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Nonprofiteer
← MEMPHIS ZOO INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by MEMPHIS ZOO INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$30,584,120
Total expenses
$27,500,682
Contributions and grants received
$13,452,471
Grants paid
$50,000
Program service revenue
$15,342,288
Investment income
$314,602
Other revenue
$1,474,759
Total assets, end of year
$13,628,276
Total liabilities, end of year
$8,250,423
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$5,377,853
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$23,355,183
Management and general expenses
$2,812,031
Fundraising expenses
$1,333,468
Program service expenses (Part III)
$23,355,183

Program services were 84.9% 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

    $3,873,751

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $659,900

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $1,200,000

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $7,718,820

  • 2a · Program service revenue: Gate Revenues & Sales

    total $8,167,850 · related or exempt $8,167,850

  • 2b · Program service revenue: Concessions & Contracts

    total $5,547,347 · unrelated business $1,625,555 · excluded $3,921,792

  • 2c · Program service revenue: Visitor Services

    total $1,009,519 · related or exempt $1,009,519

  • 2d · Program service revenue: Education Revenue

    total $617,572 · related or exempt $617,572

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $148,551 · excluded $148,551

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $0 · personal property $0

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $2,314,291

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

    securities $2,148,240

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $166,051 · other assets $0

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $166,051 · excluded $166,051

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $1,966,229

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $659,900

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $1,223,285

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $742,944 · excluded $742,944

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $2,878,213

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $2,582,605

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $295,608 · related or exempt $295,608

  • 11a · Other revenue: Miscellaneous

    total $436,207 · excluded $436,207

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $436,207

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $50,000 · program services $50,000

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,135,594 · program services $551,806 · management and general $366,202 · fundraising $217,586

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $12,576,788 · program services $11,561,579 · management and general $803,566 · fundraising $211,643

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $326,871 · program services $266,873 · management and general $35,410 · fundraising $24,588

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $965,618 · program services $867,547 · management and general $80,987 · fundraising $17,084

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $997,401 · program services $885,036 · management and general $82,587 · fundraising $29,778

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $56,282 · management and general $50,754 · fundraising $5,528

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $71,223 · program services $8,496 · management and general $61,727 · fundraising $1,000

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $31,151 · management and general $31,151

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,434,619 · program services $1,038,860 · management and general $232,878 · fundraising $162,881

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $210,183 · program services $172,459 · fundraising $37,724

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $1,385,558 · program services $1,052,436 · management and general $279,180 · fundraising $53,942

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $738,669 · program services $405,849 · management and general $203,806 · fundraising $129,014

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $1,410,013 · program services $1,015,519 · management and general $352,227 · fundraising $42,267

  • 17 · Travel

    total $171,401 · program services $142,853 · management and general $12,851 · fundraising $15,697

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $70,124 · program services $56,318 · management and general $7,659 · fundraising $6,147

  • 20 · Interest

    total $172,983 · program services $142,823 · management and general $30,160

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $3,289 · program services $3,289

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $274,014 · program services $197,290 · management and general $68,504 · fundraising $8,220

  • 24a · Other expenses: Capital Projects

    total $2,792,817 · program services $2,245,709 · fundraising $547,108

  • 24b · Other expenses: Zoo and animal expenses

    total $2,427,162 · program services $2,503,911 · management and general $111,262 · fundraising -$188,011

  • 24c · Other expenses: Research and conservation

    total $171,769 · program services $162,736 · fundraising $9,033

  • 24d · Other expenses: other

    total $27,153 · program services $23,794 · management and general $1,120 · fundraising $2,239

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $2,503,288 · end of year $1,699,620

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $324,269

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,096,303 · end of year $5,756,969

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    end of year $1,157,433

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $466,735 · end of year $587,595

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $999,071 · end of year $673,144

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

    $98,683

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

    $73,738

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $28,234 · end of year $24,945

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $3,482,417 · end of year $3,635,710

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $0

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $125,464 · end of year $92,860

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $2,252,757 · end of year $2,458,613

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $2,448,714 · end of year $2,987,911

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $1,987,050 · end of year $1,862,050

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $123,849 · end of year $941,849

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year -$2,488,824 · end of year -$4,062,644

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $4,702,235 · end of year $9,440,497

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE MEMPHIS ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY IS BUILDING ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT ZOOS IN MEMPHIS. OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ARE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING A NATURALISTIC AND ENRICHING SANCTUARY FOR OUR ANIMALS AND A CLEAN, FRIENDLY, ENTERTAINING, AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR OUR GUESTS.

Activities or mission (Part I)

TO MANAGE AND SUPPORT THE MEMPHIS ZOO AND AQUARIUM IN ITS EFFORTS TO PRESERVE WILDLIFE THROUGH EDUCATION, CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH.

  • PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES WERE INCURRED IN THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES: TO ACT AS A MANAGER OF THE MEMPHIS ZOO. TO WORK TOWARD MAKING THE MEMPHIS ZOO THE MAJOR METROPOLITAN ZOO THAT THE CITY OF MEMPHIS NEEDS AND DESERVES. TO ENGAGE IN FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS AND PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE CAPITAL FUNDS FROM THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS FOR THE ENLARGEMENTS AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE MEMPHIS ZOO.

    Expenses $23,355,183 · Grants $50,000 · Revenue $10,090,549

As filed on the 2024 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • David Hopkins

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Delisa Eddings

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Maria Leggett

    Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Aaron Campbell

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Bram Bors-Koefoed

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • David Thornton

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Diane Smith

    Past Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • George Whitehead

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • James Jalenak

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jason Maykowski

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jeff Presley

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jeff Savage

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jerry Shore

    Past Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Joseph DeWane

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kelly Truitt

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Linda Tharp

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Mario Walker

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Maurice Stratton

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Samantha Dean

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Sirella Parker-Joyner

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Thomas Farnsworth III

    Past Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Tyler Beard

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Clayton Jones

    COO

    Total calculated
    $163,472
    From this org
    $150,340
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,132
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $150,340
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,008
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,124
    Filer's total
    $163,472

  • Courtney Janney

    CZO

    Total calculated
    $151,118
    From this org
    $144,710
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,408
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $144,710
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,668
    Nontaxable benefits
    $740
    Filer's total
    $151,118

  • Mary Beil

    CFO

    Total calculated
    $174,716
    From this org
    $167,254
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,462
    Hours/week
    40 + 10 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $167,254
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,683
    Nontaxable benefits
    $779
    Filer's total
    $174,716

  • Matthew Thompson

    President & CEO

    Total calculated
    $347,623
    From this org
    $324,694
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,929
    Hours/week
    40 + 5 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $324,694
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $12,980
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,949
    Filer's total
    $347,623

  • Michele Correia

    CDO

    Total calculated
    $168,981
    From this org
    $156,795
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,186
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $156,795
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,266
    Nontaxable benefits
    $5,920
    Filer's total
    $168,981

  • Nicholas Harmeier

    CMO

    Total calculated
    $165,323
    From this org
    $149,937
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,386
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $149,937
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,992
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,394
    Filer's total
    $165,323

  • Felicia Knightly

    Senior Veterinarian

    Total calculated
    $127,791
    From this org
    $118,426
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,365
    Hours/week
    40

  • Michael Clancy

    Director Individual Giving

    Total calculated
    $109,431
    From this org
    $104,508
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,923
    Hours/week
    40

  • Penelope B Mccraw

    Director Culinary Operations

    Total calculated
    $116,170
    From this org
    $107,770
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,400
    Hours/week
    40

  • Steven G Rodriguez

    Director Human Resources

    Total calculated
    $115,585
    From this org
    $102,231
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,354
    Hours/week
    40

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 · 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.

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.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
31 March 2026
IRS schema version
2024v5.1
Source object
202600909349300505

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