ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF MILWAUKEE CTY Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF MILWAUKEE CTY

EIN 39-6077242 · Animal-Related (D115)

What they do

THE MISSION of THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY is to TAKE PART IN CONSERVING WILDLIFE and ENDANGERED SPECIES, to EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE of WILDLIFE and THE ENVIRONMENT, and to SUPPORT THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY ZOO. THE SOCIETY WAS ORGANIZED to AID THE COUNTY IN THE OPERATION, MAINTENANCE and DEVELOPMENT of THE MILWAUKEE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS ("ZOO") and THE ZOOS ANIMAL COLLECTION ACTIVITIES, and to PROMOTE CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, EXHIBITION of ANIMALS, RESEARCH, and RECREATION THROUGH FUNDRAISING and VOLUNTEERISM.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $74.30 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 leaders44 people are listed in the latest report.

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

Money made simple

83.59%of revenue went to mission work74.3% of expenses · Program services

3.49%of revenue went to fundraising3.1% of expenses

$104.29spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

25.43%of revenue went to management and office costs22.6% of expenses

$1.14in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

83.5%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 $602,666 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $339,888 for JODI GIBSON (PRESIDENT AND CEO). 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$13,032,943

Mission workProgram services$10,894,19383.59% of revenue74.3% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$3,313,86325.43% of revenue22.6% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$454,5533.49% of revenue3.1% of expenses

Total expenses$14,662,609112.50% 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: 74.3% mission · 22.6% management · 3.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 112.50% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 68.9% mission · 24.5% management · 6.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 105.14% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 66.1% mission · 29.6% management · 4.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 101.51% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 77.7% mission · 19.0% management · 3.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 72.51% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 92.0% mission · 5.0% management · 3.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 101.06% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 91.1% mission · 5.0% management · 3.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 144.78% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 94.1% mission · 2.5% management · 3.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 127.05% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 92.0% mission · 3.1% management · 4.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 95.22% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$14,059,943

Expenses$14,662,609

Annual shortfall $602,666 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)$10,894,193 · 74.3% of expenses

Management and office costs$3,313,863 · 22.6% of expenses

Fundraising$454,553 · 3.1% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$14,059,943

Expenses$14,662,609

Assets$16,736,798

Income$17,565,267

Contributions$11,745,810

Mission work (program services)$10,894,193

Fundraising$454,553

Grants given$25,201,710

Average grant$1,938,593

Management and general$3,313,863

Stocks and bonds$9,259,657

Accounting fees$40,278

Investing fees$141

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

JODI GIBSONPRESIDENT AND CEO · 40 hrs/week $339,888Base $311,871 · Other $28,017

JENNIFER MUELLERCHIEF REVENUE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $212,369Base $172,783 · Other $39,586

JASON KOEHLERCFO - PART YEAR · 40 hrs/week $153,346Base $123,025 · Other $30,321

BETH HELLERVP - PROGRAMS · 40 hrs/week $147,328Base $139,418 · Other $7,910

KATE HALFWASSENCFO - PART YEAR · 40 hrs/week $2,030

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 (44)

JODI GIBSONPRESIDENT AND CEO

JENNIFER MUELLERCHIEF REVENUE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

JASON KOEHLERCFO - PART YEAR

BETH HELLERVP - PROGRAMS

KATE HALFWASSENCFO - PART YEAR

JOHN SOHNTREASURER

WENDELL WILLISDIRECTOR

JUDY HOLZ STATHASDIRECTOR

KAT MORROWDIRECTOR

KRISTIN OCCHETTIDIRECTOR

MARGARET HARRISDIRECTOR

MARIA GONZALEZ KNAVELDIRECTOR

MARK A BERKOFFDIRECTOR

MATT SWENTKOFSKEDIRECTOR

NEZIH HASANOGLUDIRECTOR

PEGGY KELSYSECRETARY

RICK SCHMIDTDIRECTOR

ROB BERESDIRECTOR

ROGER SMITHDIRECTOR

SCOTT REDLINGERDIRECTOR

TAMI SCULLY GARRISONVICE CHAIR AND CHAIR ELECT

TANYA HINESDIRECTOR

TONY STANIAKDIRECTOR

BARRY SATTELLDIRECTOR

HAROLD REDMANDIRECTOR

CAROLINE KRIDERDIRECTOR

CHRISTINE IRGENSDIRECTOR

CHUCK ROEDELDIRECTOR

DAN KEMPKENDIRECTOR

DAVE STRELITZDIRECTOR

DEREK TYUSCHAIR

DON ROBERTSONDIRECTOR

DR DEMOND MEANSDIRECTOR

EMORY IRELANDDIRECTOR

JOHN KISSINGERVICE CHAIR

JAMES WARDDIRECTOR

JANETTE BRAVERMANDIRECTOR

JASON FATHALLAHDIRECTOR

JAY MCKENNAIMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

JENNA KUNDEDIRECTOR

JOE FROHNADIRECTOR

JOE KRESLDIRECTOR

JOE ROCKDIRECTOR

JOHN KELLERMANDIRECTOR

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1956
Location: 10005 W BLUEMOUND RD, MILWAUKEE, WI 53226-4346
County: Milwaukee
In care of: JASON KOEHLER
Primary officer: JASON KOEHLER, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emaillaurak@zoosociety.org Phone(414) 258-2333 Officer phone(414) 918-6161

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: January 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: REILLY PENNER & BENTON LLP
NTEE classification: Animal-Related (D115)
Grant-giving organization: Yes