Nonprofit · EIN 86-0174843
ARIZONA CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
Also known as PHOENIX ZOO
Tax-exempt · PHOENIX, AZ 85008
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $63,967,380 | $46,612,025 | $17,355,355 | $132,631,795 | $13,483,976 | $119,147,819 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $49,345,230 | $42,576,318 | $6,768,912 | $111,167,210 | $11,994,079 | $99,173,131 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $46,724,587 | $37,873,723 | $8,850,864 | $100,793,859 | $10,055,137 | $90,738,722 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $24,439,732
- Program service revenue
- $37,451,556
- Investment income
- $2,000,806
- Net gain from sales of assets
- -$359,552
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$2,057
- Net income from gaming
- $45,798
- Other revenue
- $75,286
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $451,418
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $3,337,079
- Other salaries and wages
- $21,822,455
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $30,759,865
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $31,533
- Accounting fees
- $57,933
- Occupancy
- $1,581,197
- Travel
- $190,995
- Depreciation
- $3,964,796
- Program services (functional)
- $38,552,180
- Management and general (functional)
- $4,194,192
- Fundraising (functional)
- $3,865,653
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $111,167,210
- Total assets, end of year
- $132,631,795
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $13,483,976
- Net assets, end of year
- $119,147,819
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $47,531,497
- Publicly traded securities
- $19,600,046
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $82,120,329
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $37,027,490
- Gross unrelated business income
- $101,190
- Gross receipts
- $105,718,165
- Employees
- 683
- Volunteers
- 360
- Year formed
- 1961
- State of legal domicile
- AZ
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 June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORBERTO CASTRO | PRESIDENT/CEO Officer | 40 | $527,766 | $157,065 |
| BONNIE MENDOZA | COO /CFO Officer | 40 | $377,489 | $45,847 |
| DR GARY WEST | SVP OF ANIMAL HEALTH & CO Key employee | 40 | $344,062 | $52,061 |
| CHRISTINE LOWERY-NUNEZ | CAO Key employee | 40 | $301,486 | $38,236 |
| RUTH ALLARD | SVP CONSERVATION & EDUCATI Highest-paid employee | 40 | $268,180 | $52,056 |
| LORRAINE FRIAS | SVP OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVAN Highest-paid employee | 40 | $275,498 | $43,284 |
| LINDA PARRY | VP OF MARKETING Highest-paid employee | 40 | $216,675 | $50,377 |
| DAVID LONCALA | VP OF FINANCE & ACCOUNTING Highest-paid employee | 40 | $215,247 | $39,799 |
| JOSEPH WILKES | SVP OF FACILITIES & CONSTR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $222,119 | $26,334 |
| LARRY FINK | BOARD CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MAJA WESSELS | IMMEDIATE PAST BOARD CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| YVONNE A BETTS | CHAIR GOVERNANCE AND NOMINATING Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JULIE GABLE | CHAIR OUTCOMES Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| GABRIELLE VITALE | CHAIR FINANCE AND TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KRIS YAMANO | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
28 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JENNIFER AXEL | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BRIAN BAEHR | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MARTY BARRETT | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JEAN C BINGHAM | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MICHAEL BLAIRE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| RICHARD B BURNHAM | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CYNTHIA AGUILAR | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| AVERY CROSSMAN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JOELLEN DOORNBOS | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DOREEN FELDBERG | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| STEPHEN FISHER | TRUSTEE EMERITUS Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CARLA GARTRELL | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KRISTIN HARTMAN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| LINDA HAYES | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| STEPHEN HIGGINS | TRUSTEE EMERITUS Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MIKE HOOVER | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DAVID KOHNE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JIM MAETZOLD | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ROB MAWK | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DAWN MEIDINGER | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JOHN C NORLING | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| STEPHEN M OCHOA | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| HARRY PAPP | TRUSTEE EMERITUS Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| PHIL PETERSEN | TRUSTEE EMERITUS Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JIM PRATT | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SUSAN SHERMAN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MICHAEL TUCKER | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DESMOND WILSON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 37 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORBERTO CASTRO | PRESIDENT/CEO Officer | 40 | $512,691 | $132,703 |
| BONNIE MENDOZA | COO/CFO Officer | 40 | $357,557 | $54,358 |
| DR GARY WEST | SVP OF ANIMAL HEALTH & COLLECTION Key employee | 40 | $312,832 | $46,867 |
| CHRISTINE LOWERY-NUNEZ | CAO Highest-paid employee | 40 | $284,774 | $34,213 |
| LORRAINE FRIAS | SVP OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $249,740 | $49,156 |
| RUTH ALLARD | SVP CONSERVATION & EDUCATION Highest-paid employee | 40 | $244,400 | $46,654 |
| LINDA HARDWICK | VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS & EVEN Highest-paid employee | 40 | $188,115 | $45,124 |
| JOSEPH WILKES | SVP OF FACILITIES & CONSTRUCTION Highest-paid employee | 40 | $198,806 | $31,814 |
| MAJA WESSELS | BOARD CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LARRY FINK | BOARD CHAIR-ELECT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| YVONNE A BETTS | CHAIR GOVERNANCE AND NOMINATING Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JULIE GABLE | CHAIR OUTCOMES Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LINDA HAYES | CHAIR DEVELOPMENT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| GABRIELLE VITALE | CHAIR FINANCE AND TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KRIS YAMANO | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CYNTHIA AGUILAR | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN BAEHR | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARTY BARRETT | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JEAN C BINGHAM | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL BLAIRE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RICHARD B BURNHAM | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| AVERY CROSSMAN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOELLEN DOORNBOS | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEPHEN FISHER | TRUSTEE EMERITUS Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KRISTIN HARTMAN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVE HIGGINS | TRUSTEE EMERITUS Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CRAIG KRUMWIEDE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ROB MAWK | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAWN MEIDINGER | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN C NORLING | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEPHEN M OCHOA | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HARRY PAPP | TRUSTEE EMERITUS Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PHIL PETERSEN | TRUSTEE EMERITUS Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JIM PRATT | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SUSAN SHERMAN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| AMBER VESTAL | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DESMOND WILSON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 35 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORBERTO CASTRO | PRESIDENT/CEO Officer | 40 | $466,089 | $143,467 |
| BONNIE MENDOZA | COO/CFO Officer | 40 | $321,665 | $50,168 |
| GARY WEST | SVP ANIMAL HEALTH & COLLEC Key employee | 40 | $276,630 | $41,874 |
| CHRISTINE LOWERY-NUNEZ | CAO Highest-paid employee | 40 | $247,326 | $30,690 |
| LORRAINE FRIAS | SVP OF DEVELOPMENT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $228,173 | $45,028 |
| RUTH ALLARD | SVP CONSERVATION & EDUCATI Highest-paid employee | 40 | $217,700 | $41,356 |
| JOSEPH WILKES | SVP OF FACILITIES & CONSTR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $172,787 | $29,348 |
| LINDA PARRY | VP OF MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS & EVENTS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $164,824 | $35,106 |
| CYNTHIA AGUILAR | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN BAEHR | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARTY BARRETT | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HEIDI BERGER | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JEAN C BINGHAM | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL BLAIRE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RICHARD B BURNHAM | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOELLEN DOORNBOS | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVE HIGGINS | TRUSTEE EMERITUS Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL JOHNSON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CRAIG KRUMWIEDE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAWN MEIDINGER | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN C NORLING | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEPHEN M OCHOA | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HARRY PAPP | TRUSTEE EMERITUS Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KAREN PETERS | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PHIL PETERSON | TRUSTEE EMERITUS Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SUSAN SHERMAN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| AMBER VESTAL | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KRIS YAMANO | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MAJA WESSELS | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| STEPHEN FISHER | PAST BOARD CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| YVONNE A BETTS | VICE CHAIR BOARD DEVELOPME Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LARRY FINK | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JULIE GABLE | VICE CHAIR OUTCOMES Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LINDA HAYES | VICE CHAIR OF FINANCIAL DE Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| GABRIELLE VITALE | VICE CHAIR FINANCE AND TRE Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 455 N GALVIN PKWY, PHOENIX, AZ 85008-3431
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- NORBERTO J CASTRO, 455 N GALVIN PARKWAY, PHOENIX, AZ 85008
- Signed the 990
- BONNIE MENDOZA, COO/CFO
- Phone
- (602) 273-1341
- Website
- WWW.PHOENIXZOO.ORG
- Return prepared by
- BAKER TILLY ADVISORY GROUP LP
Mission
THE ARIZONA CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVATION ADVANCES THE STEWARDSHIP AND CONSERVATION OF ANIMALS AND THEIR HABITATS WHILE PROVIDING EXPERIENCES THAT INSPIRE PEOPLE AND MOTIVATE THEM TO CARE FOR THE NATURAL WORLD.
Program accomplishments
- ACNC OPERATES THE PHOENIX ZOO, A 126-ACRE ZOOLOGICAL PARK, WITHIN PAPAGO PARK, WITH OVER 3,000 ANIMALS IN EXHIBITIONS, AND PARTICIPATES IN WORLDWIDE SPECIES SURVIVAL PLANS. THROUGH ECOSYSTEM EXHIBITION, EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION, THE ZOO SERVES VISITORS WITH A MISSION TO PROVIDE EXPERIENCES THAT INSPIRE PEOPLE AND MOTIVATE THEM TO CARE FOR THE NATURAL WORLD. WITH A FOCUS ON EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, THE ZOO ALSO CONDUCTS A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES WITH CHILDREN AS THEIR PRIMARY AUDIENCE TO EMPHASIZE CARING RELATIONSHIPS, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND ACTION TO CONSERVE ANIMALS AND NATURE IN GENERAL.Expenses $38,552,180 · grants $451,418 · revenue $37,425,388
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 June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 86-0174843
- 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
- 1962
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Animal-related (D500)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $132,631,795
- Income (IRS master file)
- $105,718,165
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $63,967,380 | $46,612,025 | $132,631,795 | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2025 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $49,345,230 | $42,576,318 | $111,167,210 | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2023 | $46,724,587 | $37,873,723 | $100,793,859 | XML |
| 990-T | June 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2022 | $47,073,859 | $30,538,563 | $88,986,342 | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 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 86-0174843).
Questions about ARIZONA CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
- What is the EIN of ARIZONA CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVATION?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of ARIZONA CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVATION is 86-0174843.
- Is ARIZONA CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVATION tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1962.
- Are donations to ARIZONA CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVATION tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does ARIZONA CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVATION 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 ARIZONA CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVATION due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did ARIZONA CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVATION last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of ARIZONA CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVATION?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names NORBERTO J CASTRO.
- Who are the officers and directors of ARIZONA CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVATION?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 43 people; 9 received compensation from the organization, the highest $527,766 (NORBERTO CASTRO, PRESIDENT/CEO).
- How much revenue does ARIZONA CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVATION have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $63,967,380, expenses of $46,612,025 and total assets of $132,631,795 at year end.
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