Nonprofit · EIN 16-0911204
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO INC
Tax-exempt · BUFFALO, NY 14214
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $12,655,840 | $13,679,485 | -$1,023,645 | $34,731,869 | $3,138,909 | $31,592,960 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $10,795,768 | $12,778,216 | -$1,982,448 | $34,119,903 | $1,541,514 | $32,578,389 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $10,847,156 | $12,560,378 | -$1,713,222 | $35,989,502 | $1,439,860 | $34,549,642 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $5,993,998
- of which government grants
- $4,199,334
- Program service revenue
- $6,618,310
- Investment income
- $43,532
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $415,406
- Other salaries and wages
- $5,035,998
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $6,944,765
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Occupancy
- $858,036
- Travel
- $57,127
- Depreciation
- $2,350,290
- Program services (functional)
- $10,584,276
- Management and general (functional)
- $2,072,848
- Fundraising (functional)
- $1,022,361
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $34,119,903
- Total assets, end of year
- $34,731,869
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $3,138,909
- Net assets, end of year
- $31,592,960
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $31,192,771
- Publicly traded securities
- $1,058,336
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $30,344,738
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $1,248,222
- Gross receipts
- $12,655,840
- Employees
- 203
- Volunteers
- 392
- Year formed
- 1931
- State of legal domicile
- NY
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.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LISA SMITH | PRESIDENT & CEO Officer | 40 | $212,825 | $40,396 |
| DENISE SCHAEFER | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer | 40 | $142,638 | $19,547 |
| CHRISTINE FONTANENDA | CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $136,105 | $23,750 |
| KURT VOLLE | VETERINARIAN Highest-paid employee | 40 | $113,034 | $33,152 |
| JAMES OLIVER | DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES AND CONSTRUCTION Highest-paid employee | 40 | $106,770 | $16,617 |
| EUGENE P GRAMZA JR | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SUSAN O'SULLIVAN | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RYLAN O RAWLINS | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN R YURTCHUK | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RAJIV RANJAN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LISA CEGLIA | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHELLE A SULLIVAN | CHAIR ELECT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID P FLYNN | IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHEAL BALL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DR LATRICIA DAVIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
18 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRAIG M FISCHER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SERGIO P GANGAROSSA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JOHN T GAVIGAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CRAIG A HARRIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SEAN HEIDINGER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KAREN HOWARD CPA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CHRIS KANIA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BRIAN J KULPA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| RONALD MORNELLI | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ELIZABETH POTOZNIAK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DONNA M SIWEK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KANISHKA WANNINAYAKA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ABIGAIL L ZABRODSKY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ROSA ALINA PIZZI | DIRECTOR - EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JOEL P FEROLETO | DIRECTOR - EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SUSAN GINGRICH | DIRECTOR - EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DENISE LANZ | DIRECTOR - EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JOHN R SANDERSON | DIRECTOR - EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 33 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LISA SMITH | PRESIDENT/CEO Officer | 40 | $188,111 | $33,670 |
| DENISE SCHAEFER | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer | 40 | $131,518 | $19,178 |
| KURT VOLLE | VETERINARIAN Highest-paid employee | 40 | $106,143 | $31,250 |
| EUGENE P GRAMZA JR | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LISA CEGLIA | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RYLAN O RAWLINS | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN R YURTCHUK | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RAJIV RANJAN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| NICOLE R TZETZO | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHELLE A SULLIVAN | CHAIR ELECT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID P FLYNN | IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BARBARA T BAKER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CAVETTE A CHAMBERS | DIRECTOR - EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOEL P FEROLETO | DIRECTOR - EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SERGIO P GANGAROSSA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN T GAVIGAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SUSAN GINGRICH | DIRECTOR- EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CRAIG A HARRIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SEAN HEIDINGER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRIS KANIA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BRANDON SCHULZ-KOLLER | DIRECTOR- EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN J KULPA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DENISE LANZ | DIRECTOR - EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAUL MILLSTEIN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RONALD MORNELLI | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SUSAN O'SULLIVAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ELIZABETH POTOZNIAK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN R SANDERSON | DIRECTOR - EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRIS SCANLON | DIRECTOR - EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DONNA M SIWEK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL T ULBRICH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KANISHKA WANNINAYAKA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ABIGAIL L ZABRODSKY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 36 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LISA SMITH | PRESIDENT/CEO Officer | 40 | $222,382 | $32,491 |
| DENISE SCHAEFER | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer | 40 | $137,233 | $18,657 |
| KURT VOLLE | VETERINARIAN Highest-paid employee | 40 | $104,043 | $29,183 |
| NORAH FLETCHALL | PRESIDENT/CEO - FORMER Former | 0 | $127,419 | $0 |
| SPENCER MORGAN | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $100,185 | $11,676 |
| DAVID P FLYNN | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT A FOX | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHELLE A SULLIVAN | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TONI L VAZQUEZ | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RAJIV RANJAN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| NICOLE R TZETZO | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| EUGENE P GRAMZA JR | CHAIR ELECT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JONATHAN A DANDES | IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BARBARA T BAKER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DONNA L BOHAN | DIRECTOR - EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BYRON W BROWN | DIRECTOR - EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LISA CEGLIA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CAVETTE A CHAMBERS | DIRECTOR - EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOEL P FEROLETO | DIRECTOR- EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN T GAVIGAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SUSAN GINGRICH | DIRECTOR- EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CRAIG A HARRIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRISTOPHER KANIA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN J KULPA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAUL MILLSTEIN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RONALD MORNELLI | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAUL M MOSKAL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFFERY NOVAK | DIRECTOR- EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SUSAN O'SULLIVAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ELIZABETH POTOZNIAK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DARIUS G PRIDGEN | DIRECTOR- EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RYLAN O RAWLINS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN R SANDERSON | DIRECTOR- EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DONNA M SIWEK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL T ULBRICH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KANISHKA WANNINAYAKA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 300 PARKSIDE AVE, BUFFALO, NY 14214-1963
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- LISA SMITH, 300 PARKSIDE AVENUE, BUFFALO, NY 14214
- Signed the 990
- LISA SMITH, PRESIDENT & CEO
- Phone
- (716) 837-3900
- Website
- WWW.BUFFALOZOO.ORG
- Return prepared by
- LUMSDEN & MCCORMICK LLP
Mission
BUILDING COMMUNITY; CREATING CONNECTIONS; SAVING WILDLIFE THROUGH A COLLABORATION FOR CHANGE: THE BUFFALO ZOO WILL BE A CENTER OF CONSERVATION EXCELLENCE, PROVIDING LEADERSHIP TO SECURE A FUTURE WHERE WILDLIFE THRIVES. WE EMBODY OUR MISSION AND VISION THROUGH PRACTICES THAT EXEMPLIFY OUR VALUES OF TEAMWORK, WELCOMING, INTEGRITY, CARING, AND GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND.
Program accomplishments
- ANIMAL CARE AND HORTICULTURE MAINTENANCE AND EXPERIENCE: AS AN AZA (ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS) ACCREDITED ZOO, WE STRIVE TO PROVIDE OUR ANIMALS WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE HABITATS, NUTRITION, ENRICHMENT AND VETERINARY CARE TO ENSURE CONSERVATION OF ANIMAL SPECIES AS WELL AS THE MAINTENANCE AND EXPANSION OF HORTICULTURE THROUGHOUT THE ZOO. THE GOAL OF ZOOS IS NOT STRICTLY TO PROVIDE RECREATION BUT TO PROVIDE AN INTERESTING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF CONSERVATION LEADING TO A CONNECTION TO ANIMALS AND NATURE NOT OTHERWISE POSSIBLE FOR MOST PEOPLE.Expenses $8,683,417 · revenue $4,008,575
- EDUCATION - PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO STIMULATE AN EARLY INTEREST IN THE LIFE SCIENCES, NATURE AND CONSERVATION, BEGINNING WITH TODDLERS THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.Expenses $841,534 · revenue $372,360
- GUEST SERVICES - CONCESSIONS, RIDES, GIFT SHOP AND OTHER ANCILLARY SERVICES DESIGNED TO PROVIDED THE ULTIMATE GUEST EXPERIENCE.Expenses $1,059,325 · revenue $2,237,375
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 | 990 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
- 16-0911204
- 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
- 1961
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Animal-related (D500)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $34,731,869
- Income (IRS master file)
- $12,655,840
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $12,655,840 | $13,679,485 | $34,731,869 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $10,795,768 | $12,778,216 | $34,119,903 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $10,847,156 | $12,560,378 | $35,989,502 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $10,380,031 | $13,238,523 | $38,366,633 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 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 16-0911204).
Questions about ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO INC
- What is the EIN of ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO INC is 16-0911204.
- Is ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1961.
- Are donations to ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO 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 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO 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 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO 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 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names LISA SMITH.
- Who are the officers and directors of ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 33 people; 5 received compensation from the organization, the highest $212,825 (LISA SMITH, PRESIDENT & CEO).
- How much revenue does ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $12,655,840, expenses of $13,679,485 and total assets of $34,731,869 at year end.
Other nonprofits in BUFFALO
- OPERATION PETS THE SPAY NEUTER CLINIC OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC EIN 16-1543255 · last filed 990 for 2024
- ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC EIN 16-1407299 · last filed 990 for 2025
- ELSIE SEEGER BARTON TRUST EIN 52-6241137 · last filed 990-PF for 2024
- EWB INC EIN 45-0595376 · last filed 990 for 2024
- NIAGARA FRONTIER VETERINARY SOCIETY PET EMERGENCY FUND INC EIN 16-1557094 · last filed 990-EZ for 2025
- ALLIE & PALS RESCUE INC EIN 86-2166141 · last filed 990 for 2025
- KATHRYN DEVED TRUST U-W FBO U S HUMANE SOCIETY EIN 52-6386637 · last filed 990-PF for 2025
- ALL BASSETS CHERISHED BASSET HOUND RESCUE EIN 16-1597137 · last filed 990 for 2024