ATLANTA-FULTON COUNTY ZOO INC

Financials

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.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

800 CHEROKEE AVE SE, ATLANTA, GA 30315-1470

In care of

% AUDRIA MACK

Principal officer (990 for 2025)

VERONICA JACOBS, 800 CHEROKEE AVE SE, ATLANTA, GA 30315

Signed the 990

VERONICA JACOBS, CFO

Phone

(404) 624-5889

Website

WWW.ZOOATLANTA.ORG

Return prepared by

WINDHAM BRANNON LLC

Mission

ZOO ATLANTA'S MISSION IS TO SAVE WILDLIFE AND THEIR HABITATS THROUGH RESEARCH, CONSERVATION, EDUCATION AND ENGAGING EXPERIENCES. THE ZOO'S EFFORTS CONNECT PEOPLE TO ANIMALS AND INSPIRE CONSERVATION ACTION.

Program accomplishments

• THE ANIMAL COLLECTION & WORK WITH ENDANGERED SPECIES: 2025 HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE THE ARRIVAL OF TITAN, A 16-YEAR-OLD MALE AFRICAN ELEPHANT; BUTTERCUP, A YOUNG FEMALE SUMATRAN TIGER, BOTH RECOMMENDED THROUGH THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS SPECIES SURVIVAL PLAN (SSP); WAFFLES, A HOFFMANN'S TWO-TOED SLOTH BORN TO NUTELLA AND COCOA; NAFIS, A 10-YEAR-OLD SCHMIDT'S GUENON IN THE FORD AFRICAN RAIN FOREST; AND A NEW OSTRICH, OLIVE, AND PLAINS ZEBRA, NEIGHOMI, IN THE AFRICAN SAVANNA. IN A CROSS-ORGANIZATIONAL MILESTONE, THE ZOO ALSO TRANSFERRED THREE FEMALE GORILLAS, ANDI, MERRY, AND ANAKA, TO SAN ANTONIO ZOO TO BE PART OF A NEW TROOP.
  Expenses $10,878,528 · grants $197,125
• ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP & WORKFORCE EXCELLENCE: THE ZOO INCORPORATES ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS INTO ITS BUSINESS BY REDUCING IMPACT THROUGH POLLUTION PREVENTION, WASTE REDUCTION, AND CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES. THE GREEN TEAM MONITORS THE ZOO'S ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS AND MAINTAINS A SUSTAINABLE WORKPLACE. THE ZOO'S BOARD AND TEAM MEMBERS ARE COMPOSED OF TALENTED INDIVIDUALS WITH A BROAD RANGE OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES, PERSPECTIVES, SKILLS, AND BACKGROUNDS, SUPPORTING THOUGHTFUL DECISION-MAKING AND THE ZOO'S MISSION.
  Expenses $10,607,205
• EDUCATION & CONSERVATION: IN 2025, THE ZOO'S PUBLIC, SCHOOL, AND FAMILY EDUCATION PROGRAMS SERVED 775,116 INDIVIDUALS. EDUCATION PROGRAMS CREATE FUN AND ENGAGING EXPERIENCES TO CONNECT ZOO VISITORS WITH WILDLIFE, SUPPORT SCIENCE CURRICULA TO IMPROVE STUDENTS' UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURAL WORLD, AND EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE ACTION. 25 CENTS OF EVERY ZOO ADMISSION TICKET BENEFIT CONSERVATION PROJECTS FOR WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES AROUND THE WORLD. THE MABEL DORN REEDER CONSERVATION ENDOWMENT FUND AWARDED SEVEN GRANTS TOTALING $66,000 IN 2025.
  Expenses $3,634,831 · grants $66,000 · revenue $1,331,646
• THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE: IN 2025, ZOO ATLANTA WELCOMED 816,026 VISITORS, OFFERING UNFORGETTABLE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH WILDLIFE FROM AROUND THE WORLD. FROM FAMILIAR NATIVE SPECIES TO CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ANIMALS ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION, THE ZOO CREATED MEANINGFUL, UP-CLOSE EXPERIENCES THAT INSPIRED GUESTS TO CARE FOR THE NATURAL WORLD. INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR ITS LEADERSHIP IN SCIENCE, CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, AND BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH, ZOO ATLANTA BROUGHT ITS MISSION TO LIFE THROUGH. DAILY KEEPER TALKS, INTERACTIVE WILDLIFE PRESENTATIONS, EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND YEAR-ROUND SPECIAL EVENTS. IN 2025, THE ZOO ALSO INVESTED IN ENHANCING BOTH THE GUEST EXPERIENCE AND ANIMAL WELLBEING THROUGH SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING A $3 MILLION TRANSFORMATION TO THE AFRICAN LION COMPLEX AND A REIMAGINED EXPERIENCE ABOARD THE NORFOLK SOUTHERN ZOO TRAIN. COMMUNITY ACCESS PROGRAMS: ZOO ATLANTA BROADENED ITS REACH THROUGH NEW PROGRAMS AND EVENTS IN 2025. WE LAUNCHED A NEW ACCESS PROGRAM, OFFERING SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED GENERAL ADMISSION AND MEMBERSHIPS FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ("SNAP") CARDHOLDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, HELPING TO ENSURE THAT FINANCIAL BARRIERS DO NOT PREVENT GUESTS FROM ENJOYING THE ZOO. FROM ITS LAUNCH IN MAY THROUGH THE END OF 2025, THE PROGRAM SERVED NEARLY 33,000 GUESTS WITH NEARLY 2,000 MEMBERSHIPS PURCHASED. IN ADDITION TO THIS NEW PROGRAM, WE WERE ALSO PROUD TO CONTINUE MANY ONGOING ACCESS PROGRAMS IN 2025, SUCH AS THE SAFARI CAMP SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH MADE THE ZOO ATLANTA CAMP EXPERIENCE ACCESSIBLE TO 96 STUDENTS; THE SPONSORED ADMISSIONS AND WILD WALKS PROGRAMS, WHICH PROVIDED FREE ADMISSION TO OVER 13,000 STUDENTS FROM TITLE I SCHOOLS; AND OUR SPECIAL PROGRAMMING FOR EDUCATORS AT THE ZOO, WHICH REACHED NEARLY 600 EDUCATORS. WE ALSO EXPANDED OUR COMMITMENT TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY, CREATING CLEAR PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE FROM UNDERREPRESENTED BACKGROUNDS, TO PURSUE CAREERS IN VETERINARY MEDICINE AND ANIMAL CARE THROUGH HANDS-ON LEARNING, MENTORSHIP, AND PROFESSIONAL EXPOSURE. LASTLY, ZOO ATLANTA CONTINUED TO PROVIDE FREE ADMISSION THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE ZOO ACCESS AND CITY OF ATLANTA AND FULTON COUNTY FAMILY DAYS. COMBINED, FREE ADMISSION THROUGH THE ZOO'S ACCESS PROGRAMS ACCOUNTED FOR 6% OF OUR TOTAL ATTENDANCE IN 2025. CONSERVATION INITIATIVES: ZOO ATLANTA IS DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN FIELD CONSERVATION PROGRAMS FOR WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES AROUND THE GLOBE, INCLUDING WORK IN AFRICA, ASIA, CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, IN ADDITION TO THE STATE OF GEORGIA. THE ZOO'S CONTRIBUTIONS RANGE FROM FUNDING FOR OTHER ESTABLISHED CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS WHO SHARE ITS MISSION, ENABLING A GREATER TOTAL IMPACT IN THE FIELD THAN MIGHT BE ACHIEVABLE BY A SINGLE ORGANIZATION, TO PROJECTS IN WHICH ITS OWN STAFF ARE PERSONALLY ENGAGED IN FIELD WORK, COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS, RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS ON CONTINENTS AROUND THE GLOBE. THE ZOO STRENGTHENED ITS GLOBAL CONSERVATION IMPACT THROUGH ENDURING PARTNERSHIPS AND NEW INVESTMENTS IN FIELD-BASED WORK IN 2025. WE PROUDLY CELEBRATED 30 YEARS OF COLLABORATION WITH THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND, FORMALIZING THE ORGANIZATION AS ZOO ATLANTA'S THIRD SIGNATURE CONSERVATION PARTNER. THIS MILESTONE UNDERSCORES A SHARED COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING GORILLAS AND THEIR HABITATS THROUGH LONG-TERM RESEARCH, ANTI-POACHING EFFORTS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN CENTRAL AFRICA. ZOO ATLANTA ALSO JOINED THE WILDLIFE CONFISCATIONS NETWORK, EXPANDING OUR ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO COMBAT ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE BY SUPPORTING THE RESCUE, REHABILITATION, AND PLACEMENT OF CONFISCATED ANIMALS. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF THE LATE DR. JENNIFER MICKELBERG, ZOO ATLANTA'S FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF COLLECTIONS AND CONSERVATION, THROUGH AWARDING THE SECOND ANNUAL RECIPIENTS OF THE MICKELBERG FIELD CONSERVATION GRANT TO ZOO ATLANTA TEAM MEMBERS PURSUING HANDS-ON CONSERVATION PROJECTS. THE 2025 GRANTS SUPPORT AVIAN DIVERSITY SURVEYS AND PROTECTION OF CERULEAN WARBLERS, CONSERVATION WORK AT GUATEMALA'S HELODERMA NATIONAL RESERVE FOR ENDANGERED GUATEMALAN BEADED LIZARDS, CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EL VALLE AMPHIBIAN CONSERVATION CENTER FOR PANAMANIAN GOLDEN FROG CONSERVATION, AND VULTURE PROTECTION EFFORTS WITH VULPRO IN AFRICA. LOOKING AHEAD, ZOO ATLANTA ANNOUNCED A RENEWED COMMITMENT TO INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION THROUGH THE MABEL DORN REEDER CONSERVATION ENDOWMENT FUND, SUPPORTING SEVEN GLOBAL CONSERVATION INITIATIVES BEGINNING IN 2026, INCLUDING EFFORTS FOR ORANGUTANS IN BORNEO, LIONS IN KENYA, RHINOS IN NAMIBIA, RED PANDAS IN NEPAL, SUMATRAN TIGERS, RADIATED TORTOISES IN MADAGASCAR, AND CLOUDED LEOPARDS IN CAMBODIA. THESE COLLABORATIVE, SCIENCE-BASED CONSERVATION EFFORTS ADVANCE SPECIES SURVIVAL WORLDWIDE. CONSERVATION EFFORTS FOR NATIVE SPECIES INCLUDE A COLLABORATION TO REAR AND REINTRODUCE EASTERN INDIGO SNAKES TO ALABAMA'S CONECUH NATIONAL FOREST AND AN ONGOING COMMITMENT TO REARING DIAMONDBACK TERRAPINS FOR RELEASE INTO THE WILD THROUGH SUPPORT OF THE GEORGIA SEA TURTLE CENTER'S JEKYLL ISLAND CAUSEWAY CONSERVATION PROGRAM. ZOO ATLANTA ALSO PARTNERS ON EFFORTS TO RESTORE THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED MOUNTAIN BOG ECOSYSTEM OF THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION AND IS HOME TO A SAFEGUARDING SITE FOR THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED MICHAUX'S SUMAC, A PLANT SPECIES FOUND ONLY IN THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S. RESEARCH INITIATIVES: RESEARCH HELPS ZOO ATLANTA BETTER UNDERSTAND AND PROVIDE STEWARDSHIP FOR THE ANIMALS IN ITS CARE, AND IT PROVIDES THE ZOO WITH VALUABLE INSIGHTS THAT ENABLE IT TO PROTECT THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN THE WILD. BASIC RESEARCH ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO OVERALL KNOWLEDGE OF LIFE ON EARTH. SCIENTISTS AT ZOO ATLANTA LEAD RESEARCH EFFORTS INVOLVING ANIMALS HOUSED AT THE ZOO AS WELL AS ANIMALS IN THE WILD. THE ZOO'S SCIENTISTS COLLABORATE WITH SCIENTISTS AROUND THE WORLD. THE ZOO'S SCIENTIFIC STAFF HOLD FACULTY APPOINTMENTS AT GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY, GEORGIA TECH, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA. ZOO TEAM MEMBERS HAVE PUBLISHED THE RESULTS OF THEIR RESEARCH IN SUCH JOURNALS AS SCIENCE, BEHAVIOUR, CONSERVATION BIOLOGY, AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, AS WELL AS FEATURED BY MEDIA SUCH AS NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, WIRED, AND THE NEW YORK TIMES. ZOO ATLANTA PUBLISHED 13 PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES IN 2025, BRINGING OUR TOTAL PUBLICATION COUNT TO AROUND 450. PUBLICATIONS RANGED FROM RESEARCH ON THE USE OF AUDITORY ENRICHMENT WITH ELEPHANTS, TO A PUBLICATION WITH THE WORLD ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS ON MONITORING ANIMAL WELFARE, TO A HIGH-SCHOOL LEVEL ARTICLE IN SCIENCE JOURNAL FOR KIDS ON CHEMOSENSORY TRACKING WITH GUATEMALAN BEADED LIZARDS. IN ADDITION TO PUBLISHED WORK, ZOO ATLANTA SCIENTISTS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE LION HABITAT RENOVATION TO CONTINUE INNOVATIVE ANIMAL WELLBEING RESEARCH WITH OUR AFRICAN LIONS. THE RESEARCH TEAM USED COGNITIVE BIAS TESTING, WHERE CHOICES BETWEEN VARIOUS CUES INDICATE HOW PESSIMISTIC OR OPTIMISTIC AN INDIVIDUAL ANIMAL IS, TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW CHANGES IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT, LIKE THE HABITAT RENOVATION, INFLUENCE THE LIONS' EMOTIONAL STATES. ZOO ATLANTA IS PROUD TO ADVANCE THE GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING OF ANIMALS, ANIMAL CARE, AND CONSERVATION FOR A WIDE RANGE OF AUDIENCES THROUGH ITS RESEARCH. PUBLIC EVENTS & FUNDRAISERS: ZOO ATLANTA'S ATTENDANCE IS BOOSTED FROM ESTABLISHED SIGNATURE EVENTS SUCH AS BOO AT THE ZOO, BREW AT THE ZOO, AND SIPPIN' SAFARI AS WELL AS EXPANDED ACCESSIBILITY INITIATIVES. ADDITIONALLY, BEASTLY FEAST, ZOO ATLANTA'S SIGNATURE BLACK-TIE GALA, IS ONE OF THE SOUTHEAST'S MOST UNIQUE PHILANTHROPIC EVENTS HELD ANNUALLY IN MAY. WE INTRODUCED SEVERAL NEW EVENTS THAT INVITED AUDIENCES TO EXPERIENCE THE ZOO IN FRESH AND ENGAGING WAYS IN 2025. THE INAUGURAL NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTY, PRESENTED BY KAISER PERMANENTE, WELCOMED LOCAL RESIDENTS FOR A COMMUNITY-CENTERED EVENING, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING UPON THE EVENT'S SUCCESS IN 2026. LATER IN THE YEAR, U AT THE ZOO OFFERED FREE ADMISSION FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS, CONNECTING YOUNG ADULTS WITH CONSERVATION IN A FUN AND LIVELY SETTING, AND GATHER & GLOW FEATURING ILLUMINIGHTS PROVIDED A UNIQUE WINTER EXPERIENCE FOR GUESTS 21+. LASTLY, ZOO ATLANTA CONTINUES TO EXPAND ITS REPUTATION FOR OFFERING SPECIAL EVENTS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND INTERESTS. VOLUNTEERS: AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, ZOO ATLANTA COUNTS ON VOLUNTEERS TO BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF ITS WORKFORCE. IN 2025, VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 28,993 HOURS TO ZOO ATLANTA, WHICH IS VALUED AT $946,042. THERE WERE 38 EVENT VOLUNTEERS,112 ZOO CREW VOLUNTEERS, 821 GROUP VOLUNTEERS, 68 VOLUNTEENS, 6 VOLUNTEER INTERNS AND EXTERNS, 171 EDUCATION VOLUNTEERS, 10 HIVE VOLUNTEERS, AND 8 JOEY VOLUNTEERS WHO GAVE THEIR TIME TO THE ZOO IN 2025.
  Expenses $6,917,069 · revenue $17,253,478

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.

IRS record

EIN

58-1655184

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

1986

Accounting year ends

December

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Animal-related (D500)

Assets (IRS master file)

$126,117,099

Income (IRS master file)

$43,172,980

Filing history

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 58-1655184).

Questions about ATLANTA-FULTON COUNTY ZOO INC

What is the EIN of ATLANTA-FULTON COUNTY ZOO INC?

The employer identification number (EIN) of ATLANTA-FULTON COUNTY ZOO INC is 58-1655184.

Is ATLANTA-FULTON COUNTY ZOO INC tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1986.

Are donations to ATLANTA-FULTON COUNTY ZOO INC tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does ATLANTA-FULTON COUNTY ZOO 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 ATLANTA-FULTON COUNTY ZOO 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 ATLANTA-FULTON COUNTY ZOO 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 ATLANTA-FULTON COUNTY ZOO INC?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names VERONICA JACOBS.

Who are the officers and directors of ATLANTA-FULTON COUNTY ZOO INC?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 38 people; 8 received compensation from the organization, the highest $855,307 (RAYMOND KING, CEO & PRESIDENT).

How much revenue does ATLANTA-FULTON COUNTY ZOO INC have?

On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $42,311,626, expenses of $35,610,875 and total assets of $126,117,099 at year end.

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