Zoo Foundation INC

Tax-deductible

Gulf Shores, AL501(c)(3)AnimalsEIN 58-1919174

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The Foundation operates a Zoo in gulf shores, al which helps preserve wildlife as well as educates the public about various and diverse species.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
97¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX

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
1 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $1.0M a year · 21% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
97%
of spending
Looks good: 97% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Cash reserves
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 5.7 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $15K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$25.3M
91% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 91% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
11
of 11 voting members
Looks good: 11 of 11 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$5.0M
+16% vs prior year
Spent
$6.4M
To programs
97%
Net assets
$2.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$5.0M
FY2025▲ +16%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$3.7M
FY2021$5.8M
FY2022$4.9M
FY2023$4.8M
FY2024$4.3M
FY2025$5.0M
Expenses
$6.4M
FY2025▲ +5%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$4.4M
FY2021$5.7M
FY2022$5.9M
FY2023$6.0M
FY2024$6.0M
FY2025$6.4M
Net assets
$2.4M
FY2025▼ -37%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$7.6M
FY2021$7.7M
FY2022$6.7M
FY2023$5.5M
FY2024$3.8M
FY2025$2.4M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending September 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 Mar 1991.

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

Where the money goes

97 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 97% · $6.2M Management & general 3% · $174K Fundraising 0% · $14K

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

10 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Chairman
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chairma
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Joel Hamilton’s $159K as Exective Dir is at the 81st percentile of top reported officer pay among 1138 $1–10M 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.

See 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 15aNo

Programs and updates

Preserves wildlife and educates the public about diverse species at a zoo.

Provided by the organization

This section is blank until Zoo Foundation INC claims this page.

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1 program service account for $4.2M of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2024.
01

The foundation operates a zoo in gulf shores, al. The zoo is open to the public seven days a week and is visited by more than 170,000 people annually from a majority of the 50 states and also from foreign countries.

$4.2Mprogram expense

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Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$15K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$5.0M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$3.0M
Other incomeLn 4–11$1.3M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$487K
Money outPt IX
$6.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$6.2M
Managementcol C$174K
Fundraisingcol D$14K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.0M
Total assetsLn 16$27.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$25.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$487K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$3.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$236K
Other incomeLn 4–11$1.3M
Total revenueLn 12$5.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$3.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$145K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$22.4M
Other assetsLn 15$1.9M
Total assetsLn 16$27.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$25.3M
Net assetsLn 32$2.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 587
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
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$1.9M$3.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$162K$145K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$23.3M$22.4M
Total assetsLn 16$27.5M$27.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$23.7M$25.3M
Net assetsLn 32$3.8M$2.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.0M$2.0M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$13K$13K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$165K$165K
Payroll taxesLn 10$157K$157K
Legal feesLn 11b$398K$398K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$101K$101K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$78K$77K$154
Office expensesLn 13$132K$131K$733
Information technologyLn 14$31K$31K
OccupancyLn 16$245K$117K$128K
TravelLn 17$4K$4K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$1K$1K
InterestLn 20$1.6M$1.6M
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$852K$852K
InsuranceLn 23$158K$158K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$290K$262K$28K
All other expensesLn 24e$140K$113K$13K$14K
Total functional expensesLn 25$6.4M$6.2M$174K$14K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $5.0M$6.4M−$1.4M$2.4M 990 PDF
FY2024 $4.3M$6.0M−$1.8M$3.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $4.8M$6.0M−$1.2M$5.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $4.9M$5.9M−$965K$6.7M 990 PDF
FY2021 $5.8M$5.7M$50K$7.7M 990 PDF
FY2020 $3.7M$4.4M−$747K$7.6M 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 FY2025 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $4,971,469 across 6 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $658,333 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$486,544
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$486,544
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,925,268$2,925,268
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $236,286$236,286
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $665,038$665,038
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $3,866,309 · Excluded from tax $618,616$4,971,469
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $6,361,966 across 17 lines filed
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,042,874$2,042,874
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $13,314$13,314
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $164,884$164,884
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $156,673$156,673
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $398,476$398,476
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $100,505$100,505
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $77,411 · Management $154$77,565
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $131,052 · Management $733$131,785
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $30,588$30,588
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $117,337 · Management $127,624$244,961
IX-17 TravelManagement $4,071$4,071
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsManagement $1,091$1,091
IX-20 InterestPrograms $1,555,468$1,555,468
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $852,065$852,065
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $157,619$157,619
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $262,253 · Management $27,709$289,962
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $113,439 · Management $12,565 · Fundraising $14,061$140,065
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $6,173,958 · Management $173,947 · Fundraising $14,061$6,361,966
Part X · Balance sheet $27,684,674 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,886,017$3,015,445
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $8,000$55,129
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $200$28,745
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $146,623$102,343
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $23,266,062$22,419,797
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $162,384$144,864
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,939,767$1,918,351
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $27,455,919$27,684,674
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $103,325$141,401
X-18 Grants payable$21,393
X-19 Deferred revenue$16,143
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $23,380,863$23,376,687
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $180,500$1,728,316
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $23,664,688$25,283,940
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $3,791,231$2,400,734
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,791,231$2,400,734
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $27,455,919$27,684,674
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,400,734 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,971,469
XI-2 Total expenses$6,361,966
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,390,497
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,791,231
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,400,734

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

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