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Cosley Foundation INC FY2024 filing

Tax-deductible

Wheaton, IL501(c)(3)Since 1985Arts & CultureEIN 36-3461739Revenue $1.1M in FY2024

On file with the IRScosleyzoo.org102 E Wesley St, 60187-5321 · Wheaton, ILTax-exempt since Oct 1986Publicly supported — 509(a)(2)

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The Cosley Foundation engages in fundraising activities to benefit the Cosley zoo, an aza-accredited small zoo wholly owned and operated by the wheaton park district in wheaton, il. The Foundation raises funds via donor development of individuals and foundations, and also holds community-centric events such as christmas tree sales,a 5k/10k run for the animals, the mike williams Cosley classic golf tournament, and fall pumpkin sales. The Cosley Foundation board is comprised of volunteer board members who serve as advocates for the Cosley zoo within the dupage county community (chicago suburbs); board members also provide fiscally sound strategic counsel pertaining to the zoos capital development and other policies and programs. The Cosley Foundation wholly supports the Cosley zoos mission: to create connections between people and animals that will inspire lifelong conservation of the natural world. The zoo pursues its mission via world-class animal welfare, science-based conservation in

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
83¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $92K a year · 9% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
83%
of spending
Looks good: 83% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Cash reserves
11 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 10.9 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
11
named funders · $211K
Looks good: 11 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.3M
36% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 36% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
13
of 14 voting members
Looks good: 13 of 14 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.1M
+21% vs prior year
Spent
$1.8M
To programs
83%
Net assets
$2.3M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$1.1M
FY2024▲ +21%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$622K
FY2021$800K
FY2022$1.3M
FY2023$928K
FY2024$1.1M
FY2025$1.1M
Expenses
$1.8M
FY2024▲ +242%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$325K
FY2021$389K
FY2022$436K
FY2023$527K
FY2024$1.8M
FY2025$1.8M
Net assets
$2.3M
FY2024▼ -23%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.4M
FY2021$1.8M
FY2022$2.6M
FY2023$3.0M
FY2024$2.3M
FY2025$1.6M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Oct 1986.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

83 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 83% · $1.5M Management & general 12% · $209K Fundraising 5% · $91K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

14 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Matt Szafranski
Past President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Paul Becker
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Susan Varcak
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
See Cosley Foundation INC executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Raises funds and provides support for animal care, facility upkeep, and educational programs at a zoo.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.5M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

The foundation provides financial support to help fund the operation of the cosley zoo by the wheaton park district. The zoo's operations include free admission to all children under the age of 18 Y/O, regardless of residence within the wheaton park district bounds and free admission to all wheaton park district adults.

$1.3Mprogram expense
02

The foundation provides financial support for the advancement of the zoo. The foundation invests in donor relationship building and the engagement of subject matter experts.

$136Kprogram expense
03

The foundation, in accordance with a donor's wishes, is providing one scholarship in memory of the former president of the foundation.

$5Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFY2024$127K
Picchi Family Foundation INCFY2024$20K
The John and Frank Sparacio Charitable Foundation INCFY2024$20K
National Philanthropic TrustFY2024$13K
The Dupage Community FoundationFY2024$10K
The Chicago Community TrustFY2024$8K
Donor Advised Charitable Giving INCFY2024$6K
American Online Giving Foundation INCFY2024$5K
Total grants receivedfrom 11 funders$211K
See all 11 funders →
Grants paid · 6 grants · $3.1M · 2020–2025
Wheaton Park DistrictFY2025$1,335,245
Wheaton Park DistrictFY2024$1,338,455
Wheaton Park DistrictFY2023$153,021
Wheaton Park DistrictFY2022$82,610
Wheaton Park DistrictFY2021$129,724
Wheaton Park DistrictFY2020$105,000

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$796K
Other incomeLn 4–11$207K
Investment incomeLn 3$116K
Money outPt IX
$1.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.5M
Managementcol C$209K
Fundraisingcol D$91K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.3M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.6M
Total assetsLn 16$3.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
14
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a14
IndependentVI 1b13
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$796K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$17K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$256K
Investment incomeLn 3$116K
Other incomeLn 4–11$207K
Total revenueLn 12$1.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.6M
SavingsLn 2$16K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.9M
Total assetsLn 16$3.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.3M
Net assetsLn 32$2.3M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 695
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.3M$1.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.5M$1.9M
Total assetsLn 16$3.1M$3.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$124K$1.3M
Net assetsLn 32$3.0M$2.3M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$1.3M$1.3M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$5K$5K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$192K$21K$83K$88K
Legal feesLn 11b$42K$42K
Accounting feesLn 11c$7K$7K
Office expensesLn 13$18K$1K$16K
InsuranceLn 23$3K$3K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$189K$135K$54K
All other expensesLn 24e$7K$404$7K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.8M$1.5M$209K$91K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $1.1M$1.8M−$703K$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $1.1M$1.8M−$682K$2.3M 990 PDF
FY2023 $928K$527K$401K$3.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.3M$436K$826K$2.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $800K$389K$411K$1.8M 990 PDF
FY2020 $622K$325K$297K$1.4M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,118,766 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $602,628$795,913
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $45,736$115,541
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $279,357$207,312
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $927,721$1,118,766
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $155,521$1,343,455
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $133,147$191,663
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $238,495$265,584
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $527,163$1,800,702
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $400,558−$681,936
Part VI · Governance 13 of 14 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body14
VI-1b Independent voting members13
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,118,766 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $142,389 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1b Membership dues$94,616
VIII-1c Fundraising events$255,909
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$445,388
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$16,624
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$795,913
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $115,541$115,541
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $64,320$64,320
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $603$603
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $142,992 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $179,861$1,118,766
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,800,702 across 9 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $1,338,455$1,338,455
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $5,000$5,000
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $20,659 · Management $82,634 · Fundraising $88,370$191,663
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $41,830$41,830
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $7,200$7,200
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $1,088 · Management $16,492$17,580
IX-23 InsuranceFundraising $2,732$2,732
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $134,828 · Management $54,212$189,040
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $404 · Management $6,798$7,202
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,500,434 · Management $209,166 · Fundraising $91,102$1,800,702
Part X · Balance sheet $3,633,277 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,304,508$1,626,574
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $15,786$16,028
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $272,903$33,075
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $24,406$26,897
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $1,510,871$1,930,703
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $3,128,474$3,633,277
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $124,120$1,313,132
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $124,120$1,313,132
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,399,657$1,937,142
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $604,697$383,003
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,004,354$2,320,145
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $3,128,474$3,633,277
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,320,145 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,118,766
XI-2 Total expenses$1,800,702
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$681,936
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,004,354
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$2,273
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,320,145

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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