Nonprofit · EIN 74-1590271
HOUSTON ZOO INC
Tax-exempt · HOUSTON, TX 77030
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $82,689,282 | $70,313,815 | $12,375,467 | $380,810,630 | $48,429,085 | $332,381,545 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $82,522,000 | $62,823,859 | $19,698,141 | $379,916,374 | $61,831,126 | $318,085,248 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $24,795,320
- of which government grants
- $335,456
- Membership dues
- $9,103,087
- Program service revenue
- $52,221,538
- Investment income
- $5,932,584
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $4,079,376
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$260,160
- Other revenue
- -$260,160
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $2,790,863
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $2,023,038
- Other salaries and wages
- $24,869,759
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $32,584,275
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $50,558
- Accounting fees
- $42,196
- Occupancy
- $2,675,856
- Travel
- $453,122
- Depreciation
- $13,970,324
- Program services (functional)
- $60,634,657
- Management and general (functional)
- $5,297,022
- Fundraising (functional)
- $4,382,136
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $379,916,374
- Total assets, end of year
- $380,810,630
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $48,429,085
- Net assets, end of year
- $332,381,545
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $254,377,733
- Publicly traded securities
- $50,329,259
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $308,396,885
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $23,984,660
- Gross unrelated business income
- $1,022
- Gross receipts
- $99,652,283
- Employees
- 605
- Volunteers
- 747
- Year formed
- 1920
- State of legal domicile
- TX
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee Ehmke | President & CEO Officer | 40 | $691,246 | $19,834 |
| Sheryl Kolasinski | COO Officer | 40 | $374,936 | $17,414 |
| Jeri Nordbrock | CFO Officer | 40 | $332,237 | $18,272 |
| Roberto Espinosa | Chief Advancement Officer Officer | 40 | $313,227 | $21,899 |
| Kristin Finney | Chief Human Resources Officer Key employee | 40 | $301,730 | $19,868 |
| Trazanna Moreno | Senior VP Marketing, Communications Highest-paid employee | 40 | $282,556 | $13,925 |
| Kevin Hodge | VP Animal Programs Key employee | 40 | $241,498 | $24,284 |
| Benjamin Jones | VP Conservation and Education Highest-paid employee | 40 | $216,513 | $19,538 |
| Lisa Marie Avendano | Deputy Dir., Chief Mission Officer Officer | 40 | $222,535 | $11,438 |
| James Hutchinson | Sr. Dir. Finance & Accounting Highest-paid employee | 40 | $194,019 | $9,151 |
| Abraham George | Director of Technology Highest-paid employee | 40 | $174,428 | $22,251 |
| Adrian Cavazos | AVP, Business Operations Key employee | 40 | $172,867 | $21,870 |
| Audra Jesudason | AVP, Development Highest-paid employee | 40 | $160,789 | $14,253 |
| Mark Hoffman | Sr. Dir. Plan, Design, Engineering Key employee | 40 | $152,464 | $16,397 |
| Joe Cleary | Board Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
43 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stacy Methvin thru 624 | Immediate Past Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Joshua Davidson | Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Sami Ahmad | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Saied Alavi | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Greg Armstrong as of 724 | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| George Basu | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Carlos Bueno | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Bill Butzner as of 724 | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Beto Cardenas | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Neil Chapman as of 724 | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Kris Chikelue | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Anne Clutterbuck | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Heather Crowder | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Michael Dishberger | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Charles Dresser as of 724 | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Kerry Galvin | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Eureka Gilkey thru 624 | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Nicholas Hellyar as of 724 | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Sanjay Kalavar | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Monica Karuturi as of 724 | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Peggy Kostial | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Jennifer Laporte | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Claire Liu | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Kelley Lubanko | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Kimberly McKay thru 624 | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Stacy O'Malley | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Byron Pope | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Alie Pruner | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Nancy Pustka | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Ron Rand thru 624 | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Sadie Rucker as of 724 | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Liz Schwarze | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Jordan Seff | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Bas Solleveld | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Brian Thomas | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Cynthia Walker thru 624 | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Kelli Weinzierl | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Bill Barnett | Member Emeritus Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Anne Duncan | Member Emeritus Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Robert Graham | Member Emeritus Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Jim Postl | Member Emeritus Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Randa Duncan Williams | Member Emeritus Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Austin Young | Member Emeritus Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 53 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee Ehmke | President & CEO Officer | 40 | $618,028 | $22,610 |
| Sheryl Kolasinski | COO Officer | 40 | $331,239 | $20,479 |
| Jeri Nordbrock | CFO Officer | 40 | $293,077 | $19,653 |
| Roberto Espinosa | VP Development Officer | 40 | $258,538 | $28,849 |
| Kristin Finney | VP Human Resources Highest-paid employee | 40 | $249,860 | $22,197 |
| Trazanna Moreno | VP Marketing and Communications Highest-paid employee | 40 | $232,788 | $12,683 |
| Kevin Hodge | VP Animal Programs Highest-paid employee | 40 | $195,360 | $34,229 |
| Peter Riger dec | VP Conservation and Education Highest-paid employee | 40 | $176,832 | $10,630 |
| James Hutchinson | Director of Finance Highest-paid employee | 40 | $176,545 | $8,346 |
| Joe Cleary | Board Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| Stacy Methvin | Immediate Past Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| Joshua Davidson | Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Cullen Geiselman | Vice Chair thru 6/23 Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jim Postl | Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Molly Voorhees | Vice Chair thru 6/23 Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Sami Ahmad | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Saied Alavi | Board Member as of 7/23 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| George Basu | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Carlos Bueno | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Beto Cardenas | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Kris Chikelue | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Anne Clutterbuck | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Heather Crowder | Board Member as of 7/23 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Michael Dishberger | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Kerry Galvin | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Eureka Gilkey | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Gillian Hobson | Board Member thru 6/23 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Myrtle Jones | Board Member thru 6/23 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Sanjay Kalavar | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Peggy Kostial | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jennifer Laporte | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Claire Liu | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Kelley Lubanko | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Kimberly McKay | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Cay Neff | Board Member thru 6/23 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Stacy O'Malley | Board Member as of 7/23 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Bryon Pope | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Alie Pruner | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Nancy Pustka | Board Member as of 7/23 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Ron Rand | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Tim Roberts | Board Member thru 6/23 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Liz Schwarze | Board Member as of 7/23 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jordan Seff | Board Member as of 7/23 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Bas Solleveld | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Macey Stokes | Board Member thru 6/23 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Brian Thomas | Board Member as of 7/23 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Cynthia Walker | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Kelli Weinzierl | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Bill Barnett | Member Emeritus Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Anne Duncan | Member Emeritus Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Robert Graham | Member Emeritus Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Randa Duncan Williams | Member Emeritus Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Austin Young | Member Emeritus Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1513 CAMBRIDGE ST, HOUSTON, TX 77030-1603
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Lisa Peterson, 1513 Cambridge, Houston, TX 77030
- Signed the 990
- Jeri Nordbrock, CFO
- Phone
- (713) 533-6501
- Website
- www.houstonzoo.org
- Return prepared by
- Blazek & Vetterling
Mission
Mission: Connect communities with animals, inspiring action to save wildlife. Vision: Be a leader in the global movement to save wildlife. (Continued on Schedule O) Houston Zoo, Inc. (HZI) strives to be a zoo that practices exemplary animal care, delivers an outstanding guest experience, creates a workplace that instills respect and teamwork, provides learning opportunities, promotes conservation awareness, and inspires community support.
Program accomplishments
- Houston Zoo, Inc. (HZI), accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), upholds the gold standard in animal care, safety, conservation, and education, earning a rare 100% clean AZA evaluation in 2024, a distinction achieved by only eight institutions in AZA history. In 2024, HZI welcomed over 2,000,000 guests, reflecting its "Zoo for All" commitment to accessibility. Attendance was distributed as follows: - 32% Members - 30% General Admission - 29% Free or Discounted Admission (including Free Entry, Lone Star cardholders, Military families, and Seniors) - 9% Zoo Lights (Continued on Schedule O)This "Zoo for All" access ensures families from diverse economic backgrounds experience the Zoo's animals, gardens, amenities and wildlife saving programming. In 2024, HZI opened Birds of the World on August 30, a major Centennial Master Plan project. This immersive exhibit showcases avian biodiversity across African Savanna, North American Woodlands, and South American Wetlands aviaries, connecting visitors to global conservation efforts and modernizing infrastructure on the Zoo's 55-acre campus. Volunteer engagement was a highlight again in 2024, with 479 adult volunteers contributing 33,159 hours to support animal care and wellbeing, horticulture, conservation education, guest engagement, and administrative needs.Expenses $54,992,357 · revenue $51,485,469
- Wildlife conservation is a core HZI mission. In 2024, the Zoo supported 33 long-term partnerships across 17 countries, linking on-site animal care with global field conservation. Regional efforts focused on Texas species of concern, including: - Houston Toad Conservation: Release of 1,865,700 eggs, 4,300 tadpoles, and 430 toadlets in Bastrop County in partnership with USFWS and Texas State University. - Attwater's Prairie Chicken Conservation: Breeding and release of 58 birds into native grasslands. - Sea Turtle Conservation: Provided medical care for over 50 injured or stranded wild sea turtles along the Texas coast. (Continued on Schedule O)International wildlife conservation programs emphasized species in the Zoo's collection, exemplified by Birds of the World, which connects guests to partners protecting endangered avian species globally. Other efforts included protecting jaguars, giant anteaters, and tapirs in Brazil's Pantanal and reducing marine wildlife threats from plastic pollution in the Galapagos Islands and the Gulf Coast. Through these initiatives, HZI advances wildlife conservation locally and globally while engaging Houstonians in meaningful action.Expenses $3,822,924 · grants $2,790,863
- The Houston Zoo's Conservation Education Department engaged 725,235 participants in 2024 through camps, school partnerships, interpretive programs, and community outreach, fostering wildlife-saving actions. Key initiatives included: - Camp Zoofari: Immersive summer sessions for children ages 6-12, with 2,040 campers enrolled and scholarships provided to families with demonstrated financial need. - Zoo Crew Teen Program: Provided conservation skills training for 68 high school students, fostering leadership in wildlife conservation. (Continued on Schedule O) - School Partnerships and Free Field Trips: Supported 88,000 K-12 students through free field trips, with 80% from Title I schools, many in federally recognized Justice40 communities. Additionally, 17,359 college students from four local colleges visited for free, and 12,031 participants engaged in pre-scheduled programs, including Camp Zoofari, Zoo Crew, Overnights, Animal Encounters, and pro-bono Community Outreach. - On-Site Interpretation: Staff and volunteers facilitated 250,000 guest interactions, promoting conservation awareness through storytelling and demonstrations. These programs underscore HZI's commitment to accessible, impactful conservation education.Expenses $1,819,376 · revenue $736,069
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
- 74-1590271
- 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
- 1967
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Animal-related (D115)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $380,810,630
- Income (IRS master file)
- $99,652,283
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | $82,689,282 | $70,313,815 | $380,810,630 | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $82,522,000 | $62,823,859 | $379,916,374 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2022 | $68,161,300 | $54,219,079 | $348,888,874 | 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 | December 2017 | – | – | – | 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 74-1590271).
Questions about HOUSTON ZOO INC
- What is the EIN of HOUSTON ZOO INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of HOUSTON ZOO INC is 74-1590271.
- Is HOUSTON ZOO INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1967.
- Are donations to HOUSTON ZOO INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does HOUSTON 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 HOUSTON ZOO INC 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 HOUSTON ZOO INC 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 HOUSTON ZOO INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names Lisa Peterson.
- Who are the officers and directors of HOUSTON ZOO INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 58 people; 14 received compensation from the organization, the highest $691,246 (Lee Ehmke, President & CEO).
- How much revenue does HOUSTON ZOO INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $82,689,282, expenses of $70,313,815 and total assets of $380,810,630 at year end.
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