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Nonprofiteer
← LAKE SUPERIOR ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by LAKE SUPERIOR ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Totals

Total revenue
$2,922,401
Total expenses
$2,706,584
Contributions and grants received
$489,578
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$2,156,256
Investment income
$1,508
Other revenue
$275,059
Total assets, end of year
$2,016,353
Total liabilities, end of year
$483,156
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$1,533,197
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$2,262,619
Management and general expenses
$343,907
Fundraising expenses
$100,058
Program service expenses (Part III)
$2,262,619

Program services were 83.6% 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

    $13,584

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $276,994

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $199,000

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $26,025

  • 2a · Program service revenue: ADMISSIONS

    total $888,858 · related or exempt $888,858

  • 2b · Program service revenue: CITY CONTRACT SUBSIDY

    total $765,000 · related or exempt $765,000

  • 2c · Program service revenue: EDUCATION INCOME

    total $270,688 · related or exempt $270,688

  • 2d · Program service revenue: MEMBERSHIPS

    total $231,710 · related or exempt $231,710

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $1,508 · excluded $1,508

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $30,388

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

    $13,584

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $11,569

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $18,819 · excluded $18,819

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $282,496

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $94,136

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $188,360 · related or exempt $151,727 · unrelated business $36,633

  • 11a · Other revenue: TRAIN RIDE INCOME

    total $31,514 · related or exempt $31,514

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $36,366 · related or exempt $36,366

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $67,880

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $112,443 · program services $56,221 · management and general $33,733 · fundraising $22,489

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,314,311 · program services $1,198,646 · management and general $80,799 · fundraising $34,866

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $23,622 · program services $20,787 · management and general $1,890 · fundraising $945

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $56,936 · program services $50,780 · management and general $4,163 · fundraising $1,993

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $106,621 · program services $93,827 · management and general $8,530 · fundraising $4,264

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $23,835 · management and general $23,835

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $153,984 · program services $92,390 · management and general $61,594

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $50,571 · program services $50,571

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $55,107 · program services $52,051 · management and general $2,629 · fundraising $427

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $186,286 · program services $163,931 · management and general $14,904 · fundraising $7,451

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $32,917 · management and general $32,917

  • 20 · Interest

    total $4,976 · management and general $4,976

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $126,513 · program services $75,908 · management and general $25,303 · fundraising $25,302

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $58,035 · program services $51,072 · management and general $4,642 · fundraising $2,321

  • 24a · Other expenses: ANIMAL EXPENSES

    total $163,278 · program services $163,278

  • 24b · Other expenses: SUPPLIES

    total $91,744 · program services $87,157 · management and general $4,587

  • 24c · Other expenses: REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE

    total $47,842 · program services $47,842

  • 24d · Other expenses: DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $39,405 · management and general $39,405

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $58,158 · program services $58,158

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $302,254 · end of year $286,832

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $4,896 · end of year $9,378

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $207,263 · end of year $151,778

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $13,052 · end of year $20,906

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $19,156 · end of year $18,866

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

    $2,093,498

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

    $614,919

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $1,147,089 · end of year $1,478,579

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $32,508 · end of year $34,538

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $23,367 · end of year $15,476

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $111,506 · end of year $188,699

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $115,137 · end of year $116,959

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $191,068 · end of year $174,368

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $16,524 · end of year $3,130

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,122,243 · end of year $1,468,817

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $193,107 · end of year $64,380

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

TO PROVIDE CLOSE-UP ANIMAL EXPERIENCES THAT INSPIRE CONNECTIONS TO WILDLIFE AND ACTION TOWARD CONSERVATION IN OUR REGION AND AROUND THE WORLD.

  • ZOO SERVICES:THE LAKE SUPERIOR ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OPERATES THE CITY-OWNED ZOO THROUGH A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY ANIMAL CARE, GUEST SERVICES, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. AS AN AZA-ACCREDITED INSTITUTION, WE MEET THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF ANIMAL WELFARE, VETERINARY CARE, AND ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE. OUR PROFESSIONAL TEAM MANAGES A COLLECTION OF APPROXIMATELY 300 ANIMALS ACROSS 140 SPECIES, MANY OF WHICH ARE PART OF THE AZA'S SPECIES SURVIVAL PLAN (SSP) PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON CONSERVATION AND POPULATION SUSTAINABILITY. ZOO SERVICES INCLUDES HIRING, TRAINING, AND RETAINING EXPERT ANIMAL CARE STAFF; ENSURING REGULATORY COMPLIANCE AND SAFETY; AND DELIVERING ENGAGING, MISSION-DRIVEN EXPERIENCES TO THE PUBLIC. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, WE SERVE AS A TRUSTED COMMUNITY RESOURCE, A PARTNER IN GLOBAL CONSERVATION, AND A REGIONAL DESTINATION FOR FAMILIES, STUDENTS, AND VISITORS SEEKING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH WILDLIFE.

    Expenses $1,691,294 · Revenue $1,873,465

  • PRESCHOOL:OUR NATURE-BASED PRESCHOOL SERVES CHILDREN AGES 33 MONTHS-5 YEARS OLD. WE PROVIDED FULL-TIME CARE (M-F FROM 8:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.) TO 20 CHILDREN AND PART-TIME CARE TO 20 CHILDREN OVER THE COURSE OF 2024. AS A NATURE-BASED PRESCHOOL, LSZS BRINGS TOGETHER THE TENANTS OF HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, WITH A FOCUS ON CONNECTING YOUNG CHILDREN TO ANIMALS AND NATURE FOR THE BENEFIT OF BOTH THE CHILD AND THE NATURAL WORLD. THE PRESCHOOL FOLLOWS AN EMERGENT, PLAY-BASED CURRICULUM WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROJECT-BASED LEARNING ROOTED IN THE CHILDREN'S INTERESTS AND DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS. DAILY WALKING FIELD TRIPS IN THE ZOO OFFER THE CHILDREN RICH EXPERIENCES WITH ANIMALS, NATURE PLAY, AND THE ZOO COMMUNITY. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES WITH FINANCIAL NEED.

    Expenses $236,456 · Revenue $205,511

  • EDUCATION:EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS OUR ZOO FULFILLS ITS MISSION AND FOSTERS ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION. WE GIVE PARTICIPANTS CLOSE-UP EXPERIENCES WITH ANIMALS TO HELP THEM FEEL EMPATHY, RESPECT, AND CONCERN FOR THAT ANIMAL AND OTHERS LIKE IT. EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT COMBINED WITH CONSERVATION MESSAGES HELP INSPIRE OUR AUDIENCES TO IMPROVE THE WORLD FOR ANIMALS AND THEIR NATURAL HABITATS. IN 2024, 11,275 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN 356 EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    Expenses $193,464 · Revenue $65,177

  • MEMBER SERVICES:PROVIDING PERSONALIZED SERVICES TO OUR MEMBERS AND CREATING AWARENESS AMONG THE GENERAL PUBLIC REGARDING OUR MEMBER SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDE UNLIMITED GENERAL ADMISSION, DISCOUNTS ON CAFE AND GIFT SHOP PURCHASES, AS WELL AS GENEROUS DISCOUNTS ON CAMPS AND PARTY RENTALS. WE PARTICIPATE IN THE AZA RECIPROCAL PROGRAM AND THE ASTC PASSPORT PROGRAM ALLOWING OUR MEMBERS TO ENJOY FREE OR DISCOUNTED ADMISSIONS TO OVER 500 ZOOS, AQUARIUMS, MUSEUMS, AND SCIENCE CENTERS. MEMBERS RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE UPDATES ON ZOO EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND SPECIAL "MEMBERS ONLY" EVENTS ARE HOSTED IN APPRECIATION FOR THEIR SUPPORT.

    Expenses $141,405 · Revenue $231,710

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

Listed in Part VII

  • JAMES LEWIS

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • DODIE BROWN

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • KYLE DICKINSON

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JOEY ENGSETH

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JULIE BENFIELD

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JENNIFER GARLAND

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • NOAH HOBBS

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • BAILEY OLSON

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • KATHLEEN PRIVETTE

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MIKE POLZIN

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ERICA WALLI

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JACOB ZIKMUND

    BOARD MEMBER (THRU FEB 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • HALEY HEDSTROM

    CEO

    Total calculated
    $112,443
    From this org
    $110,663
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $1,780
    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.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
30 October 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202513099349300046

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