8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses
$1,651,452
-
8c · Net income from fundraising events
total $2,323,205 · excluded $2,323,205
-
11a · Other revenue: VENDING
total $4,974,506 · excluded $4,974,506
-
11b · Other revenue: PARKING
total $1,410,143 · excluded $1,410,143
-
11c · Other revenue: CATERING COMMISSIONS
total $114,234 · unrelated business $114,234
-
11d · All other revenue
total $961,614 · excluded $961,614
-
11e · Other revenue, total
$7,460,497
Functional expenses
Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.
-
1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments
total $353,662 · program services $353,662
-
3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals
total $494,512 · program services $494,512
-
5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
total $1,782,039 · program services $1,069,223 · management and general $267,306 · fundraising $445,510
-
7 · Other salaries and wages
total $12,495,493 · program services $10,624,978 · management and general $1,055,332 · fundraising $815,183
-
8 · Pension plan contributions
total $343,834 · program services $267,303 · management and general $44,057 · fundraising $32,474
-
9 · Other employee benefits
total $1,543,532 · program services $1,190,101 · management and general $203,461 · fundraising $149,970
-
10 · Payroll taxes
total $1,066,599 · program services $829,192 · management and general $136,669 · fundraising $100,738
-
11c · Fees: accounting
total $58,797 · program services $8,454 · management and general $50,343
-
11d · Fees: lobbying
total $136,115 · program services $19,572 · management and general $116,543
-
11f · Fees: investment management
total $54,638 · program services $47 · management and general $2,715 · fundraising $51,876
-
11g · Fees: other
total $528,068 · program services $75,930 · management and general $452,138
-
12 · Advertising and promotion
total $585,384 · program services $585,384
-
13 · Office expenses
total $793,100 · program services $598,937 · management and general $56,418 · fundraising $137,745
-
14 · Information technology
total $391,136 · program services $12,462 · management and general $378,674
-
16 · Occupancy
total $1,229,437 · program services $1,228,686 · management and general $751
-
17 · Travel
total $62,579 · program services $15,526 · management and general $46,439 · fundraising $614
-
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings
total $114,909 · program services $62,994 · management and general $47,667 · fundraising $4,248
-
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization
total $5,080,470 · program services $5,080,470
-
23 · Insurance
total $412,423 · program services $412,423
-
24a · Other expenses: REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE
total $2,034,384 · program services $1,972,430 · management and general $61,954
-
24b · Other expenses: ANIMAL CARE
total $1,123,504 · program services $1,119,199 · management and general $4,305
-
24c · Other expenses: BANK FEES
total $813,991 · program services $813,991
-
24d · Other expenses: DUES & SUBSCIPTION
total $112,263 · program services $68,379 · management and general $27,639 · fundraising $16,245
-
24e · All other expenses
total $336,604 · program services $102,098 · management and general $219,534 · fundraising $14,972
Balance sheet
Part X, book values.
-
1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing
beginning of year $6,427,813 · end of year $8,320,093
-
2 · Savings and temporary cash investments
beginning of year $19,434,001 · end of year $11,723,069
-
3 · Pledges and grants receivable
beginning of year $1,098,307 · end of year $1,869,671
-
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges
beginning of year $520,404 · end of year $730,777
-
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis
$118,370,026
-
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation
$55,787,633
-
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net
beginning of year $58,288,450 · end of year $62,582,393
-
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities
beginning of year $35,300,013 · end of year $35,838,519
-
15 · Other assets
beginning of year $57,162,438 · end of year $61,626,502
-
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses
beginning of year $4,501,902 · end of year $3,047,706
-
19 · Deferred revenue
beginning of year $5,030,014 · end of year $5,050,407
-
23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable
beginning of year $504,284 · end of year $252,142
-
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions
beginning of year $138,530,704 · end of year $148,216,242
-
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions
beginning of year $29,664,522 · end of year $26,124,527
Mission and programs · 2024
Mission
IN FULFILLMENT OF OUR MISSION TO INSPIRE A CULTURE OF UNDERSTANDING AND DISCOVERY OF OUR NATURAL WORLD THROUGH CONSERVATION, INNOVATION AND LEADERSHIP, OUR GOAL IS TO BUILD A FIRST CLASS ZOO FOR MIDDLE TENNESSEE AND TO DEVELOP A FACILITY THAT IS RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE IN ANIMAL CARE AND GLOBAL CONSERVATION WITH STRONG COMMUNITY VALUE IN MIND. WE STRIVE TO BE THE BEST AT CREATING UNIQUE DESIGNS AND INNOVATIVE ARCHITECTURE AND HORTICULTURAL COMPONENTS TO ENHANCE EXHIBITS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ANIMALS, OUR VISITORS AND THE ZOOLOGICAL COMMUNITY.
Activities or mission (Part I)
TO CONTINUE TO GROW AND PROVIDE A PARK/FACILITY THAT IS RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE IN ANIMAL CARE, INNOVATIVE DESIGN AND GLOBAL CONSERVATION WHILE DELIVERING STRONG EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY VALUE.
-
NASHVILLE ZOO IS PROUD TO SHARE THAT, IN 2024, WE ONCE AGAIN MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN GLOBAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS, WHILE CONTINUING TO SERVE AS A VITAL RESOURCE FOR EDUCATION AND FAMILY FUN IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE INVESTED NEARLY ONE MILLION DOLLARS INTO CONSERVATION PROJECTS WORLDWIDE. OUR EXPERT KEEPERS WORKED HAND-IN-HAND WITH CONSERVATIONISTS ON THE GROUND, SUPPORTING CRITICAL EFFORTS WITH KOMODO DRAGONS IN INDONESIA AND GIRAFFES IN BOTSWANA. STUDENTS OF ALL AGES, FROM TODDLERS TO COLLEGE INTERNS, CONNECTED WITH THE NATURAL WORLD THROUGH OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. VISITORS TO THE ZOO EXPERIENCED UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS, INCLUDING THE PUBLIC DEBUT OF OUR THREE SUMATRAN TIGER CUBS. NOTEWORTHY IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE TO THE GUEST EXPERIENCE WITH THE OPENING OF OUR NEW PARKING GARAGE AND THE ADDITION OF AMENITIES LIKE DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP CARDS, A NEW TICKETING PLATFORM, AND SELF-SERVICE KIOSKS FOR FOOD AND RETAIL PURCHASES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NASHVILLE PREDATORS, WE INTRODUCED THE SMASHVILLE ICE RINK AT ZOOLUMINATION. NASHVILLE ZOO ALSO CELEBRATED 1.39 MILLION IN ATTENDANCE AND 43,492 MEMBERSHIP HOUSEHOLDS.
Expenses $26,157,779 · Revenue $10,832,613
-
NASHVILLE ZOO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN 50+ SPECIES SURVIVAL PLANS AND HAVE THE HONOR OF WORKING WITH INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE WORLD TO HELP SAVE SPECIES VULNERABLE TO EXTINCTION. IN EARLY SPRING, A ZOO TEAM MEMBER TRAVELED TO KOMODO NATIONAL PARK TO HELP WITH HANDS-ON KOMODO DRAGON CONSERVATION WORK. SPENDING FIVE DAYS ON KOMODO ISLAND, PART OF KOMODO NATIONAL PARK IN INDONESIA, HE WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH THE KOMODO SURVIVAL PROGRAM CHECKING ANIMAL TRAPS IN SELECTED STUDY SITE AREAS AROUND THE ISLAND TO COLLECT AND RECORD DATA ON CERTAIN ANIMALS. ADDITIONALLY, THE ZOO WELCOMED TWO KOMODO DRAGON HATCHLINGS IN SEPTEMBER. A MEMBER OF THE ZOO'S HOOFSTOCK TEAM TRAVELED TO KENYA TO WORK WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND WILD GIRAFFE POPULATIONS. SHE TEAMED UP WITH SAVE GIRAFFES NOW (SGN) TO HELP A LOCAL TEAM OF WILDLIFE SCOUTS STUDY HOW GIRAFFES ARE AFFECTED BY FRAGMENTATION AND HIGHWAY CROSSINGS ALONG THE MOMBASA HIGHWAY. LATER IN THE YEAR, TWO ZOO TEAM MEMBERS RETURNED TO HELP SGN COMPLETE A GIRAFFE TRANSLOCATION AND MONITOR THEM AT THE MOKOLODI NATURE RESERVE. THE ZOO SUCCESSFULLY SHIPPED 1,200 PUERTO RICAN CRESTED TOAD TADPOLES TO PUERTO RICO TO BOOST THEIR POPULATION IN THE WILD, WHILE KEEPING 5 TO HELP DIVERSIFY THE GENETICS OF OUR BREEDING PROGRAM HERE IN NASHVILLE. SINCE STARTING OUR BREEDING EFFORTS IN 2012, WE'VE PRODUCED OVER 25,000 TADPOLES FOR RELEASE. OUR HERPETOLOGY TEAM MARKED AN INCREDIBLE MILESTONE WITH THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL HATCHING OF CROCODILE TEGUS AT ANY ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS-ACCREDITED FACILITY. OTHER SIGNIFICANT BIRTHS AT THE ZOO INCLUDE FOUR RED RIVER HOG PIGLETS, A SOUTHERN TAMANDUA, SIX SKUNK KITS, A RED RUFFED LEMUR, A GREAT BLUE TURACAO, AND A RED KANGAROO.
Expenses $848,174 · Grants $848,174
-
EDUCATION: OVERALL NASHVILLE ZOO SERVED A TOTAL OF 962,370 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IN 2024.WE HAD 46,277 STUDENTS VISIT THE ZOO THROUGH FIELD TRIPS, COMING FROM 36 DIFFERENT COUNTIES.ATTENDANCE FOR TRADITIONAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDES:*HOMESCHOOL DAYS SERVED 1,184 STUDENTS IN 2024 BETWEEN THE AGES OF 5-14*ZOOTOTS SERVED 2,376 STUDENTS IN AGES 0-4*SCOUT WORKSHOPS SERVED 520 STUDENTS IN 2024*ZOOVENTURES OUTREACH VIRTUAL PROGRAMS SERVED 2,396 STUDENTS*SUMMER CAMPS SERVED 1,370 STUDENTS IN 2024IN ADDITION TO TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM-BASED PROGRAMMING, OUR INTERPRETIVE STAFF SERVED A TOTAL OF 616,906 GUESTS THROUGH INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMMING.
Revenue $687,487
As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.
Listed in Part VII
-
Ed GoodrichED GOODRICH
CHAIRMAN
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 5.23
-
Terry BruggemanTERRY BRUGGEMAN
SECRETARY
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.49
-
Ryan FluryRYAN FLURY
TREASURER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.57
-
Vandana AbramsonVANDANA ABRAMSON
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.21
-
David BaierDAVID BAIER
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.14
-
Lee BeamanLEE BEAMAN
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.02
-
Clara BeldenCLARA BELDEN
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.32
-
Mike BrackenMIKE BRACKEN
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.04
-
Meg CroftonMEG CROFTON
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.08
-
Katie CrumboKATIE CRUMBO
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.2
-
Adam DretlerADAM DRETLER
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.59
-
Laurie EskindLAURIE ESKIND
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.49
-
Tony GiarratanaTONY GIARRATANA
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.03
-
Alice GoldbergALICE GOLDBERG
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.15
-
Jimmy GranberyJIMMY GRANBERY
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.14
-
Allie HallALLIE HALL
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.12
-
Scott HamiltonSCOTT HAMILTON
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0
-
Diane HollowayDIANE HOLLOWAY
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.08
-
Deana IveyDEANA IVEY
EX-OFFICIO
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.09
-
Patrick JohnsonPATRICK JOHNSON
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.12
-
Rhonda Scott KinslowRHONDA SCOTT KINSLOW
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.04
-
Karen MooreKAREN MOORE
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.32
-
Sandra MorganSANDRA MORGAN
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.26
-
Trish MunroTRISH MUNRO
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.22
-
Monique Horton OdomMONIQUE HORTON ODOM
EX-OFFICIO
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.16
-
Wilson PattonWILSON PATTON
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.04
-
Michael PeacockMICHAEL PEACOCK
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.15
-
Tim SchoettleTIM SCHOETTLE
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.16
-
Laurie SeaburyLAURIE SEABURY
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.49
-
Alexandra SollbergerALEXANDRA SOLLBERGER
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.56
-
Butch SpyridonBUTCH SPYRIDON
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.08
-
John WeisenseelJOHN WEISENSEEL
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.22
-
Larry WieckLARRY WIECK
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.26
-
Rick SchwartzRICK SCHWARTZ
PRESIDENT & CEO
- Total calculated
- $775,871
- From this org
- $683,274
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $92,597
- Hours/week
- 60
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $619,907
- Bonus
- $59,129
- Other
- $4,238
- Deferred
- $72,533
- Nontaxable benefits
- $20,064
- Filer's total
- $775,871
-
Kim PridgenKIM PRIDGEN
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
- Total calculated
- $247,792
- From this org
- $215,713
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $32,079
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $201,713
- Bonus
- $14,000
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $23,297
- Nontaxable benefits
- $8,782
- Filer's total
- $247,792
-
Beth BushBETH BUSH
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
- Total calculated
- $163,544
- From this org
- $160,078
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $3,466
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $158,478
- Bonus
- $1,600
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $0
- Nontaxable benefits
- $3,466
- Filer's total
- $163,544
-
Andy TillmanANDY TILLMAN
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
- Total calculated
- $184,025
- From this org
- $157,461
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $26,564
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $153,461
- Bonus
- $4,000
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $17,292
- Nontaxable benefits
- $9,272
- Filer's total
- $184,025
-
David OehlerDAVID OEHLER
VICE PRESIDENT
- Total calculated
- $250,040
- From this org
- $212,492
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $37,548
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $203,492
- Bonus
- $9,000
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $22,898
- Nontaxable benefits
- $14,650
- Filer's total
- $250,040
-
Jamie GeselleJAMIE GESELLE
CHIEF HUMAN RESOURSES OFFICER
- Total calculated
- $160,767
- From this org
- $132,946
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $27,821
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $128,946
- Bonus
- $4,000
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $15,371
- Nontaxable benefits
- $12,450
- Filer's total
- $160,767
-
Heather SchwartzHEATHER SCHWARTZ
VETERINARIAN
- Total calculated
- $160,843
- From this org
- $154,351
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $6,492
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $152,246
- Bonus
- $2,105
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $6,090
- Nontaxable benefits
- $402
- Filer's total
- $160,843
-
Chris McBrideCHRIS MCBRIDE
DIRECTOR OF IT
- Total calculated
- $126,623
- From this org
- $117,261
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $9,362
- Hours/week
- 50
-
Louden WrightLOUDEN WRIGHT
VETERINARIAN
- Total calculated
- $124,912
- From this org
- $106,523
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $18,389
- Hours/week
- 50
-
James BartooJAMES BARTOO
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
- Total calculated
- $125,225
- From this org
- $114,238
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $10,987
- Hours/week
- 50
-
James DegraauwJAMES DEGRAAUW
AVIAN CURATOR
- Total calculated
- $105,232
- From this org
- $104,956
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $276
- Hours/week
- 50
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
- 3 · Compensation committee
- 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
- 3 · Compensation survey or study
- 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
- 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
Answered no
- 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
- 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
- 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
- 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
- 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
- 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 4B
- ALL EXECUTIVE TEAM MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN A 457B PLAN - JAMI L. GESELLE. - $9,818.84 DAVID A. OEHLER - $15,325.57 MARGARET K. PRIDGEN - $14,849.34 RICK J. SCHWARTZ - $23,000.00 ANDREW K. TILLMAN - $11,649.49
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
-
$75,000
CONSERVATION
-
$55,654
CONSERVATION
-
INTERNATIONAL RHINO FOUNDATION
$50,000
CONSERVATION
-
$25,000
CONSERVATION
-
CONSERVATION
-
CENTER FOR ECOSYSTEM SENTINELS
$14,760
CONSERVATION
-
$10,000
CONSERVATION
-
$10,000
CONSERVATION
Provenance
- Return type
- form_990
- Tax year
- 2024
- Filed
- 10 October 2025
- IRS schema version
- 2024v5.2
- Source object
- 202502869349300720
Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.
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