RHODE ISLAND ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

RHODE ISLAND ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

EIN 05-6016675 · Animal-Related (D500)

What they do

to SERVE THE COMMUNITY AS A VALUED RESOURCE for EDUCATION, CONSERVATION and to FUNDRAISE for and MANAGE RWPZ.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $78.40 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders28 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

83.53%of revenue went to mission work78.4% of expenses · Program services

4.00%of revenue went to fundraising3.8% of expenses

$106.54spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

19.01%of revenue went to management and office costs17.8% of expenses

$0.97in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

30.7%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $892,797 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $266,350 for STACEY JOHNSON (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$13,650,518

Mission workProgram services$11,402,07283.53% of revenue78.4% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$2,595,02519.01% of revenue17.8% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$546,2184.00% of revenue3.8% of expenses

Total expenses$14,543,315106.54% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 78.4% mission · 17.8% management · 3.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 106.54% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 80.9% mission · 15.5% management · 3.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 91.34% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 81.3% mission · 15.1% management · 3.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 82.67% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 81.7% mission · 14.8% management · 3.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 70.47% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 77.1% mission · 19.3% management · 3.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 83.55% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 79.9% mission · 16.5% management · 3.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 101.15% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 79.2% mission · 16.9% management · 3.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 102.99% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 80.6% mission · 15.7% management · 3.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 101.46% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$13,650,518

Expenses$14,543,315

Annual shortfall $892,797 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$11,402,072 · 78.4% of expenses

Management and office costs$2,595,025 · 17.8% of expenses

Fundraising$546,218 · 3.8% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$13,650,518

Expenses$14,543,315

Assets$14,064,942

Income$15,801,157

Contributions$4,186,739

Mission work (program services)$11,402,072

Fundraising$546,218

Management and general$2,595,025

Executive compensation (total)$173,885

Accounting fees$54,449

Investing fees$3,153

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

STACEY JOHNSONEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $266,350Base $230,399 · Other $35,951

RONALD PATALANOCHIEF OPERATING OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $197,887Base $168,600 · Other $29,287

DAVID PERTUSOCHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $193,385Base $167,010 · Other $26,375

SHAREEN KNOWLTONCHIEF STRATEGY & ENGAGEMENT OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $175,561Base $140,167 · Other $35,394

AMY ROBERTSCHIEF ZOOLOGICAL OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $154,290Base $140,071 · Other $14,219

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (28)

STACEY JOHNSONEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

RONALD PATALANOCHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

DAVID PERTUSOCHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

SHAREEN KNOWLTONCHIEF STRATEGY & ENGAGEMENT OFFICER

AMY ROBERTSCHIEF ZOOLOGICAL OFFICER

MARGARET FERGUSONSECRETARY

WENDY NILSSONTRUSTEE EX-OFFICIO

STEVEN M PARENTETRUSTEE

SARAH DENBYTRUSTEE

SANDRA L COLETTAVICE PRESIDENT/CHAIR

SAMIR DHAMIJATRUSTEE

PATRICK T LEBEAUPRESIDENT/CHAIR

PAMELA HEFFERNANTRUSTEE

NANCY ALLENVICE PRESIDENT/CHAIR

MARTHA BOWERTRUSTEE

MARIBETH Q WILLIAMSONTREASURER

KAREN E SILVA EDD CHETRUSTEE

JOHN J PALUMBOTRUSTEE

JOHN J MURRAYTRUSTEE

JOHN HENRY MULLENTRUSTEE

JOHN IGLIOZZITRUSTEE

HOWARD MERTENTRUSTEE

DOUGLAS CANIGLIATRUSTEE

DAMEIAN SLOCUMTRUSTEE

DAMARIS MESSINATRUSTEE

CLAIRE CARRABBATRUSTEE

CINDY ERICKSONTRUSTEE

CHERYL COHENTRUSTEE

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1964
Location: 1000 ELMWOOD AVE, PROVIDENCE, RI 02907-3655
County: Providence
In care of: STACEY JOHNSON
Primary officer: STACEY JOHNSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(401) 941-3910

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: January 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: CBIZ ADVISORS LLC
NTEE classification: Animal-Related (D500)
IRS tax category: Zoos and Botanical Gardens