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Nonprofiteer
← NORTH CAROLINA ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY INC

Form 990 for tax year 2025

Filed by NORTH CAROLINA ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$15,456,610
Total expenses
$12,520,275
Contributions and grants received
$10,361,042
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$2,866,717
Other revenue
$2,228,851
Total assets, end of year
$70,422,800
Total liabilities, end of year
$4,731,082
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$65,691,718
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$11,329,361
Management and general expenses
$458,164
Fundraising expenses
$732,750
Program service expenses (Part III)
$11,329,361

Program services were 90.5% 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

    $3,038,937

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $7,322,105

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $1,131,275

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $2,146,561 · excluded $2,146,561

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $716,380 · other assets $3,776

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $0 · other assets $0

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $716,380 · other assets $3,776

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $720,156 · excluded $720,156

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $198,066

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $47,860

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $150,206 · excluded $150,206

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $4,698,531

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $2,619,886

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $2,078,645 · related or exempt $2,078,645

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $365,882 · program services $197,803 · management and general $115,596 · fundraising $52,483

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,210,313 · program services $883,095 · management and general $104,020 · fundraising $223,198

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $121,020 · program services $88,316 · management and general $2,615 · fundraising $30,089

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $85,333 · program services $56,829 · fundraising $28,504

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $109,079 · program services $79,953 · management and general $10,580 · fundraising $18,546

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $29,952 · program services $9,431 · management and general $1,899 · fundraising $18,622

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $68,500 · program services $68,500

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $125,159 · fundraising $125,159

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $149,440 · management and general $149,440

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $47,981 · program services $47,981

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $226,597 · program services $189,815 · management and general $16,042 · fundraising $20,740

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $99,127 · program services $75,807 · management and general $5,830 · fundraising $17,490

  • 17 · Travel

    total $10,497 · program services $6,322 · management and general $1,255 · fundraising $2,920

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $11,187 · program services $4,018 · management and general $5,477 · fundraising $1,692

  • 20 · Interest

    total $34,797 · management and general $34,797

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $48,916 · program services $40,025 · management and general $2,223 · fundraising $6,668

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $58,036 · program services $41,109 · management and general $3,224 · fundraising $13,703

  • 24a · Other expenses: ZOO OPERATING EXPENSES

    total $9,333,049 · program services $9,333,049

  • 24b · Other expenses: SPECIAL PROJECTS EXP.

    total $179,288 · program services $61,466 · fundraising $117,822

  • 24c · Other expenses: BANK CARD CHARGES

    total $83,907 · program services $53,514 · fundraising $30,393

  • 24d · Other expenses: NEW MEMBER SOLICITATION

    total $62,151 · program services $61,660 · fundraising $491

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $60,064 · program services $30,668 · management and general $5,166 · fundraising $24,230

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $5,696,810 · end of year $17,576,543

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $24,376,878 · end of year $19,181,930

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $5,847,679 · end of year $3,029,620

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $81,973 · end of year $60,565

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $310,969 · end of year $317,363

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $91,439 · end of year $234,554

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $5,563,560

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $1,397,812

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $4,136,631 · end of year $4,165,748

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $25,635,561 · end of year $25,407,485

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $100,980 · end of year $113,657

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $428,566 · end of year $335,335

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $703,827 · end of year $469,896

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $2,963,847 · end of year $3,165,290

  • 21 · Escrow or custodial account liability

    beginning of year $428,847 · end of year $340,642

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $1,302,727 · end of year $755,254

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $28,619,941 · end of year $32,071,365

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $32,688,297 · end of year $33,620,353

Mission and programs · 2025

Mission

TO CHAMPION OUR ZOO AND ITS INITIATIVES, WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE FUTURE.

Activities or mission (Part I)

THE MISSION OF THE NC ZOO SOCIETY IS TO CHAMPION OUR ZOO AND ITS INITIATIVES, WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE FUTURE. THE NC ZOO SOCIETY IS YOUR BRIDGE TO MORE THAN A ZOO VISIT. WE MAKE YOU A PARTNER IN THE ZOO'S GLOBAL EFFORTS TO SUPPORT ANIMAL WELL-BEING, CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, FIELD WORK, RESEARCH, AND WE WELCOME YOU INTO A FAMILY THAT CARES ABOUT NATURE.

  • PROVIDE FINANCIAL AND PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO THE NC ZOOLOGICAL PARK AND ITS CAPITAL PROJECTS, OPERATIONS AND PROGRAM INITIATIVES - WITH A PRIORITY FOCUS ON FIELD RESEARCH, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, SCIENCE AND WELFARE. THE SOCIETY HAS PROVIDED FUNDS FOR SPECIFIC CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH PROJECTS WORKING WITH ELEPHANTS, VULTURES AND GORILLAS IN AFRICA, RAISED FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, ANIMAL AND HORTICULTURE PURCHASES, MARKETING, STAFFING, TRAINING, AND OPERATIONS OF A WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER, A WILDLIFE LEARNING/RESIDENTIAL CENTER, AN EDUCATION WEBSITE AND OTHER PARK NEEDS.

    Expenses $9,401,549

  • MEMBERSHIP SERVICES (INCLUDING INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, EDUCATION, MEMBER BENEFIT AND IDENTIFCATION ADMINISTRATION, RECORD-KEEPING AND SPECIAL EVENTS) EXTEND TO MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS AND THE EMPLOYEES OF BUSINESSES ENROLLED IN THE CORPORATE MEMBER PROGRAM, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD WHO BENEFIT FROM THE PROTECTION THE SOCIETY'S PROGRAM EXTENDS TO THE NATURAL RESOURCES THEY DEPEND ON FOR SURVIVAL.

    Expenses $1,866,346

  • THROUGH ITS SUPPORT OF ZOO EDUCATION PROGRAMS, THE SOCIETY SERVES VISITORS AND MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS (INCLUDING N.C. SCHOOL CHILDREN). THROUGH FIELD RESEARCH AND VETERINARIAN OVERNIGHT CAMPS FOR A WIDE RANGE OF AGES, SHADOW A VET PROGRAM, EDUCATIONAL AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO COME TO THE PARK EACH YEAR TO LEARN ABOUT WILDLIFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

    Expenses $61,466

As filed on the 2025 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • Margery J Springer

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.67

  • William E Currens Jr

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.1

  • Michael J Fisher

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.56

  • Robert L Ange

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.23

  • Ethan Blumenthal

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.38

  • Shannon Bucey

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.46

  • Walker B Moffitt

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.35

  • Lisa Poole

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.23

  • Emily B Ragsdale

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.38

  • Meade Willis

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.29

  • Cheryl Armstrong

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $233,256
    From this org
    $207,123
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $26,133
    Hours/week
    55

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $207,123
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $16,630
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,503
    Filer's total
    $233,256

  • Robert Brinson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.62

  • David K Robb

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.52

  • Mary Lou Rollins

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.56

  • Andrea King

    DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND HU

    Total calculated
    $132,626
    From this org
    $112,784
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,842
    Hours/week
    50

  • Daniel Devane

    DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

    Total calculated
    $139,250
    From this org
    $121,709
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,541
    Hours/week
    45

  • Jayne Owen Parker

    DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

    Total calculated
    $132,445
    From this org
    $113,894
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,551
    Hours/week
    45

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

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 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

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.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2025
Filed
21 May 2026
IRS schema version
2025v4.1
Source object
202601419349301655

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