Nonprofit · EIN 43-6048888
FRIENDS OF THE ZOO INC OF KANSAS CITY MO
Tax-exempt · KANSAS CITY, MO 64132
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $53,626,478 | $51,471,670 | $2,154,808 | $37,145,143 | $9,449,305 | $27,695,838 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $62,517,690 | $57,477,891 | $5,039,799 | $33,032,953 | $8,317,297 | $24,715,656 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $21,805,379
- of which government grants
- $17,633,034
- Program service revenue
- $26,953,950
- Investment income
- $1,777,405
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $411,107
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$39,292
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $2,799,547
- Other revenue
- $3,089,744
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $506,223
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $919,341
- Other salaries and wages
- $15,533,511
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $20,575,724
- Professional fundraising fees
- $27,500
- Legal fees
- $28,237
- Accounting fees
- $55,146
- Occupancy
- $1,829,267
- Travel
- $21,905
- Program services (functional)
- $47,889,358
- Management and general (functional)
- $2,716,091
- Fundraising (functional)
- $866,221
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $33,032,953
- Total assets, end of year
- $37,145,143
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $9,449,305
- Net assets, end of year
- $27,695,838
- Publicly traded securities
- $16,519,915
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $23,384,131
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $4,311,707
- Gross unrelated business income
- $2,004
- Gross receipts
- $57,250,715
- Employees
- 725
- Volunteers
- 730
- Year formed
- 1959
- State of legal domicile
- MO
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, 2024, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEAN PUTNEY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO Officer | 40 | $355,570 | $22,841 |
| LINDA FALK | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer | 40 | $277,168 | $23,457 |
| RANDY WISTHOFF | FORMER CEO Former | 0 | $250,000 | $0 |
| CHARLISA SHELLY | CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER Key employee | 40 | $218,145 | $22,161 |
| DR KIRK SUEDMEYER | DIRECTOR OF VETERINARY HEA Highest-paid employee | 40 | $161,149 | $23,337 |
| CORA STORBECK | DIR OF DEVELOPMENT & GOV A Highest-paid employee | 40 | $156,696 | $23,462 |
| JULIE MEYER | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $145,861 | $34,221 |
| KIM ROMARY | DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Highest-paid employee | 40 | $143,313 | $31,510 |
| FRANK WILBURN | DIRECTOR OF GUEST SERVICES Highest-paid employee | 40 | $144,279 | $24,562 |
| WESLEY FIELDS | BOARD MEMBER/PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVE SANCHEZ | BOARD MEMBER/TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| TONY REINHART | BOARD MEMBER/CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| AL MAURO JR | BOARD MEMBER/SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JAN FRANCIS THRU 102024 | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JC ALONZO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
21 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JENNIFER BENNETT | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DR YOLANDA CARGILE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CHRIS COTTEN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JEFF DILLON THRU 102024 | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SANDRA GARCIA THRU 102024 | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JULIUS LAI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KATE LAMBERT | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KATIE MCDONALD | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JANET MILES-BARTEE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ANA NUBIA DUIN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| RYANA PARKS-SHAW | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JOE PRENGER THRU 102024 | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BRIAN PUNG | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JOHN RUSS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TODD TRENT | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MARK SWANSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DR ELLEN CROWE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| HAYLEY HANSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SAL MONTALBANO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| WILLARD B SNYDER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TOM WRIGHT | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 39 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEAN PUTNEY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO Officer | 40 | $344,235 | $40,730 |
| LINDA FALK | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer | 40 | $270,919 | $22,477 |
| CHARLISA SHELLY | CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER Key employee | 40 | $211,038 | $17,134 |
| CORA STORBECK | DIR OF DEVELOPMENT & GOV AFFAIRS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $147,543 | $31,199 |
| DR KIRK SUEDMEYER | DIRECTOR OF VETERINARY HEALTH AND CONSERVATION RES Highest-paid employee | 40 | $154,945 | $20,299 |
| JULIE MEYER | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $140,149 | $30,317 |
| KIM ROMARY | DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Highest-paid employee | 40 | $137,895 | $27,559 |
| FRANK WILBURN | DIRECTOR OF GUEST SERVICES Highest-paid employee | 40 | $138,551 | $22,048 |
| WESLEY FIELDS | BOARD MEMBER/PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID SANCHEZ | BOARD MEMBER/TREASURER (THRU 10/2023) Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JAN FRANCIS | BOARD MEMBER/TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| TONY REINHART | BOARD MEMBER/SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JC ALONZO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEPHANIE AYERS | BOARD MEMBER (THRU 2/2023) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID BARR | BOARD MEMBER (THRU 10/2023) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JENNIFER BENNETT | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BRAD BODAMER | BOARD MEMBER (THRU 10/2023) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DR YOLANDA CARGILE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRIS COTTEN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFF DILLON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SANDRA GARCIA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HAYLEY HANSON | BOARD MEMBER (THRU 10/2023) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| AUDREY HILL | BOARD MEMBER (THRU 10/2023) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JULIUS LAI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KATE LAMBERT | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KATIE MCDONALD | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JILL MARCHANT | BOARD MEMBER (THRU 4/2023) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| AL MAURO JR | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KEVIN MCMANUS | BOARD MEMBER (THRU 4/2023) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| YVETTE MICELI | BOARD MEMBER (THRU 10/2023) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JANET MILES-BARTEE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ANA NUBIA DUIN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RYANA PARKS-SHAW | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOE PRENGER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN PUNG | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TERRY RILEY | BOARD MEMBER (THRU 10/2023) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN RUSS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TODD TRENT | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARK SWANSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 6800 ZOO DR, KANSAS CITY, MO 64132-1711
- In care of
- % LINDA FALK
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- SEAN PUTNEY, 6800 ZOO DRIVE, KANSAS CITY, MO 64132
- Signed the 990
- LINDA FALK, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
- Phone
- (816) 595-1234
- Website
- WWW.KANSASCITYZOO.ORG
- Return prepared by
- RSM US LLP
Mission
THE KANSAS CITY ZOO & AQUARIUM CONNECTS ALL PEOPLE TO EACH OTHER AND THE NATURAL WORLD TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING, APPRECIATION, AND CONSERVATION.
Program accomplishments
- COLLECTION OF ANIMALS AS WELL AS CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH - SEE SCHEDULE OExpenses $30,271,853 · grants $506,223 · revenue $21,854,154
- MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS - SEE SCHEDULE OExpenses $13,097,811 · revenue $7,362,985
- EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS - SEE SCHEDULE OExpenses $4,519,694 · revenue $723,724
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 | Not 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
- 43-6048888
- 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
- 1964
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Animal-related (D115)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $37,145,143
- Income (IRS master file)
- $57,250,715
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | $53,626,478 | $51,471,670 | $37,145,143 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $62,517,690 | $57,477,891 | $33,032,953 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2022 | $74,114,095 | $73,256,938 | $29,168,657 | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2020 | – | – | – | 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 43-6048888).
Questions about FRIENDS OF THE ZOO INC OF KANSAS CITY MO
- What is the EIN of FRIENDS OF THE ZOO INC OF KANSAS CITY MO?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of FRIENDS OF THE ZOO INC OF KANSAS CITY MO is 43-6048888.
- Is FRIENDS OF THE ZOO INC OF KANSAS CITY MO tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1964.
- Are donations to FRIENDS OF THE ZOO INC OF KANSAS CITY MO tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does FRIENDS OF THE ZOO INC OF KANSAS CITY MO 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 FRIENDS OF THE ZOO INC OF KANSAS CITY MO due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did FRIENDS OF THE ZOO INC OF KANSAS CITY MO last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
- Who is the principal officer of FRIENDS OF THE ZOO INC OF KANSAS CITY MO?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names SEAN PUTNEY.
- Who are the officers and directors of FRIENDS OF THE ZOO INC OF KANSAS CITY MO?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 36 people; 9 received compensation from the organization, the highest $355,570 (SEAN PUTNEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO).
- How much revenue does FRIENDS OF THE ZOO INC OF KANSAS CITY MO have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $53,626,478, expenses of $51,471,670 and total assets of $37,145,143 at year end.
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