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Nonprofit · EIN 94-1687847

CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA

Also known as DBA THE OAKLAND ZOO

Tax-exempt · OAKLAND, CA 94605

Financials

$30.9M$31.7M2022$31.5M$35.5M2023$35M$36.1M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
September 30, 2025990$35,008,424$36,079,027-$1,070,603$92,877,800$7,152,680$85,725,120
September 30, 2024990$31,502,981$35,476,027-$3,973,046$94,596,300$7,755,337$86,840,963
September 30, 2023990$30,880,796$31,683,363-$802,567$98,922,908$8,133,700$90,789,208
Financial details: 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$10,144,303
of which government grants
$2,283,551
Program service revenue
$22,313,782
Investment income
$629,044
Net gain from sales of assets
-$107,178
Net income from sales of inventory
$94,429
Other revenue
$1,921,295

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$485,610
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$574,401
Other salaries and wages
$15,794,122
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$19,758,850
Professional fundraising fees
$331,824
Legal fees
$135,787
Accounting fees
$125,490
Occupancy
$3,803,285
Travel
$21,650
Depreciation
$4,005,040
Program services (functional)
$28,627,038
Management and general (functional)
$5,508,698
Fundraising (functional)
$1,943,291

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$94,596,300
Total assets, end of year
$92,877,800
Total liabilities, end of year
$7,152,680
Net assets, end of year
$85,725,120
Land, buildings and equipment
$71,842,742
Publicly traded securities
$482,980
Net assets without donor restrictions
$82,201,959
Net assets with donor restrictions
$3,523,161
Gross receipts
$64,072,735
Employees
464
Volunteers
570
Year formed
1936
State of legal domicile
CA

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 September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
NIKHIL DEHEJIACEO
Officer
40$339,561$19,063
ADAM MILLERCFAO
Officer
40$199,560$16,218
BIRUK WELDHANADIRECTOR OF FINANCE
Highest-paid employee
40$188,847$9,906
KRISTIN BRONOWICKISVP IMPACT & REVENUE
Highest-paid employee
40$190,547$5,714
MICHELLE MYERSVP PEOPLE & CULTURE
Highest-paid employee
40$169,295$12,586
ALEXANDRIA HERMANVP VETERINARY SERVICES
Highest-paid employee
40$165,442$15,771
ERIN DOGANVP MARKETING
Highest-paid employee
40$140,923$4,077
MARV FRIEDMANSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
STEVEN MCCANNTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
PATRICK SHERWOODVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
CYNTHIA STODDARDCO-CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
ELOGEANNE O MATSON GROSSMANCO-CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
CATHY LANGRIDGECO-CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
FIONA TANGTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
LIZANNE LUDWIGTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
12 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
JEFFREY R MARSHALLTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0
AMY THARPE PETERSONTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0
SHANA SIMMONSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0
PETER ROSSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0
JIM CAVALIERITRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0
MICHAEL BRUCKTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0
MICHAEL BOLANDTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0
AARTI SABHLOKTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0
JENNIFER E DELANEYTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0
MITTIE GRIGSBYTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0
BRIAN HUGHESTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0
DENISE RAMSEYTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0
990 for the year ended September 30, 2024: 27 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
NIKHIL DEHEJIACEO
Officer
40$316,122$20,842
ADAM MILLERCFAO
Officer
40$189,189$13,168
ERIN DOGANVP MARKETING
Highest-paid employee
40$165,810$17,720
KRISTIN BRONOWICKISVP IMPACT & REVENUE
Highest-paid employee
40$173,728$4,584
ALEXANDRIA HERMANVP VETERINARY
Highest-paid employee
40$161,386$13,836
MICHELLE MYERSVP PEOPLE & CULTURE
Highest-paid employee
40$159,750$12,742
BIRUK WELDHANADIRECTOR OF FINANCE
Highest-paid employee
40$143,127$17,092
CATHY LANGRIDGECO-CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
ELOGEANNE GROSSMANCO-CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
PATRICK SHERWOODVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
CYNTHIA STODDARDCO-CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
STEVE MCCANNTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
MARV FRIEDMANSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
NANCY CLARKTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
DENNIS DEDOMENICOTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MICHAEL BRUCKTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JENNIFER DELANEYTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
BRIAN HUGHESTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
LIZ LUDWIGTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JEFFREY R MARSHALLTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
KEVIN RODRIGUEZTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
PETER ROSSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
AARTI SABHLOKTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
SHANA SIMMONSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JAN STEVENSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
FIONA TANGTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
AMY THARPE PETERSONTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
990 for the year ended September 30, 2023: 27 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
NIKHIL DEHEJIACEO
Officer
40$287,385$19,320
ERIN DOGANVP MARKETING
Highest-paid employee
40$176,888$16,502
MARK STUARTVP OPERATIONS
Highest-paid employee
40$178,162$12,043
ALEXANDRIA HERMANVP VETERINARY
Highest-paid employee
40$157,831$16,211
MICHELLE MYERSVP PEOPLE & CULTURE
Highest-paid employee
40$159,766$11,971
BIRUK WELDHANADIRECTOR OF FINANCE
Highest-paid employee
40$141,958$16,035
ADAM MILLERCFAO
Officer
40$86,135$3,766
CATHY LANGRIDGECO-CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
CYNTHIA STODDARDCO-CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
ELOGEANNE GROSSMANVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
PATRICK SHERWOODTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
NANCY CLARKTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
DENNIS DEDOMENICOTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MARV FRIEDMANTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MICHAEL BRUCKTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JENNIFER DELANEYTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
BRIAN HUGHESTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
LIZ LUDWIGTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JEFFREY R MARSHALLTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
STEVE MCCANNTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
KEVIN RODRIGUEZTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
PETER ROSSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
AARTI SABHLOKTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
SHANA SIMMONSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JAN STEVENSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
FIONA TANGTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
AMY THARPE PETERSONTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
PO BOX 5238, OAKLAND, CA 94605-0238
In care of
% BIRUK WELDHANA
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
NIKHIL DEHEJIA, PO BOX 5238, OAKLAND, CA 94605
Signed the 990
NIKHIL DEHEJIA, CEO
Phone
(510) 632-9525
Return prepared by
GILBERT CPAS

California records

California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 94-1687847 or by the name CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA.

Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)

Mission

THROUGH MANAGEMENT OF OAKLAND ZOO, THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA DEEPENS CONNECTION WITH ANIMALS, SAVES WILDLIFE, AND INSPIRES CHAMPIONS FOR THE NATURAL WORLD.

990 for the year ended September 30, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • OAKLAND ZOO IS PROUD OF ITS CONTINUED SUCCESS IN ANIMAL CARE AND WELFARE, LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT, AND CONSERVATION INITIATIVES. THE ZOO IS HOME TO OVER 700 ANIMALS THAT OUR STAFF PROVIDE INDUSTRY LEADING CARE FOR TO ENSURE THEIR PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL WELLBEING. CONSERVATION IS CORE TO OUR MISSION, AND THE ZOO CONTINUES TO FOCUS ITS EFFORTS ON TEN SPECIES INCLUDING AFRICAN ELEPHANTS, CHIMPANZEES, BISON, AFRICAN LIONS, CALIFORNIA CONDORS, AND MORE. OUR VETERINARY AND ANIMAL CARE TEAMS CONTINUE OUR LOCAL WILDLIFE RESCUE WORK WITH OAKLAND'S CITY BIRD, THE BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERON, AND WE RESCUED OUR 30TH MOUNTAIN LION IN 2025. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.WE ARE THE FIRST ZOO IN THE UNITED STATES TO RECEIVE FUNDING FOR A DEDICATED POSITION TO ADDRESS ANIMAL WELFARE RESCUE AND THE WILDLIFE TRADE, WHICH IS DEVASTING SPECIES AND HABITATS INTERNATIONALLY. LAST YEAR WE EXPANDED OUR ONSITE GUEST EDUCATION PROVIDING ANIMAL HIGHLIGHT PROGRAMS TO 30,000 GUESTS AND ENHANCING OUR DOCENT OFFERINGS TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE OF BIODIVERSITY. AND WE CELEBRATED THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONSERVATION EDUCATION CENTER WE HELPED TO OPEN IN UGANDA, WHICH HAS NOW PROVIDED SERVICES FOR OVER 5,000 LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS COEXISTING WITH CHIMPANZEES AND OTHER SPECIES. ALONGSIDE OUR PROGRAMMATIC WORK THE ZOO WELCOMED 58,000 GUESTS FOR FREE DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, PROVIDING OUR COMMUNITY WITH A SPACE FOR CONNECTION, HOPE, AND LIFELONG MEMORIES. IN 2023, THE ZOO ESTABLISHED A FOUR-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN WITH INPUT FROM THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. THE FOLLOWING KEY PRIORITIES REMAIN OUR FOCUS THROUGH 2027:- INSPIRING ACTION FOR ANIMALS AND THE PLANET- EXPANDING LEADERSHIP IN ANIMAL WELLBEING AND RESCUE- DEEPENING OUR CONSERVATION IMPACT- ENHANCING OUR TEAM CULTURE AND ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
    Expenses $28,627,038 · grants $485,610 · revenue $22,410,449

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 September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025September 30, 2026February 16, 2027Not due yet
2024September 30, 2025February 17, 2026990 on file
2023September 30, 2024February 18, 2025990 on file

IRS record

EIN
94-1687847
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
1953
Accounting year ends
September
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Animal-related (D500)
Assets (IRS master file)
$92,877,800
Income (IRS master file)
$64,072,735

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990September 2025$35,008,424$36,079,027$92,877,800XML
990September 2024$31,502,981$35,476,027$94,596,300XML
990September 2023$30,880,796$31,683,363$98,922,908XML
990September 2022$35,355,250$30,159,043$99,127,027IRS
990September 2021–––IRS
990September 2020–––IRS
990September 2019–––IRS
990September 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 94-1687847).

Questions about CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA

What is the EIN of CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA?
The employer identification number (EIN) of CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA is 94-1687847.
Is CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1953.
Are donations to CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA 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 CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 16, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.
Who is the principal officer of CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA?
The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names NIKHIL DEHEJIA.
Who are the officers and directors of CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA?
The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 27 people; 7 received compensation from the organization, the highest $339,561 (NIKHIL DEHEJIA, CEO).
How much revenue does CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA have?
On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $35,008,424, expenses of $36,079,027 and total assets of $92,877,800 at year end.

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