CLEVELAND ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

EIN 34-0816490 CLEVELAND, OH

Revenue 2023: $13,324,293
Expenses 2023: $7,695,996

Program services were 72.8% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection: 03
NTEE code: D500
Classification: 2000
Street: 3900 WILDLIFE WAY

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 · 2023

Mission

THE CLEVELAND ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY IS THE NONPROFIT PARTNER OF CLEVELAND METROPARKS ZOO, COMMITTED TO RAISING AWARENESS OF THE ZOO AS A COMMUNITY PRIORITY AND CIVIC ASSET; SECURING PRIVATE SUPPORT FOR THE ZOO; AND GIVING MEMBERS AND DONORS GREAT VALUE FOR THEIR INVESTMENT.

Activities or mission (Part I)

CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH WILDLIFE

WE EXCEEDED OUR REVENUE GOALS FOR ANNUAL OPERATIONS AND EVENTS, INCLUDING RECORD MEMBERSHIP REVENUE OF OVER $5.1 MILLION, AND THE ADDITION OF OVER 10,000 NEW FAMILIES TO OUR MEMBERSHIP BASE. THE ZOO SOCIETY CONTINUED DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP COMMUNICATIONS AND IN-PERSON DONOR EVENTS. IN TURN, THE ZOO SOCIETY PROVIDED $3,043,343 IN GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT TO CLEVELAND METROPARKS ZOO.

Expenses $4,246,559 · Grants $3,043,343 · Revenue $3,115,685
IN 2023, THE ZOO SOCIETY SECURED $5,199,012 IN CAPITAL PROJECT SUPPORT. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMITTED $125,000 IN SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. THE ZOO SOCIETY REMITTED PRIOR YEAR COMMITMENTS TO THE DISTRICT FOR THE TROPICAL BEARS HABITAT AS WELL AS CONTINUED TO FUNDRAISE FOR THE PRIMATE FOREST PROJECT. THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE PRIMATE FOREST PROJECT, THE ZOO SOCIETY WILL MAKE ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE DIFFERENT PHASES OF THE PROJECT.

Expenses $125,000 · Grants $125,000
THE ZOO SOCIETY PROVIDED OVER $1.2 MILLION TO THE ZOO IN SUPPORT OF ITS EDUCATION, CONSERVATION, ANIMAL CARE PROGRAMS, AND OTHER SPECIAL PROJECTS.THE ZOO SOCIETY PROVIDED $232,452 IN SUPPORT OF ANIMAL CARE PROGRAMMING AND $266,915 IN SUPPORT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING.THE ZOO SOCIETY PROVIDED $732,041 IN SUPPORT OF CONSERVATION PROGRAMMING. THIS FUNDING WAS A BLEND OF GENEROUS DONATIONS, INVESTMENT SPINOFFS, AS WELL AS A PORTION OF EACH MEMBERSHIP PURCHASED IN THE YEAR.

Expenses $1,231,408 · Grants $1,231,408

As filed on the 2023 return.

Officers and directors · 2023

As listed in Part VII of the 2023 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

Myles AbbottMYLES ABBOTT

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Cheryl BaileyCHERYL BAILEY

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Patricia O BemerPATRICIA O BEMER

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

3
Virginia D BenjaminVIRGINIA D BENJAMIN

LIFE DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

3
Anne E BinghamANNE E BINGHAM

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Carl E BlackCARL E BLACK

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Martha BolandMARTHA BOLAND

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
Barbara Brown PhDBARBARA BROWN PHD

SECRETARY

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

4
Marilyn K BrownMARILYN K BROWN

LIFE DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
George S CoakleyGEORGE S COAKLEY

LIFE DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Spencer DiekenSPENCER DIEKEN

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
James M DonchessJAMES M DONCHESS

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Julie A Edgar PhDJULIE A EDGAR PHD

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Robert ElmoreROBERT ELMORE

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Howard S EssnerHOWARD S ESSNER

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
Theodore R Evans JrTHEODORE R EVANS JR

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
Sally EverettSALLY EVERETT

LIFE DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Thomas G FistekTHOMAS G FISTEK

VICE PRESIDENT

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

4
James L FrancisJAMES L FRANCIS

LIFE DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Coty FranklinCOTY FRANKLIN

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

4
Gregory D FriedmanGREGORY D FRIEDMAN

LIFE DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Lindsay M GuzowskiLINDSAY M GUZOWSKI

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Carol HallCAROL HALL

LIFE DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Lawrence H HatchLAWRENCE H HATCH

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Paul A Hechko DVMPAUL A HECHKO DVM

DIRECTOR

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

2023

Revenue

$13,324,293

Expenses

$7,695,996

Contributions

$9,336,233

Grants paid

$4,399,751
2022

Revenue

$13,952,854

Expenses

$10,341,983

Contributions

$13,455,152

Grants paid

$7,546,067

Tax year	Revenue	Expenses	Contributions	Grants paid
2023	$13,324,293	$7,695,996	$9,336,233	$4,399,751
2022	$13,952,854	$10,341,983	$13,455,152	$7,546,067

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

2021 · 990

Revenue

$12,846,131

Expenses

$10,879,215

Assets (EOY)

$29,186,847
2020 · 990

Revenue

$9,541,232

Expenses

$9,751,874

Assets (EOY)

$22,626,585
2019 · 990

Revenue

$8,395,729

Expenses

$8,804,931

Assets (EOY)

$19,548,263
2018 · 990

Revenue

$8,658,586

Expenses

$6,895,362

Assets (EOY)

$15,481,299
2017 · 990

Revenue

$8,486,633

Expenses

$9,417,623

Assets (EOY)

$17,446,554
2016 · 990

Revenue

$7,252,470

Expenses

$7,541,200

Assets (EOY)

$15,414,654
2015 · 990

Revenue

$10,658,708

Expenses

$9,300,554

Assets (EOY)

$15,457,677
2014 · 990

Revenue

$7,419,785

Expenses

$6,904,174

Assets (EOY)

$14,120,345
2013 · 990

Revenue

$7,090,816

Expenses

$6,098,573

Assets (EOY)

$13,718,398
2012 · 990

Revenue

not reported

Expenses

$5,188,072

Assets (EOY)

$10,959,832

Tax year	Form	Revenue	Expenses	Assets (EOY)
2021	990	$12,846,131	$10,879,215	$29,186,847
2020	990	$9,541,232	$9,751,874	$22,626,585
2019	990	$8,395,729	$8,804,931	$19,548,263
2018	990	$8,658,586	$6,895,362	$15,481,299
2017	990	$8,486,633	$9,417,623	$17,446,554
2016	990	$7,252,470	$7,541,200	$15,414,654
2015	990	$10,658,708	$9,300,554	$15,457,677
2014	990	$7,419,785	$6,904,174	$14,120,345
2013	990	$7,090,816	$6,098,573	$13,718,398
2012	990	not reported	$5,188,072	$10,959,832

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

CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT

$3,232,000

2022 CAPITAL PROJECTS
CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT

$3,043,343

2023 GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT

$2,900,276

2022 GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT

$829,846

2022 FIELD CONSERVATION
CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT

$389,739

2023 FIELD CONSERVATION
CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT

$266,915

2023 EDUCATION
CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT

$232,452

2023 ANIMAL CARE AND RESEARCH
CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT

$169,905

2022 EDUCATION
CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT

$165,542

2022 ANIMAL CARE AND RESEARCH
CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT

$125,000

2023 CAPITAL PROJECTS

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

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

THE NEW YORK COMMUNITY TRUST

$700,000

2024 FOR PROGRAM SUPPORT.
GREATER HORIZONS

$505,000

2024 Environment & Animals
JACK JOSEPH AND MORTON MANDEL SUPPORTING FOUNDATION

$500,000

2022 RENOVATIONS TO THE ZOO ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION

$467,701

2024 GENERAL SUPPORT
THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION

$433,214

2023 GENERAL SUPPORT
DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING

$384,776

2024 ENVIRONMENTAL AND ANIMALS
DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING

$348,940

2023 ENVIRONMENTAL AND ANIMALS
THE BLACKBAUD GIVING FUND

$230,919

2025 GENERAL SUPPORT
FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

$211,073

2023 For grant recipient's exempt purposes
FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

$209,134

2024 For grant recipient's exempt purposes

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 1 November 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2023, the newest we have parsed for this organization.