FRIENDS OF THE ZOO INC OF KANSAS CITY MISSOURI C/O LINDA FALK Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

FRIENDS OF THE ZOO INC OF KANSAS CITY MISSOURI C/O LINDA FALK

EIN 43-6048888 · Animal-Related (D115)

What they do

THE KANSAS CITY ZOO & AQUARIUM, WITH ITS WORLD-CLASS ANIMAL HABITATS and EXCEPTIONAL PROGRAMS, ATTRACTS VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD and FAMILIES FROM CLOSE to HOME.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $93.00 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 leaders36 people are listed in the latest report.

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

Money made simple

89.30%of revenue went to mission work93.0% of expenses · Program services

1.62%of revenue went to fundraising1.7% of expenses

$95.98spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

5.06%of revenue went to management and office costs5.3% of expenses

$0.72in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

40.7%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.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $378,411 for SEAN PUTNEY (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/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$53,626,478

Mission workProgram services$47,889,35889.30% of revenue93.0% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$2,716,0915.06% of revenue5.3% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$866,2211.62% of revenue1.7% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$2,154,8084.02% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$51,471,67095.98% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

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: 93.0% mission · 5.3% management · 1.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 95.98% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 94.0% mission · 4.4% management · 1.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 91.94% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 95.1% mission · 3.6% management · 1.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 98.84% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 92.8% mission · 5.7% management · 1.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 87.44% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 92.3% mission · 5.5% management · 2.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 105.30% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 90.3% mission · 7.2% management · 2.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 100.66% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 89.1% mission · 8.1% management · 2.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 96.02% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 89.6% mission · 7.8% management · 2.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 96.42% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$53,626,478

Expenses$51,471,670

Annual surplus $2,154,808 Revenue was higher than expenses 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)$47,889,358 · 93.0% of expenses

Management and office costs$2,716,091 · 5.3% of expenses

Fundraising$866,221 · 1.7% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$53,626,478

Expenses$51,471,670

Assets$37,145,143

Income$57,250,715

Contributions$21,805,379

Mission work (program services)$47,889,358

Fundraising$866,221

Grants given$747,996

Average grant$16,622

Management and general$2,716,091

Stocks and bonds$16,519,915

Accounting fees$55,146

Investing fees$70,297

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

SEAN PUTNEYEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO · 40 hrs/week $378,411Base $355,570 · Other $22,841

LINDA FALKCHIEF OPERATING OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $300,625Base $277,168 · Other $23,457

RANDY WISTHOFFFORMER CEO $250,000

CHARLISA SHELLYCHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $240,306Base $218,145 · Other $22,161

DR KIRK SUEDMEYERDIRECTOR OF VETERINARY HEA · 40 hrs/week $184,486Base $161,149 · Other $23,337

CORA STORBECKDIR OF DEVELOPMENT & GOV A · 40 hrs/week $180,158Base $156,696 · Other $23,462

JULIE MEYERDIRECTOR OF FINANCE · 40 hrs/week $180,082Base $145,861 · Other $34,221

KIM ROMARYDIRECTOR OF MARKETING · 40 hrs/week $174,823Base $143,313 · Other $31,510

FRANK WILBURNDIRECTOR OF GUEST SERVICES · 40 hrs/week $168,841Base $144,279 · Other $24,562

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 (36)

SEAN PUTNEYEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO

LINDA FALKCHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

RANDY WISTHOFFFORMER CEO

CHARLISA SHELLYCHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER

DR KIRK SUEDMEYERDIRECTOR OF VETERINARY HEA

CORA STORBECKDIR OF DEVELOPMENT & GOV A

JULIE MEYERDIRECTOR OF FINANCE

KIM ROMARYDIRECTOR OF MARKETING

FRANK WILBURNDIRECTOR OF GUEST SERVICES

KATE LAMBERTBOARD MEMBER

JOHN RUSSBOARD MEMBER

KATIE MCDONALDBOARD MEMBER

MARK SWANSONBOARD MEMBER

RYANA PARKS-SHAWBOARD MEMBER

SAL MONTALBANOBOARD MEMBER

SANDRA GARCIA THRU 102024BOARD MEMBER

TODD TRENTBOARD MEMBER

TOM WRIGHTBOARD MEMBER

TONY REINHARTBOARD MEMBER/CHAIR

WESLEY FIELDSBOARD MEMBER/PRESIDENT

WILLARD B SNYDERBOARD MEMBER

JULIUS LAIBOARD MEMBER

AL MAURO JRBOARD MEMBER/SECRETARY

JOE PRENGER THRU 102024BOARD MEMBER

JENNIFER BENNETTBOARD MEMBER

JEFF DILLON THRU 102024BOARD MEMBER

JC ALONZOBOARD MEMBER

JANET MILES-BARTEEBOARD MEMBER

JAN FRANCIS THRU 102024BOARD MEMBER

HAYLEY HANSONBOARD MEMBER

DR YOLANDA CARGILEBOARD MEMBER

DR ELLEN CROWEBOARD MEMBER

DAVE SANCHEZBOARD MEMBER/TREASURER

CHRIS COTTENBOARD MEMBER

BRIAN PUNGBOARD MEMBER

ANA NUBIA DUINBOARD MEMBER

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1964
Location: 6800 ZOO DR, KANSAS CITY, MO 64132-1711
County: Jackson
In care of: % LINDA FALK
Primary officer: LINDA FALK, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(816) 595-1234

Filing and classification

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