Animal-Related
(D500)
IRS Verified
DX Registered
990 on File
LINCOLN PARK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Financial strength (30%)
72/100
Reliability (20%)
55/100
Effectiveness (25%)
97/100
Impact (25%)
No data yet
CharityAI™ Score
Not yet evaluated
Mission Statement
Lincoln Park Zoo is dedicated to connecting people with nature by providing a free, family-oriented wildlife experience in the heart of Chicago and by advancing the highest quality of animal care, education, science, and conservation.
Financial Overview — FY 2025
$50.5M
Total Revenue
$44.3M
Total Expenses
$196.8M
Net Assets
546
Employees
Revenue Sources
Expense Breakdown
Program Expense Ratio
87.0%
Fundraising Efficiency
2454.6%
Operating Reserve
53.35x
Liability-to-Asset
22.5%
Revenue Diversification
50.6%
Executive Compensation
$801K
Compared with Peers
FY 2025
Compared with 75 similar organizations
(United States, Animal-Related, $10M–$100M in expenses), FY 2025.
This organization
Middle half of peers (P25–P75)
Peer median
| Ratio | This org | Peer median | Position (P10 → P90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Program expense ratio
Program expenses / total expenses
· higher is better
|
87.0% | 81.8% |
P10P90
|
Above median |
|
Admin expense ratio
Management and general / total expenses
· lower is better
|
5.8% | 9.2% |
P10P90
|
Top quarter |
|
Fundraising expense ratio
Fundraising expenses / total expenses
· lower is better
|
7.3% | 5.4% |
P10P90
|
Below median |
|
Fundraising efficiency
Fundraising expenses / gross fundraising income
· lower is better
|
2454.6% | 569.5% |
P10P90
|
Below median |
|
Operating reserve
Months of expenses covered by net assets
· higher is better
|
53.4 mo | 28.1 mo |
P10P90
|
Top quarter |
|
Liabilities to assets
Total liabilities / total assets
· lower is better
|
22.5% | 8.0% |
P10P90
|
Bottom quarter |
|
Revenue concentration
Share of revenue from the largest source
· lower is better
|
50.6% | 75.3% |
P10P90
|
Top quarter |
|
Revenue growth
Year over year revenue growth
|
-10.5% | 10.7% |
P10P90
|
|
|
Expense growth
Year over year expense growth
|
2.7% | 6.7% |
P10P90
|
|
|
Surplus margin
Surplus as a share of revenue
|
12.4% | 6.9% |
P10P90
|
Financial History
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Net Assets | Program % | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50.5M | $44.3M | $196.8M | 87.0% | 546 |
| 2024 | $56.4M | $43.1M | $185.3M | 87.1% | 541 |
| 2023 | $48.4M | $40.0M | $149.9M | 87.6% | 511 |
| 2022 | $64.2M | $40.1M | $154.6M | 89.3% | 531 |
| 2021 | $29.2M | $50.3M | N/A | — | 412 |
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