Nonprofit · EIN 16-1407299
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC
Tax-exempt · BUFFALO, NY 14214
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $560,250 | $259,236 | $301,014 | $6,104,324 | $0 | $6,104,324 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $550,697 | $238,180 | $312,517 | $5,309,235 | $0 | $5,309,235 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $179,339 | $207,975 | -$28,636 | $4,786,358 | $0 | $4,786,358 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $401,815
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $222,009
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $86,097
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$63,574
- Other revenue
- -$63,574
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $240,000
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $0
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Program services (functional)
- $240,000
- Management and general (functional)
- $19,236
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $5,309,235
- Total assets, end of year
- $6,104,324
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $0
- Net assets, end of year
- $6,104,324
- Publicly traded securities
- $5,905,465
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $5,394,434
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $709,890
- Gross receipts
- $930,233
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 9
- Year formed
- 1991
- State of legal domicile
- NY
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | From related orgs | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LISA SMITH | PRESIDENT & CEO Officer | 1 | $0 | $212,825 | $40,396 |
| DENISE K SCHAEFER | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer | 4 | $0 | $142,638 | $19,547 |
| JOHN R SANDERSON | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT D YALOWICH | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| PAULETTE M CROOKE | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| JONATHAN A DANDES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT M GREENE ESQ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| MARK PHILLIPS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| RYAN O RAWLINS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES SMYTON ESQ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHELLE A SULLIVAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 11 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | From related orgs | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LISA SMITH | PRESIDENT/CEO Officer | 1 | $0 | $188,111 | $33,670 |
| DENISE K SCHAEFER | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer | 4 | $0 | $131,518 | $19,179 |
| JOHN R SANDERSON | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT D YALOWICH | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| PAULETTE M CROOKE | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| JONATHAN A DANDES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT M GREENE ESQ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| MARK PHILLIPS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| RYAN O RAWLINS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES SMYTON ESQ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHELLE A SULLIVAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 12 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | From related orgs | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LISA SMITH | PRESIDENT/CEO Officer | 1 | $0 | $222,382 | $32,491 |
| DENISE K SCHAEFER | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer | 4 | $0 | $137,233 | $18,657 |
| NORAH FLETCHALL | PRESIDENT/CEO-FORMER Former | 0 | $0 | $127,419 | $0 |
| JOHN R SANDERSON | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT D YALOWICH | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT M GREENE | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| PAULETTE M CROOKE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| JONATHAN A DANDES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| DOROTHY FERGUSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| MARK PHILLIPS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES SMYTON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHELLE SULLIVAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 300 PARKSIDE AVE, BUFFALO, NY 14214-1963
- In care of
- % JOHN R SANDERSON
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- ROBERT D YALOWICH, 300 PARKSIDE AVENUE, BUFFALO, NY 14214
- Signed the 990
- ROBERT D YALOWICH, TREASURER
- Phone
- (716) 837-3900
- Return prepared by
- LUMSDEN & MCCORMICK LLP
Mission
TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE FINANCIAL NEEDS OF ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO, INC. (THE BUFFALO ZOO) AS WELL AS THE FULL TIME DEVOTION TO SEEKING, RECEIVING, HOLDING, MAINTAINING, AND REINVESTING FUNDS ON BEHALF OF BUFFALO ZOO.
Program accomplishments
- TO SUPPORT THE CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES OF THE BUFFALO ZOO.Expenses $240,000 · grants $240,000
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 16-1407299
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1992
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Animal-related (D115)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $6,104,324
- Income (IRS master file)
- $930,233
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $560,250 | $259,236 | $6,104,324 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $550,697 | $238,180 | $5,309,235 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $179,339 | $207,975 | $4,786,358 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $998,241 | $214,972 | $4,402,630 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 16-1407299).
Questions about ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC
- What is the EIN of ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC is 16-1407299.
- Is ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1992.
- Are donations to ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names ROBERT D YALOWICH.
- Who are the officers and directors of ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 11 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.
- How much revenue does ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $560,250, expenses of $259,236 and total assets of $6,104,324 at year end.
Other nonprofits in BUFFALO
- ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO INC EIN 16-0911204 · last filed 990 for 2025
- OPERATION PETS THE SPAY NEUTER CLINIC OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC EIN 16-1543255 · last filed 990 for 2024
- ELSIE SEEGER BARTON TRUST EIN 52-6241137 · last filed 990-PF for 2024
- EWB INC EIN 45-0595376 · last filed 990 for 2024
- NIAGARA FRONTIER VETERINARY SOCIETY PET EMERGENCY FUND INC EIN 16-1557094 · last filed 990-EZ for 2025
- ALLIE & PALS RESCUE INC EIN 86-2166141 · last filed 990 for 2025
- KATHRYN DEVED TRUST U-W FBO U S HUMANE SOCIETY EIN 52-6386637 · last filed 990-PF for 2025
- ALL BASSETS CHERISHED BASSET HOUND RESCUE EIN 16-1597137 · last filed 990 for 2024