Nonprofit · EIN 42-1171821
BLANK PARK ZOO FOUNDATION INC
Tax-exempt · DES MOINES, IA 50315
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2025 | 990 | $11,913,239 | $10,590,247 | $1,322,992 | $28,547,961 | $1,701,220 | $26,846,741 |
| March 31, 2024 | 990 | $12,564,625 | $10,218,751 | $2,345,874 | $27,946,842 | $2,423,104 | $25,523,738 |
| March 31, 2023 | 990 | $11,325,700 | $9,580,229 | $1,745,471 | $25,100,315 | $1,925,977 | $23,174,338 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended March 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $5,057,013
- of which government grants
- $450,000
- Program service revenue
- $5,860,261
- Investment income
- $169,161
- Net rental income
- $247,224
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$58,173
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $637,753
- Other revenue
- $826,804
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $12,500
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $289,227
- Other salaries and wages
- $5,007,200
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $6,235,220
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $6,990
- Accounting fees
- $86,294
- Occupancy
- $558,142
- Travel
- $65,730
- Depreciation
- $1,199,622
- Program services (functional)
- $8,646,804
- Management and general (functional)
- $1,490,629
- Fundraising (functional)
- $452,814
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $27,946,842
- Total assets, end of year
- $28,547,961
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $1,701,220
- Net assets, end of year
- $26,846,741
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $17,919,001
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $18,774,922
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $8,071,819
- Gross receipts
- $12,527,152
- Employees
- 256
- Volunteers
- 1,755
- Year formed
- 1981
- State of legal domicile
- IA
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 March 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANNE SHIMERDLA | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer | 40 | $160,240 | $14,394 |
| RACHEL SUMMERS | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $118,888 | $7,260 |
| GARY TUCKER | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer | 40 | $78,509 | $9,141 |
| ROCHELLE BURNETT | CHAIRPERSON Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN SCHWARZ | 1ST VICE CHAIRPERSON Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MATT GUSTAFSON | 2ND VICE CHAIRPERSON & SECRETARY/TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| AARON KENNEDY | IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRPERSON Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAT HENSON | MEMBER-AT-LARGE / BOARD RECORDER THROUGH 1/1/25 Trustee or director | 10.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JIM HAGENBUCHER | MEMBER-AT-LARGE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFFREY KARCH | MEMBER-AT-LARGE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN VIGGERS | MEMBER-AT-LARGE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DIANE CROOKHAM-JOHNSON | MEMBER-AT-LARGE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ROB STEVENSON | MEMBER-AT-LARGE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PEG ARMSTRONG-GUSTAFSON | DIRECTOR THROUGH 3/31/25 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MATT FRYAR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
23 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOBY JOSEPH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| BEN PAGE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| DAVID BRICK | DIRECTOR THROUGH 3/31/25 Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| MICHAEL RENNER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| LOU SIPLOT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| CLINT PURSLEY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| CARL VOSS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| TINA HOFFMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| VINCE WARD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| JAY BYERS | DIRECTOR THROUGH 3/31/25 Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| LAUREN DOLL-SHEEDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| DAN GROOMS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| MARY RADIA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| ARMEL R TRAORE DIT NIGNAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| TUCKER ANDERSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| NEUSA FACENDA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| KURT HERBRECHTSMEYER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| HIRAM HOUGHTON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| CALEB KNUTSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| JEN CLAUSEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| HEATHER ETNYRE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| JULIE JACKOWSKI | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| JUDY RALSTON-HANSEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended March 31, 2024: 36 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANNE SHIMERDLA | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer | 40 | $181,942 | $13,732 |
| RACHEL SUMMERS | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $119,458 | $9,520 |
| GARY TUCKER | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer | 40 | $92,528 | $9,468 |
| ROCHELLE BURNETT | CHAIRPERSON Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN SCHWARZ | 1ST VICE CHAIRPERSON Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MATT GUSTAFSON | SECRETARY/TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| AARON KENNEDY | IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRPERSON Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAT HENSON | MEMBER-AT-LARGE / BOARD RECORDER Trustee or director, Officer | 10.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JIM HAGENBUCHER | MEMBER-AT-LARGE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFFREY KARCH | MEMBER-AT-LARGE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PEG ARMSTRONG-GUSTAFSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MATT FRYAR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TOBY JOSEPH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BEN PAGE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID BRICK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL RENNER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| LOU SIPLOT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CLINT PURSLEY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CARL VOSS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN VIGGERS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TINA HOFFMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| VINCE WARD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JAY BYERS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DIANE CROOKHAM-JOHNSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| LAUREN DOLL-SHEEDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN GROOMS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MARY RADIA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ARMEL R TRAORE DIT NIGNAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ROB STEVENSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TUCKER ANDERSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| KURT HERBRECHTSMEYER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| HIRAM HOUGHTON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CALEB KNUTSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BRITTNEY JOHNSON | DIRECTOR THROUGH 12-1-23 Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DIRK POLLITT | DIRECTOR THROUGH 12-1-23 Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CHARLES WITTMACK | DIRECTOR THROUGH 7-1-23 Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended March 31, 2023: 33 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANNE SHIMERDLA | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer | 40 | $169,827 | $13,053 |
| RACHEL SUMMERS | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $113,598 | $6,598 |
| GARY TUCKER | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer | 40 | $87,492 | $8,604 |
| AARON KENNEDY | CHAIRPERSON Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ROCHELLE BURNETT | 1ST VICE CHAIRPERSON Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN SCHWARZ | 2ND VICE CHAIRPERSON Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MATT GUSTAFSON | SECRETARY/TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PEG ARMSTRONG-GUSTAFSON | IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRPERSON Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAT HENSON | MEMBER-AT-LARGE / BOARD RECORDER Trustee or director | 10.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JIM HAGENBUCHER | MEMBER-AT-LARGE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFFREY KARCH | MEMBER-AT-LARGE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MATT FRYAR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TOBY JOSEPH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BEN PAGE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID BRICK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL RENNER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BRITTNEY JOHNSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DIRK POLLITT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| LOU SIPLOT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CLINT PURSLEY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CARL VOSS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CHARLES WITTMACK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN VIGGERS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JUSTIN TUCK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TINA HOFFMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| VINCE WARD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JAY BYERS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DIANE CROOKHAM-JOHNSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| LAUREN DOLL-SHEEDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN GROOMS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MARY RADIA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ARMEL R TRAORE DIT NIGNAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ROB STEVENSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 7401 SW 9TH ST, DES MOINES, IA 50315-6667
- In care of
- % DBA BLANK PARK ZOO
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- ANNE SHIMERDLA, 7401 SW 9TH ST, DES MOINES, IA 50315
- Signed the 990
- ANNE SHIMERDLA, CEO
- Phone
- (515) 974-2502
- Website
- WWW.BLANKPARKZOO.COM
- Return prepared by
- DENMAN CPA LLP
Mission
TO INSPIRE AN APPRECIATION OF THE NATURAL WORLD THROUGH CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, AND RECREATION.
Program accomplishments
- THE PRIMARY PURPOSES OF THE FOUNDATION ARE A) TO MANAGE THE BLANK PARK ZOO; B) TO SOLICIT, COLLECT AND PROVIDE FUNDS TO IMPROVE THE FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS OF THE ZOO; C) TO PROMOTE INTEREST AMONG THE GENERAL PUBLIC CONCERNING THE ZOO; D) TO IMPLEMENT AND ASSIST IN THE STUDY OF ZOOLOGICAL NATURAL HISTORY, ANIMAL BEHAVIOR AND THE SCIENCE ALLIED THEREWITH; E) TO PROVIDE CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE ZOO.Expenses $8,646,804 · grants $12,500 · revenue $6,498,014
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 March, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | March 31, 2026 | August 17, 2026 | Not on file |
| 2024 | March 31, 2025 | August 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | March 31, 2024 | August 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 42-1171821
- 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
- 1981
- Accounting year ends
- March
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Animal-related (D115)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $28,547,961
- Income (IRS master file)
- $12,527,152
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | March 2025 | $11,913,239 | $10,590,247 | $28,547,961 | XML |
| 990 | March 2024 | $12,564,625 | $10,218,751 | $27,946,842 | XML |
| 990 | March 2023 | $11,325,700 | $9,580,229 | $25,100,315 | XML |
| 990 | March 2022 | $8,756,051 | $7,666,943 | $22,987,936 | IRS |
| 990 | March 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | March 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | October 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 42-1171821).
Questions about BLANK PARK ZOO FOUNDATION INC
- What is the EIN of BLANK PARK ZOO FOUNDATION INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of BLANK PARK ZOO FOUNDATION INC is 42-1171821.
- Is BLANK PARK ZOO FOUNDATION INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1981.
- Are donations to BLANK PARK ZOO FOUNDATION INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does BLANK PARK ZOO 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 BLANK PARK ZOO FOUNDATION INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending March 31, 2026) is due August 17, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did BLANK PARK ZOO FOUNDATION INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended March 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of BLANK PARK ZOO FOUNDATION INC?
- The 990 for the year ended March 31, 2025 names ANNE SHIMERDLA.
- Who are the officers and directors of BLANK PARK ZOO FOUNDATION INC?
- The 990 for the year ended March 31, 2025 lists 38 people; 3 received compensation from the organization, the highest $160,240 (ANNE SHIMERDLA, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER).
- How much revenue does BLANK PARK ZOO FOUNDATION INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended March 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $11,913,239, expenses of $10,590,247 and total assets of $28,547,961 at year end.
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