Minnesota Zoo Foundation EIN 51-0147653 Form 990 (PDF) Claim this org

Minnesota Zoo Foundation

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Funds zoo initiatives connecting people, animals, and nature to save wildlife globally. For fiscal year 2024 it reported $14.5M in revenue, $10.3M in expenses, and $17.8M in net assets.Pt I

Founded
1974
Type
Public charity (501(c)(3)) · Animals
Location
Apple Valley, MN
Website
www.mnzoofoundation.org
Filings
5 on file (2020–2024)
Revenue
$14.5MFY2024
Expenses
$10.3M
Net assets
$17.8M
People
23
Filings
5
Updates
0
More identity details & actions ⌄
EIN  51-0147653 Public charity (501(c)(3)) Apple Valley, MN Founded 1974
Form 990 (PDF)
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Figures match the IRS filing checked 8/15/26 · see original: IRS
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Size
$10–100M
What they do
Funds zoo initiatives connecting people, animals, and nature to save wildlife globally.
Leadership
Jamie Flaws · Executive Director · $187K
Money in and out
$14.5M revenue, $10.3M expenses
Bottom line
67% program efficiency
Where the money goes · FY2024
Total revenue
$14.5M
Pt VIII · Ln 12
Total expenses
$10.3M
Pt IX · Ln 25
Net assets
$17.8M
Pt X · Ln 32
Revenue less expenses (Pt I · Ln 19): $4.1M
Where spending went · Part IX cols B–D
Program services $0.67 Management & general $0.20 Fundraising $0.13
Program efficiency
67%
of spending reaches programs▼ -2% vs prior filing year
Operating runway
11.8mo
months of highly liquid reserves at operating expense rate▼ -16% vs prior filing year
Surplus margin
+29%
revenue over expenses, this year▲ +579% vs prior filing year

Summary of the Filing

Part I · fiscal year 2024 · Form 990
Revenue
$14.5M
FY2024▲ +71%
Expenses
$10.3M
FY2024▲ +15%
Total assets
$18.9M
FY2024▲ +33%
Total liabilities
$1.1M
FY2024▲ +57%
Total revenue
$14.5M
Pt VIII · Ln 12
Total expenses
$10.3M
Pt IX · Ln 25
Net assets
$17.8M
Pt X · Ln 32
Revenue less expensesPt I · Ln 19$4.1M
Total assetsPt X · Ln 16$18.9M
Program-expense ratioPt IX · col B67%
Voting members of governing bodyPt I · Ln 318
Independent voting membersPt I · Ln 418

Identity & Classification

Form 990 Header · IRS Business Master File
Legal nameHdr · item CMinnesota Zoo Foundation
EINHdr · item D51-0147653
Principal addressHdr · item CApple Valley, MN
WebsiteHdr · item Jwww.mnzoofoundation.org
Year of formationHdr · item L1974
State of legal domicileHdr · item MMN
Exempt statusHdr · item I501(c)(3) · active
NTEE classificationIRS BMFAnimals (D115)
Ruling yearIRS BMFOct 1975

Governance & Policies

Part VI
Voting members of the governing bodyPt VI · Ln 1a18
Independent voting membersPt VI · Ln 1b18
Conflict-of-interest policyPt VI · Ln 12aYes
Whistleblower policyPt VI · Ln 13Yes
Document retention policyPt VI · Ln 14Yes
CEO/top-official compensation independently reviewedPt VI · Ln 15aYes
Family or business relationships among officers/directorsPt VI · Ln 2No

Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$187,048Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Major Gifts
$122,052Pt VII · Sec A
Dir Corporate & Foundation Relations
$107,126Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Operations
$106,470Pt VII · Sec A
President
$80,468Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Jamie Flaws’s $187K as Executive Director is at the 21st percentile of top reported officer pay among 224 $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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Jamie Flaws$187,048$161,538
Anthony Grundhauser$182,212
Anne Weber-Smith$126,018$126,018$124,800$116,878
Jeffrey Sulzbach$122,052
Elisabeth Comeaux$107,126$101,434
Ryan Sweeney$106,470$92,688$84,633$85,883$54,385
Melinda Conness$101,218
John Frawley$80,468$79,395$44,396

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.

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Mission & Programs · Part III

Where the work happens

3 program services account for $6.9M of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2024.
01

Zoo Capital Projects

Our support propels leading-edge ideas that redefine the role and impact of modern zoos, such as the creation of innovative nature experiences, best-in-class education programs, and industry-leading conservation efforts.

$4.4Mprogram expense
02

Zoo Support

The minnesota zoo foundation helps open doors to uniquely immersive nature experiences that benefit the well-being of all by sponsoring programs that bring the minnesota zoo experience to minnesota communities and reduce physical, financial, and cultural barriers to the zoo.

$1.9Mprogram expense
03

Conservation

The minnesota zoo is able to lead and participate in industry-leading conservation programs that are saving wildlife because of funding from the minnesota zoo foundation. From native mussel restoration work and turtle head-start programs here in minnesota to global efforts through the ulysses s.

$578Kprogram expense

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Statement of Revenue

Part VIII
Contributions & grants$13.8M · 95%
Investment income$620K · 4%
Other revenue$102K · 1%
Contributions & grants95%$13.8M
Investment income4%$620K
Other revenue1%$102K
Total revenueLn 12$14.5M

Statement of Functional Expenses

Part IX · allocated across program, management, and fundraising
Allocation · columns B–D
Program services $0.67 Management & general $0.20 Fundraising $0.13
Program services67%$6.9M
Management & general20%$2.1M
Fundraising13%$1.4M
Total functional expensesLn 25$10.3M

Balance Sheet

Part X · end of year
CashLn 1$7.0M
Total assetsLn 16$18.9M
Total liabilitiesLn 26$1.1M
Total net assetsLn 32$17.8M
Months of cash on handcomputed8.1

Financial Metrics

Form 990 · FY2024 · each ratio shown with the dollars behind it
Liquidity & Payout
Operating runway
Highly liquid reserves $10.0M · Operating expenses (Pt IX) $10.3M · Less non-cash grants $144K · Cash operating expenses/yr $10.2M
11.8 months
Where the money goes
Program services
Program services $6.9M · Total expenses $10.3M
67%
Management & General
Management & general $2.1M · Total expenses $10.3M
20%
Fundraising
Fundraising $1.4M · Total expenses $10.3M
13%
Cost to raise $1
Fundraising expense (3-yr avg) $1.3M · Solicited contributions (3-yr avg) $9.3M
$0.14 to raise $1 (3-yr avg)
Where the money comes from
Contribution dependence
Contributions & grants $13.8M · Total revenue $14.5M
95%
Government reliance
Government grants — · Total revenue $14.5M
Earned-income share
Program service revenue $0 · Total revenue $14.5M
0%
Investment reliance
Investment income $620K · Total revenue $14.5M
+4%
Program self-sufficiency
Program service revenue $0 · Total expenses $10.3M
0%
Growth & trend
Revenue growth (YoY)
This year $14.5M · Prior year $8.5M
+71%
Revenue CAGR
FY2019 $6.2M · FY2024 $14.5M
+18%
Net-asset trend (YoY)
End of year $17.8M · Beginning of year —
Beginning net assets not meaningfully positive — showing dollar change
Balance sheet
Surplus Margin
Revenue $14.5M · Expenses $10.3M
+29%
Liabilities-to-Assets
Total liabilities — · Total assets $18.9M
Net-asset ratio
Net assets $17.8M · Total assets $18.9M
94%
Marketable Investment Share
Publicly traded securities (Pt X, ln 11) $3.0M · Other securities (Pt X, ln 12) — · Total assets (Pt X, ln 16) $18.9M
16%
People & payroll
Highest Reported Total Compensation
Individual Jamie Flaws · Reported title EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · Highest reported compensation $187K · Total expenses $10.3M
2%
Personnel share
Salaries, benefits & payroll (Pt IX 5-10) $2.3M · Total expenses $10.3M
22%
Fundraising vendors
Fundraiser cost ratio
Paid to fundraisers $146K · Gross raised $368K
40%
Peer comparison

Same NTEE category, revenue band, and state where available. Descriptive — not a grade.

MetricThis orgPeer medianPercentile
Program ratio 67%
Overhead ratio 20%
Fundraising cost ratio 10%
Revenue growth 71%

Straight from the Form 990 — descriptive, not an evaluation. A ratio is hidden when its base is zero or too small to be meaningful; the dollars are always shown.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Ocora FoundationFY2025$100K
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$107K
See all 3 funders →
Grants paid · 28 grants · $33.8M · 2019–2024
Minnesota ZooFY2024$5,883,089
Wildlife Conservation SocietyNY · FY2024$219,594
Unitemized GrantFY2024$19,392
Minnesota ZooFY2023$5,323,923
Wildlife Conservation SocietyNY · FY2023$136,300
Global Conservation NetworkMN · FY2023$7,500
Minnesota ZooFY2022$6,051,044
Wildlife Conservation SocietyNY · FY2022$137,526
Global Conservation NetworkMN · FY2022$15,000
Minnesota ZooFY2021$8,020,274
Wildlife Conservation SocietyNY · FY2021$245,701
See all 28 grants →

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Filings & Schedule Manifest

Part IV
III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
FY2024$8.5M revenue · ⤓ 990 PDF
FY2023$6.3M revenue · ⤓ 990 PDF
FY2022$10.9M revenue · ⤓ 990 PDF
FY2021$8.0M revenue · ⤓ 990 PDF
FY2020$6.2M revenue · ⤓ 990 PDF

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Sources

Every figure above is drawn from these filings
Form 990 e-file (XML) · FY2024IRS
Classification, formation year, addressIRS Business Master File
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