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Nonprofiteer
← ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE PALM BEACHES INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE PALM BEACHES INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$26,669,019
Total expenses
$14,594,913
Contributions and grants received
$18,807,152
Grants paid
$146,200
Program service revenue
$7,209,481
Investment income
$823,905
Other revenue
-$171,519
Total assets, end of year
$68,182,329
Total liabilities, end of year
$3,031,712
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$65,150,617
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$11,410,206
Management and general expenses
$1,777,385
Fundraising expenses
$1,407,322
Program service expenses (Part III)
$11,410,206

Program services were 78.2% 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

    $935,914

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $2,526,717

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $261,525

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $15,082,996

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $160,737

  • 2a · Program service revenue: ZOO ADMISSIONS

    total $7,079,932 · related or exempt $7,079,932

  • 2b · Program service revenue: EDUCATION AND MISC

    total $129,549 · related or exempt $129,549

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $824,161 · excluded $824,161

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

    securities $256

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities -$256

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total -$256 · excluded -$256

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $247,102

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

    $2,526,717

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $1,093,775

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$846,673 · excluded -$846,673

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $675,154

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $0

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $675,154 · related or exempt $669,754 · unrelated business $5,400

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $120,000 · program services $120,000

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $26,200 · program services $26,200

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $913,322 · program services $470,594 · management and general $299,546 · fundraising $143,182

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $4,573,191 · program services $3,780,176 · management and general $449,036 · fundraising $343,979

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $123,431 · program services $87,582 · management and general $23,684 · fundraising $12,165

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $620,847 · program services $428,477 · management and general $121,441 · fundraising $70,929

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $402,243 · program services $320,807 · management and general $50,969 · fundraising $30,467

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $238 · management and general $238

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $46,863 · management and general $46,863

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $137,358 · fundraising $137,358

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $394 · management and general $394

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $740,928 · program services $738,457 · fundraising $2,471

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $9,784 · management and general $3,078 · fundraising $6,706

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $181,978 · program services $128,577 · management and general $42,994 · fundraising $10,407

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $668,426 · program services $653,074 · management and general $7,676 · fundraising $7,676

  • 17 · Travel

    total $42,308 · program services $24,229 · management and general $5,592 · fundraising $12,487

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $1,981,564 · program services $1,922,117 · management and general $48,907 · fundraising $10,540

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $1,070,103 · program services $863,543 · management and general $34,195 · fundraising $172,365

  • 24a · Other expenses: OTHER

    total $952,834 · program services $302,205 · management and general $587,372 · fundraising $63,257

  • 24b · Other expenses: SPECIAL EVENTS - ZOO GU

    total $436,411 · program services $419,410 · fundraising $17,001

  • 24c · Other expenses: OUTSIDE SERVICES

    total $402,602 · program services $179,529 · management and general $28,914 · fundraising $194,159

  • 24d · Other expenses: ANIMAL FEED PROGRAM EXP

    total $386,002 · program services $386,002

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $757,886 · program services $559,227 · management and general $26,486 · fundraising $172,173

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $12,936,005 · end of year $17,368,256

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,857,747 · end of year $6,573,927

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $99,926 · end of year $176,994

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $330,728 · end of year $639,314

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

    $59,065,582

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

    $29,567,023

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $27,524,717 · end of year $29,498,559

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $6,531,144 · end of year $6,841,748

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $6,650,143 · end of year $7,083,531

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $841,544 · end of year $1,160,549

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $1,549,178 · end of year $1,566,847

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $466,821 · end of year $304,316

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $42,047,870 · end of year $44,500,586

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $11,024,997 · end of year $20,650,031

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE PALM BEACHES, INC. EXISTS TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO ACT ON BEHALF OF WILDLIFE AND THE NATURAL WORLD. WE ADVANCE OUR CONSERVATION MISSION THROUGH ENDANGERED SPECIES PROPAGATION, EDUCATION AND SUPPORT OF CONSERVATION INITIATIVES IN THE FIELD. OUR COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES ELEVATES OUR CAPACITY TO INSPIRE OTHERS.

Activities or mission (Part I)

TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO ACT ON BEHALF OF WILDLIFE AND THE NATURAL WORLD.

  • WILDLIFE PROGRAMS:THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE PALM BEACHES IS A FULLY ACCREDITED PUBLIC ZOO CARING FOR OVER 400 ANIMALS, MANY OF WHOM ARE ENDANGERED AND WHOSE NATIVE TERRITORIES ARE THREATENED. THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THE ZOO IS TO INSPIRE THE ALMOST 400,000 GUESTS WHO VISIT THE ZOO ANNUALLY TO TAKE ACTION THAT WILL HAVE A POSITIVE, LIFE-SAVING IMPACT ON THESE SAME SPECIES IN THE WILD. WE DO THIS THROUGH A SERIES OF DAILY ZOOLOGIST CHATS, TRAINING DEMONSTRATIONS AND UP CLOSE ANIMAL EXPERIENCES FOR THE PUBLIC. INCLUDED WITHIN THIS PRIMARY FUNCTION IS THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE ZOO'S GROUNDS, GUEST EXPERIENCES, ANIMAL HABITATS AND A STATE OF THE ART ANIMAL HOSPITAL WHICH PROVIDES BOTH PREVENTATIVE AND RESPONSIVE CARE FOR THE ANIMALS WHO MAKE THEIR HOME AT THE PALM BEACH ZOO.

    Expenses $10,629,701 · Revenue $7,749,686

  • CONSERVATION PROGRAMS: THE ZOO IS COMMITTED TO CONSERVATION OF ANIMALS IN THE WILD AND THEIR HOMES IN THE WILD. WE PARTICIPATE IN PROJECTS IN THE FIELD THAT ALIGN WITH OUR MISSION BY PROVIDING MONETARY SUPPORT TO OTHER CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH OUR GRANT PROGRAM AS WELL AS PERFORMING HANDS ON CONSERVATION WORK BOTH WITHIN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OTHER WILD AREAS OF THE WORLD. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE SUPPORT OF AVIAN RESEARCH & CONSERVATION INSTITUTE'S SWALLOW TAIL KITE AND SNAIL KITE PROGRAMS AND THE BELIZE ZOO & TROPICAL EDUCATION CENTER'S JAGUAR CONSERVATION PROGRAMS.OUR STAFF WORKS DIRECTLY IN OUR COMMUNITY IN CONSERVATION PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE SWALLOW TAIL KITE AND SNAIL KITE PROGRAMS IN ASSOCIATION WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, CORAL MONITORING OFF THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA IN COOPERATION WITH THE FLORIDA WILDLIFE COMMISSION AND SHEDD AQUARIUM, CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAMS INCLUDING FROG WATCH AND OTHER SMALLER PROGRAMS THAT ARE SAVING WILDLIFE.

    Expenses $507,485 · Grants $146,200

  • EDUCATION PROGRAMS:WE ROLLED OUT A NEW APPROACH TO EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT AT THE ZOO DURING OUR FISCAL YEAR '23 THAT REDEFINES OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO CREATE CONNECTIONS WITH ALL OUR AUDIENCES. WE SPENT THE NEXT YEAR PILOTING THE NEW PROGRAMMING WITH TWO OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS. THE PROGRAMMING PROVIDES A MORE PURPOSEFUL ALIGNMENT OF OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS WITH OUR CORE MISSION OF INSPIRING PEOPLE TO ACT ON BEHALF OF WILDLIFE. AND THIS YEAR, WE HAVE LAUNCHED A NEW TEEN SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM AS WELL AS A TEEN VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, PROVIDING A VERY IMPORTANT CONNECTION BETWEEN NATURE AND OUR NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATIONISTS.

    Expenses $273,020 · Revenue $129,549

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Michele Kessler

    CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Luis J Fernandez

    CO-VICE CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Jonathan Clay

    CO-VICE CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Gary E Krieger

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Daniel J Comerford III PhD

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Maura Z Christu

    AT-LARGE MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Guillermo Perez-Vargas

    AT-LARGE MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Josh McGraw

    AT-LARGE MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Matt Valle

    AT-LARGE MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Marilyn N Beuttenmuller Esq

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Deborah Dauman

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Caroline Dean

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Robert B Dunkin II

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Mei Sze Greene

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Mitch Quain

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Carole Moran

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Thomas C Quick

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Margo McKnight

    PRESIDENT/CEO

    Total calculated
    $257,907
    From this org
    $249,399
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,508
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $249,399
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,548
    Nontaxable benefits
    $960
    Filer's total
    $257,907

  • Kathleen Breland

    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $185,864
    From this org
    $180,416
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $5,448
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $180,416
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,448
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $185,864

  • Casey Coy

    CHIEF OPERATING & SECURITY OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $157,517
    From this org
    $152,047
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $5,470
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $152,047
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,510
    Nontaxable benefits
    $960
    Filer's total
    $157,517

  • Renee Bumpus

    CHIEF ANIMAL & CONSERVATION OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $139,287
    From this org
    $135,281
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,006
    Hours/week
    40

  • Tara Sevareid

    DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES

    Total calculated
    $116,268
    From this org
    $111,824
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,444
    Hours/week
    40

  • Joe Cytacki

    VP OF GUEST SERVICES

    Total calculated
    $113,892
    From this org
    $109,612
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,280
    Hours/week
    40

  • Douglas Lipke

    DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE DESIGN & DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $102,609
    From this org
    $100,353
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $2,256
    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 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 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

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
17 August 2026
IRS schema version
2024v5.5
Source object
202622309349300732

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