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Nonprofit · EIN 84-0502539

DENVER ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION INC

Tax-exempt · DENVER, CO 80205

Financials

$61.8M$72.5M2023$60.1M$68.9M2024$66M$71M2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of DENVER ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION INC by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$66,039,623$71,010,212-$4,970,589$26,278,118$10,220,728$16,057,390
December 31, 2024990$60,103,137$68,912,773-$8,809,636$32,583,107$11,629,098$20,954,009
December 31, 2023990$61,780,844$72,480,753-$10,699,909$45,509,396$16,260,227$29,249,169
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$34,396,076
of which government grants
$17,790,672
Membership dues
$6,833,161
Program service revenue
$31,112,519
Investment income
$452,403
Net gain from sales of assets
$4,138
Other revenue
$78,625

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$348,217
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$2,727,678
Other salaries and wages
$26,040,311
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$35,286,715
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$211,486
Occupancy
$2,049,021
Travel
$216,339
Depreciation
$654,109
Program services (functional)
$56,833,835
Management and general (functional)
$10,440,883
Fundraising (functional)
$3,735,494

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$32,583,107
Total assets, end of year
$26,278,118
Total liabilities, end of year
$10,220,728
Net assets, end of year
$16,057,390
Land, buildings and equipment
$1,668,326
Net assets without donor restrictions
$9,330,688
Net assets with donor restrictions
$6,726,702
Gross receipts
$66,491,671
Employees
686
Volunteers
648
Year formed
1950
State of legal domicile
CO

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.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
BERT VESCOLANIPRESIDENT EN
Officer
45$780,600$42,647
CRISTAL TORRESACTING CEO
Officer
45$335,148$27,695
GREG VOCHISTREAS./CFO
Officer
45$320,413$30,749
JACQUE TAYLORCHRO END 11/
Officer
45$271,060$25,593
NOELLE DELAGECHIEF COMM.
Officer
45$246,882$37,351
BRIAN AUCONECHIEF CONSER
Officer
45$251,993$23,778
EMILY INSALACOSR DIR OF WI
Highest-paid employee
45$180,242$21,031
MARTIN EGANDIR OF PLANN
Highest-paid employee
45$184,379$11,171
STACY VEGASR DIR OF FI
Highest-paid employee
45$173,115$17,836
ELKIN ALFREDCHIEF BELONG
Officer
45$171,712$19,224
JIMMY JOHNSONSR DIR OF WI
Highest-paid employee
45$172,920$17,996
PATRICK PHELANSR DIR OF GU
Highest-paid employee
45$162,089$24,851
PAT MOREDOCKASST. SEC EN
Officer
40$83,515$10,472
KATI MONDAYASST. SEC BE
Officer
40$48,487$359
CHARLES SCOGGINCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
12 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
BRET BOLINVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
MEREDITH COORSSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
MARCELA DE LA MARIMMEDIATE PA
Trustee or director
1$0
REBECCA WILSON MACSOVITSPAST CHAIR
Trustee or director
1$0
DESTA ASFAWBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
JOLON CLARKBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
OLGA DONAHUEBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
ROB KAUFMANNBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
JENN RIDDERBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
JASON ROMEROBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
CHRIS ROSSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
BEN VALORE-CAPLANBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 28 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
BERT VESCOLANIPRESIDENT/CE
Officer
45$582,535$40,110
NOELLE DELAGECHIEF COMM.
Officer
45$244,543$33,542
JACQUE TAYLORCHIEF OF HUM
Officer
45$246,064$24,429
BRIAN AUCONECHIEF CONSER
Officer
45$238,095$21,174
JIM LEVESQUESR DIR OF PL
Highest-paid employee
45$173,975$18,456
DEAN PAULSONSR DIR OF IT
Highest-paid employee
45$157,521$29,409
STACY VEGASR DIR OF FI
Highest-paid employee
45$161,175$21,411
PATRICK PHELANSR DIR OF GU
Highest-paid employee
45$156,862$23,114
EMILY INSALACOSR DIR OF WI
Highest-paid employee
45$158,922$20,094
ELKIN ALFREDCHIEF BELONG
Officer
45$159,914$17,801
GREG VOCHISTREAS./CFO B
Officer
45$144,980$9,705
AMBER CHRISTOPHERCOO THRU 4/2
Officer
45$132,227$11,837
CRISTAL TORRESCOO BEG 7/24
Officer
45$132,521$6,521
PAT MOREDOCKASSISTANT SE
Officer
40$101,389$14,091
CHARLIE WRIGHTTREAS./CFO T
Officer
45$102,596$4,930
MARCELA DE LA MARCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
CHARLES SCOGGINVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
MEREDITH COORSSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
JASON ROMEROVICE CHAIR F
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
DESTA ASFAWBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BRET BOLINBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JOLON CLARKBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
OLGA DONAHUEBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ROB KAUFMANNPAST CHAIR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JENN RIDDERBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
CHRIS ROSSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
REBECCA WILSON MACSOVITSIMMEDIATE PA
Trustee or director
1$0$0
YOUNGDON YUNBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 24 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
BERT VESCOLANIPRESIDENT/CE
Officer
50$541,345$38,112
CHARLIE WRIGHTTREASURER/CF
Officer
50$298,572$29,344
AMBER CHRISTOPHERCOO
Officer
50$254,371$24,503
BRIAN AUCONELIFE SCIENCE
Key employee
50$230,077$19,984
JACQUE TAYLORSENIOR VP OF
Highest-paid employee
50$223,711$23,697
NOELLE DELAGECDO
Key employee
50$215,935$30,605
MARIE REVENEWSENIOR VP EX
Highest-paid employee
50$213,516$19,485
ERICA ELVOVESENIOR VP OF
Highest-paid employee
50$171,499$25,072
JAMES L LEVESQUESR. DIR. PD
Highest-paid employee
50$166,597$12,564
STACY VEGASR. DIR. FIN
Highest-paid employee
50$154,951$15,864
PAT MOREDOCKASSISTANT SE
Officer
40$97,519$13,450
MARCELA DE LA MARCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
JASON ROMEROVICE CHAIR F
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
CHARLES SCOGGINSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
DESTA ASFAWBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BRET BOLINBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
SEAN CAMPBELLBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MEREDITH COORSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
OLGA DONAHUEBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
HAPPY HAYNESBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ROB KAUFMANNPAST CHAIR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
CHRIS ROSSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
REBECCA WILSON MACSOVITSIMMEDIATE PA
Trustee or director
1$0$0
YOUNGDON YUNBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
2300 N STEELE ST, DENVER, CO 80205-5715
In care of
% DENV
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
GREG VOCHIS, 2300 STEELE STREET, DENVER, CO 80205
Signed the 990
GREG VOCHIS, TREAS./CFO
Phone
(720) 337-1400
Return prepared by
KUNDINGER CORDER & MONTOYA PC

Mission

INSPIRING COMMUNITIES TO SAVE WILDLIFE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • LIFE SCIENCES: THE DENVER ZOO'S MISSION IS INSPIRING COMMUNITIES TO SAVE WILDLIFE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE DENVER ZOO CARES FOR APPROXIMATELY 2,600 ANIMALS, REPRESENTING OVER 450 SPECIES, MANY OF WHICH ARE ENDANGERED OR THREATENED. OUR LARGEST PROGRAM AREA IS CARING FOR OUR ANIMAL RESIDENTS WHO CONNECT OUR GUESTS TO WILDLIFE AROUND THE WORLD. DENVER ZOO IS A RECOGNIZED LEADER IN ALL AREAS RELATING TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE FOR OUR ANIMAL COLLECTION AS WE ARE FOCUSED ON PROVIDING THE BEST NUTRITIONAL, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, AND PHYSICAL CARE POSSIBLE. WITH THE ADDITION OF THE LEMBKE FAMILY PRESERVE, A 570-ACRE PARCEL IN WELD COUNTY, COLORADO, THE DENVER ZOO WILL BE ABLE TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE ITS HOLDING, BREEDING, RESEARCH AND REINTRODUCTION EFFORTS. ANIMALS AT THE DENVER ZOO RECEIVE THE VERY BEST CARE FROM THEIR DEDICATED ANIMAL CARE STAFF, ANIMAL BEHAVIORISTS, VETERINARY MEDICINE STAFF, AND ZOO NUTRITION AND WELFARE STAFF. OUR ANIMALS ARE BRED UNDER THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS' (AZA) SPECIES SURVIVAL PLAN (SSP), WHICH ENSURES GENETIC DIVERSITY AND HEALTHY POPULATIONS. ANIMAL WELFARE IS EVERYONE'S JOB AT THE DENVER ZOO. THE DENVER ZOO IS ACCREDITED BY THE AZA AND CONSERVATION CERTIFIED BY AMERICAN HUMANE. AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP IN TACKLING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IS FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH ANIMALS. ONE OF THE UNIQUE BENEFITS OF A ZOO IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO SEE ANIMALS UP CLOSE, WHICH IS TYPICALLY MORE COMPELLING THAN SEEING THEM ON TV OR IN A PUBLICATION.
    Expenses $41,476,060 · revenue $10,606,322
  • GUEST EXPERIENCES: THE DENVER ZOO EXISTS TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY CONNECT WITH WILDLIFE HERE AND AROUND THE WORLD SO THAT WE CAN ALL BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO HELPING SPECIES THRIVE. OUR PASSION AND REASON FOR BEING IS TO INSPIRE COMMUNITIES TO SAVE WILDLIFE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE ACHIEVE THIS BY PROVIDING AN OUTSTANDING GUEST EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY. THE DENVER ZOO MONITORS AND EVALUATES THE GUEST EXPERIENCE THROUGH A MYSTERY SHOPPER PROGRAM, CONSISTENTLY MONITORING ONLINE FEEDBACK, AND EXTENSIVE GUEST SATISFACTION SURVEYS. THE DENVER ZOO CONTINUES TO MAKE A PROFOUND IMPACT, CREATING MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES FOR GUESTS, BOTH AT THE DENVER ZOO AND OFF-SITE IN THE COMMUNITY, ENGAGING CITIZENS THROUGH IMPACTFUL ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS THAT INSPIRE A LIFELONG LOVE OF SCIENCE LEARNING. THE DENVER ZOO IS A PLACE WHERE GUESTS MAKE LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS, LINKING PEOPLE, ANIMALS, AND NATURE. THE DENVER ZOO CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH ANIMALS, INSPIRING THEM TO CHAMPION THE DENVER ZOO'S MISSION TO INSPIRE COMMUNITIES TO SAVE WILDLIFE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. AS AN ACCREDITED ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS (AZA) INSTITUTION, THE DENVER ZOO IS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR THE DENVER METRO REGION TO UNDERSTAND WILDLIFE AND THE NEED TO CONSERVE THE PLACES ANIMALS LIVE. THE DENVER ZOO IS ALSO AMERICAN HUMANE CERTIFIED, RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE IN ANIMAL WELLBEING. THE DENVER ZOO'S GUESTS LEARN ABOUT THE IMPORTANT ROLE ZOOS HAVE AS LEADERS IN CONSERVATION RESEARCH. THROUGH UP-CLOSE EXPERIENCES, VISITORS EXPERIENCE A STRONGER CONNECTION TO NATURE, CONSIDER THEIR ROLE IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AND CONSERVATION ACTION, AND SEE THEMSELVES AS PART OF THE SOLUTION AS A RESULT OF THEIR VISIT. THE DENVER ZOO SERVED 1.8 MILLION PEOPLE IN 2025 THROUGH VISITS AND OUTREACH EDUCATION PROGRAMS. APPROXIMATELY 158,000 GUESTS WERE PROVIDED ACCESS TO THE DENVER ZOO WITH FREE ADMISSION AND APPROXIMATELY 203,000 GUESTS WERE PROVIDED ACCESS WITH REDUCED PRICED ADMISSION.
    Expenses $9,776,276 · revenue $19,497,486
  • LEARNING EXPERIENCES: DENVER ZOOS CONSERVATION LEARNING, CONSERVATION ENGAGEMENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY RESEARCH & EVALUATION TEAMS AIM TO HELP STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES CONNECT WITH THE ENVIRONMENT, BECOME SCIENTIFIC THINKERS, AND ULTIMATELY CHAMPIONS FOR ANIMALS AND HABITATS. THE DENVER ZOO IS A ONE-OF-A-KIND PLACE WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS CAN EXPERIENCE THE JOY AND WONDERS OF ANIMALS, CONSERVATION, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THE CONSERVATION LEARNING TEAM PROVIDED A VARIETY OF IN-PERSON LEARNING EXPERIENCES WHICH WERE VERY WELL RECEIVED BY OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THE DENVER ZOO HAD OVER 33,000 PARTICIPANTS IN EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN 2025.
    Expenses $3,843,620 · revenue $996,984
  • FIELD CONSERVATION: THE DENVER ZOO IS A ZOO-BASED CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION AND A DEDICATED PLAYER IN THE MOVEMENT TO SAVE WILDLIFE. WE CONDUCT EXTENSIVE FIELD WORK IN COLORADO AND GLOBALLY FOR ANIMALS AND HABITATS IN THE WILD. OUR APPROACH IS TO WORK WITH COMMUNITIES TO UNDERSTAND CONSERVATION ISSUES, THEN CO-DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES TO PROTECT WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES. DENVER ZOO IS A LEADER AMONG ZOOS IN FIELD CONSERVATION. IN ADDITION TO CONNECTING AUDIENCES WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF SPECIES AT OUR 80-ACRE URBAN CAMPUS, WE WORK TO PROTECT ANIMALS AND HABITATS THROUGH CORE PROGRAMS AROUND THE WORLD IN - LAOS, AFRICA, PERU, AND THE COLORADO ROCKY MOUNTAINS AND GREAT PLAINS. WE COMMIT FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, AND CONTRACT STAFF ALONG WITH OTHER RESOURCES TO THESE PROGRAMS EACH YEAR. WE DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATION LEADERS THROUGH INTERNSHIPS, APPRENTICESHIPS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. USING BOTH SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL SCIENCE TO IDENTIFY AND UNDERSTAND TARGET SPECIES AND THREATS TO THEIR SURVIVAL, WE WORK TO MITIGATE THREATS BY STRENGTHENING PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT, ENGAGING LOCAL COMMUNITIES, INFLUENCING CONSERVATION POLICY, AND BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO ENGAGE IN CONSERVATION ACTION.
    Expenses $1,737,879 · grants $348,217 · revenue $11,727

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 yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
84-0502539
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
1952
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Animal-related (D115)
Assets (IRS master file)
$26,278,118
Income (IRS master file)
$66,491,671

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$66,039,623$71,010,212$26,278,118XML
990December 2024$60,103,137$68,912,773$32,583,107XML
990December 2023$61,780,844$72,480,753$45,509,396XML
990December 2022$57,669,047$53,497,871$50,327,766IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990December 2019–––IRS
990December 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 84-0502539).

Questions about DENVER ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION INC

What is the EIN of DENVER ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION INC?
The employer identification number (EIN) of DENVER ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION INC is 84-0502539.
Is DENVER ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION INC tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1952.
Are donations to DENVER ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION INC tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does DENVER ZOOLOGICAL 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 DENVER ZOOLOGICAL 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 DENVER ZOOLOGICAL 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 DENVER ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION INC?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names GREG VOCHIS.
Who are the officers and directors of DENVER ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION INC?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 27 people; 14 received compensation from the organization, the highest $780,600 (BERT VESCOLANI, PRESIDENT EN).
How much revenue does DENVER ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION INC have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $66,039,623, expenses of $71,010,212 and total assets of $26,278,118 at year end.

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