LAKE SUPERIOR ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

As filed

Subsection

03

NTEE code

D500

Classification

1000

Street

7210 FREMONT 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

• 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.

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.

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

  $2,922,401

  Expenses

  $2,706,584

  Contributions

  $489,578

  Grants paid

  $0

• 2023

  Revenue

  $2,876,238

  Expenses

  $2,576,156

  Contributions

  $521,796

  Grants paid

  $0

• 2022

  Revenue

  $2,608,501

  Expenses

  $2,704,334

  Contributions

  $393,191

  Grants paid

  $0

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

  $3,031,523

  Expenses

  $2,148,820

  Assets (EOY)

  $1,603,774

• 2021 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,618,528

  Expenses

  $1,571,502

  Assets (EOY)

  $1,019,314

• 2020 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,889,606

  Expenses

  $1,883,327

  Assets (EOY)

  $685,668

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,685,660

  Expenses

  $1,689,769

  Assets (EOY)

  $670,482

• 2017 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,816,265

  Expenses

  $1,864,365

  Assets (EOY)

  $648,557

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

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

• WOODLAND PARK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

  $190,214

  2023 · ADVANCING EMPATHY GRANTS

• WOODLAND PARK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

  $166,386

  2022 · ADVANCING EMPATHY GRANTS

• WOODLAND PARK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

  $73,452

  2024 · EMPATHY CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT PROGRAM

• AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOOLOGICAL PARKS AND AQUARIUMS INC

  $72,450

  2024 · ENDANGER SPECIES COVID RELIEF

• CHRISTOPHER REEVE FOUNDATION A NEW JERSEY NONPROFIT CORPORATION

  $14,399

  2022 · FACILITY ACCESSIBILITY MODIFICATIONS

• MIGHTYCAUSE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

  $6,694

  2022 · UNRESTRICTED

• MIGHTYCAUSE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

  $6,213

  2023 · UNRESTRICTED

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