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HOUSTON ZOO INC

EIN 74-1590271 HOUSTON, TX

Revenue 2024
$82,689,282
Expenses 2024
$70,313,815

Program services were 86.2% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
D115
Classification
1200
Street
1513 CAMBRIDGE ST

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

Mission: Connect communities with animals, inspiring action to save wildlife. Vision: Be a leader in the global movement to save wildlife. (Continued on Schedule O) Houston Zoo, Inc. (HZI) strives to be a zoo that practices exemplary animal care, delivers an outstanding guest experience, creates a workplace that instills respect and teamwork, provides learning opportunities, promotes conservation awareness, and inspires community support.

Activities or mission (Part I)

To connect communities with animals, inspiring action to save wildlife.

  • Houston Zoo, Inc. (HZI), accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), upholds the gold standard in animal care, safety, conservation, and education, earning a rare 100% clean AZA evaluation in 2024, a distinction achieved by only eight institutions in AZA history. In 2024, HZI welcomed over 2,000,000 guests, reflecting its "Zoo for All" commitment to accessibility. Attendance was distributed as follows: - 32% Members - 30% General Admission - 29% Free or Discounted Admission (including Free Entry, Lone Star cardholders, Military families, and Seniors) - 9% Zoo Lights (Continued on Schedule O)This "Zoo for All" access ensures families from diverse economic backgrounds experience the Zoo's animals, gardens, amenities and wildlife saving programming. In 2024, HZI opened Birds of the World on August 30, a major Centennial Master Plan project. This immersive exhibit showcases avian biodiversity across African Savanna, North American Woodlands, and South American Wetlands aviaries, connecting visitors to global conservation efforts and modernizing infrastructure on the Zoo's 55-acre campus. Volunteer engagement was a highlight again in 2024, with 479 adult volunteers contributing 33,159 hours to support animal care and wellbeing, horticulture, conservation education, guest engagement, and administrative needs.

    Expenses $54,992,357 · Revenue $51,485,469

  • Wildlife conservation is a core HZI mission. In 2024, the Zoo supported 33 long-term partnerships across 17 countries, linking on-site animal care with global field conservation. Regional efforts focused on Texas species of concern, including: - Houston Toad Conservation: Release of 1,865,700 eggs, 4,300 tadpoles, and 430 toadlets in Bastrop County in partnership with USFWS and Texas State University. - Attwater's Prairie Chicken Conservation: Breeding and release of 58 birds into native grasslands. - Sea Turtle Conservation: Provided medical care for over 50 injured or stranded wild sea turtles along the Texas coast. (Continued on Schedule O)International wildlife conservation programs emphasized species in the Zoo's collection, exemplified by Birds of the World, which connects guests to partners protecting endangered avian species globally. Other efforts included protecting jaguars, giant anteaters, and tapirs in Brazil's Pantanal and reducing marine wildlife threats from plastic pollution in the Galapagos Islands and the Gulf Coast. Through these initiatives, HZI advances wildlife conservation locally and globally while engaging Houstonians in meaningful action.

    Expenses $3,822,924 · Grants $2,790,863

  • The Houston Zoo's Conservation Education Department engaged 725,235 participants in 2024 through camps, school partnerships, interpretive programs, and community outreach, fostering wildlife-saving actions. Key initiatives included: - Camp Zoofari: Immersive summer sessions for children ages 6-12, with 2,040 campers enrolled and scholarships provided to families with demonstrated financial need. - Zoo Crew Teen Program: Provided conservation skills training for 68 high school students, fostering leadership in wildlife conservation. (Continued on Schedule O) - School Partnerships and Free Field Trips: Supported 88,000 K-12 students through free field trips, with 80% from Title I schools, many in federally recognized Justice40 communities. Additionally, 17,359 college students from four local colleges visited for free, and 12,031 participants engaged in pre-scheduled programs, including Camp Zoofari, Zoo Crew, Overnights, Animal Encounters, and pro-bono Community Outreach. - On-Site Interpretation: Staff and volunteers facilitated 250,000 guest interactions, promoting conservation awareness through storytelling and demonstrations. These programs underscore HZI's commitment to accessible, impactful conservation education.

    Expenses $1,819,376 · Revenue $736,069

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

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Joe Cleary

    Board Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Stacy Methvin thru 624

    Immediate Past Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Joshua Davidson

    Vice Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Sami Ahmad

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Saied Alavi

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Greg Armstrong as of 724

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • George Basu

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Carlos Bueno

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Bill Butzner as of 724

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Beto Cardenas

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Neil Chapman as of 724

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kris Chikelue

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Anne Clutterbuck

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Heather Crowder

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Michael Dishberger

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Charles Dresser as of 724

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kerry Galvin

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Eureka Gilkey thru 624

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Nicholas Hellyar as of 724

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Sanjay Kalavar

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Monica Karuturi as of 724

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Peggy Kostial

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jennifer Laporte

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Claire Liu

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kelley Lubanko

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

The first 25 listed. 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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $82,689,282
    Expenses
    $70,313,815
    Contributions
    $24,795,320
    Grants paid
    $2,790,863
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $82,522,000
    Expenses
    $62,823,859
    Contributions
    $26,684,759
    Grants paid
    $3,130,673
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $68,161,300
    Expenses
    $54,219,079
    Contributions
    $23,522,192
    Grants paid
    $2,997,820

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2024 · 990-T

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    not reported

  • 2023 · 990-T

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    not reported

  • 2022 · 990-T

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    not reported

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $84,488,792
    Expenses
    $48,433,202
    Assets (EOY)
    $327,462,677

  • 2021 · 990-T

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    not reported

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $54,380,451
    Expenses
    $45,355,956
    Assets (EOY)
    $285,541,904

  • 2020 · 990-T

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    not reported

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $73,932,331
    Expenses
    $52,896,982
    Assets (EOY)
    $253,408,258

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $103,228,386
    Expenses
    $49,858,185
    Assets (EOY)
    $226,345,789

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $71,339,275
    Expenses
    $48,596,261
    Assets (EOY)
    $173,437,216

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.