The primary purposes of the Foundation are a) to manage the Blank Park Zoo; b) to solicit, collect and provide funds to improve the facilities and programs of the Zoo; c) to promote interest among the general public concerning the Zoo; d) to implement and assist in the study of zoological natural history, animal behavior and the science allied therewith; e) to provide charitable and educational assistance in association with the Zoo.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
82¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 2,815 volunteers and 223 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.5M a year · 14% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
82%
of spending
Looks good: 82% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$358K
to officers and key staff · 3% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 3% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
8 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 8.1 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $15K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.7M
6% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 6% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
35
of 35 voting members
Looks good: 35 of 35 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$11.9M
-5% vs prior year
Spent
$10.6M
To programs
82%
Net assets
$26.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$11.9M
FY2025▼ -5%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$8.0M
FY2021$8.4M
FY2022$8.8M
FY2023$11.3M
FY2024$12.6M
FY2025$11.9M
Expenses
$10.6M
FY2025▲ +4%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$7.6M
FY2021$6.5M
FY2022$7.7M
FY2023$9.6M
FY2024$10.2M
FY2025$10.6M
Net assets
$26.8M
FY2025▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$18.4M
FY2021$20.3M
FY2022$21.4M
FY2023$23.2M
FY2024$25.5M
FY2025$26.8M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending March 2025) · 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 Dec 1981.

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

Where the money goes

82 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 82% · $8.6M Management & general 14% · $1.5M Fundraising 4% · $453K

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

38 people listed on the 990; $358K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Chief Executive Officer
$160,240Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Operating Officer
$118,888Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Financial Officer
$78,509Pt VII · Sec A
Immediate Past Chairperson
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Member-At-Large / Board Recorder Through 1/1/25
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Member-At-Large
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Member-At-Large
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Member-At-Large
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Anne Shimerdla’s $160K as Chief Executive Officer is at the 8th percentile of top reported officer pay among 225 $10–100M animals nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 4 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Anne Shimerdla$160,240$181,942$169,827$138,872$103,163—
Mark Vukovich———$28,604$110,609$169,288
Rachel Summers$118,888$119,458$113,598———
Gary Tucker$78,509$92,528$87,492$70,905——

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Blank Park Zoo 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 15aYes

Programs and updates

Manages a zoo, raises funds, promotes public interest, and supports zoological research and education.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $8.6M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

The primary purposes of the foundation are a) to manage the blank park zoo; b) to solicit, collect and provide funds to improve the facilities and programs of the zoo; c) to promote interest among the general public concerning the zoo; d) to implement and assist in the study of zoological natural history, animal behavior and the science…

$8.6Mprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$15K
Grants paid · 16 grants · $247K · 2019–2024

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$11.9M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$5.9M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$827K
Money outPt IX
$10.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$8.6M
Managementcol C$1.5M
Fundraisingcol D$453K
Owns and owesPt X
$26.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$7.1M
Total assetsLn 16$28.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
38
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a35
IndependentVI 1b35
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$450K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$303K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$213K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$5.9M
Investment incomeLn 3$169K
Other incomeLn 4–11$827K
Total revenueLn 12$11.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$3.6M
SavingsLn 2$3.5M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$7.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$48K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$17.9M
Other assetsLn 15$1.3M
Total assetsLn 16$28.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.7M
Net assetsLn 32$26.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5223
VolunteersI 62,815
Fiscal year endsHeaderMarch
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$7.2M$7.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$48K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$18.8M$17.9M
Total assetsLn 16$27.9M$28.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.4M$1.7M
Net assetsLn 32$25.5M$26.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$12K$12K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$289K$37K$141K$111K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$5.0M$4.2M$554K$214K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$60K$51K$7K$2K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$409K$346K$45K$18K
Payroll taxesLn 10$470K$381K$61K$28K
Legal feesLn 11b$7K$7K
Accounting feesLn 11c$86K$86K
Investment management feesLn 11f$4K$4K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$71K$71K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$267K$267K
Office expensesLn 13$121K$75K$29K$17K
Information technologyLn 14$123K$123K
OccupancyLn 16$558K$557K$882
TravelLn 17$66K$40K$24K$2K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$12K$12K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1.2M$1.2M$31K
InsuranceLn 23$153K$139K$14K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.5M$1.3M$190K
All other expensesLn 24e$168K$17K$89K$61K
Total functional expensesLn 25$10.6M$8.6M$1.5M$453K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $11.9M$10.6M$1.3M$26.8M 990 PDF
FY2024 $12.6M$10.2M$2.3M$25.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $11.3M$9.6M$1.7M$23.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 $8.8M$7.7M$1.1M$21.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 $8.4M$6.5M$1.9M$20.3M 990 PDF
FY2020 $8.0M$7.6M$369K$18.4M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $11,913,239 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $5,847,568$5,057,013
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $5,767,552$5,860,261
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $132,056$169,161
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $817,449$826,804
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $12,564,625$11,913,239
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $127,545$12,500
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $5,749,516$6,235,220
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $4,341,690$4,342,527
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $10,218,751$10,590,247
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $2,345,874$1,322,992
Part VI · Governance 35 of 35 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body35
VI-1b Independent voting members35
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
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $11,913,239 across 11 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $826,615 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$213,479
VIII-1d Related organizations$454,802
VIII-1e Government grants$450,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,938,732
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$303,147
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$5,057,013
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $5,671,399$5,671,399
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $169,161$169,161
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $247,224$247,224
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$58,173−$58,173
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $6,498,014 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $358,212$11,913,239
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $10,590,247 across 20 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $12,500$12,500
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $36,944 · Management $141,452 · Fundraising $110,831$289,227
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $4,238,860 · Management $553,890 · Fundraising $214,450$5,007,200
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $50,773 · Management $7,254 · Fundraising $1,567$59,594
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $346,176 · Management $44,838 · Fundraising $17,701$408,715
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $381,092 · Management $61,163 · Fundraising $28,229$470,484
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $6,990$6,990
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $86,294$86,294
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $3,707$3,707
IX-11g Other fees for servicesManagement $70,695$70,695
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $267,341$267,341
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $74,799 · Management $29,330 · Fundraising $16,781$120,910
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $123,499$123,499
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $557,260 · Management $882$558,142
IX-17 TravelPrograms $40,035 · Management $23,916 · Fundraising $1,779$65,730
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsManagement $11,605$11,605
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,168,219 · Management $31,403$1,199,622
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $139,103 · Management $13,902$153,005
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,316,964 · Management $190,461$1,507,425
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $16,738 · Management $89,348 · Fundraising $61,476$167,562
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $8,646,804 · Management $1,490,629 · Fundraising $452,814$10,590,247
Part X · Balance sheet $28,547,961 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $3,384,788$3,638,256
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $3,864,162$3,500,936
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $875,753$1,404,685
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $132,098$120,435
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $226,881$198,417
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $196,371$401,761
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $18,797,108$17,919,001
X-12 Other securities$47,740
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $469,681$1,316,730
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $27,946,842$28,547,961
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,144,592$646,974
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,278,512$1,054,246
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,423,104$1,701,220
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $20,217,639$18,774,922
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $5,306,099$8,071,819
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $25,523,738$26,846,741
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $27,946,842$28,547,961
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $26,846,741 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$11,913,239
XI-2 Total expenses$10,590,247
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,322,992
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$25,523,738
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$11
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$26,846,741

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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