Nonprofit · EIN 95-1648219
SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE
Tax-exempt · SAN DIEGO, CA 92112
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $437,607,695 | $391,353,999 | $46,253,696 | $1,046,146,042 | $184,076,067 | $862,069,975 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $411,019,877 | $365,011,304 | $46,008,573 | $954,802,422 | $165,447,610 | $789,354,812 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $84,029,973
- of which government grants
- $28,512,415
- Membership dues
- $1,884,639
- Program service revenue
- $300,427,550
- Investment income
- $25,689,245
- Royalties
- $726,784
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $13,264,869
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$750,024
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $26,834,431
- Other revenue
- $27,460,927
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $5,703,872
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $5,935,277
- Other salaries and wages
- $129,369,701
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $203,603,350
- Professional fundraising fees
- $182,073
- Legal fees
- $7,174,417
- Accounting fees
- $581,696
- Occupancy
- $17,221,196
- Travel
- $2,690,404
- Depreciation
- $37,764,170
- Program services (functional)
- $332,486,602
- Management and general (functional)
- $50,234,397
- Fundraising (functional)
- $8,633,000
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $954,802,422
- Total assets, end of year
- $1,046,146,042
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $184,076,067
- Net assets, end of year
- $862,069,975
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $382,874,167
- Publicly traded securities
- $297,206,000
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $593,100,509
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $268,969,466
- Gross unrelated business income
- $9,126,904
- Gross receipts
- $547,384,955
- Employees
- 4,211
- Volunteers
- 2,019
- Year formed
- 1916
- 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 December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAUL BARIBAULT | PRESIDENT/CEO Officer | 50 | $1,993,422 | $63,254 |
| SHAWN DIXON | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer | 50 | $820,184 | $50,685 |
| DAVID FRANCO | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer | 50 | $757,377 | $42,631 |
| DAVID GILLIG | CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER Key employee | 50 | $631,492 | $28,765 |
| LISA PETERSON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAFARI PARK Key employee | 50 | $495,003 | $38,522 |
| ERIKA KOHLER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAN DIEGO ZOO Key employee | 50 | $479,637 | $39,732 |
| DAVID MILLER | CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 50 | $450,014 | $49,697 |
| NADINE LAMBERSKI | CHIEF CONSERVATION/WILDLIFE Key employee | 50 | $478,428 | $16,145 |
| AIDA ROSA | CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 50 | $420,205 | $28,410 |
| WENDY BULGER | GENERAL COUNSEL Highest-paid employee | 50 | $457,283 | -$9,496 |
| EAMONN FARRELL | VP, CONSTRUCTION & ARCHITECTURE Highest-paid employee | 50 | $260,796 | $31,634 |
| KAREN BHATT | VICE PRESIDENT, HUMAN RESOURCES Highest-paid employee | 50 | $265,868 | $20,390 |
| JAVADE CHAUDHRI | CHAIR (UNT 9/24)/TRUST. (AS OF 9/24) Trustee or director | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVE SIMPSON | TREAS (UNT 9/24)/CHAIR (AS OF 9/24) Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| ROLF BENIRSCHKE | TRUSTEE (UNTIL 9/24)/VC (AS OF 9/24) Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 | $0 |
11 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GARY KNELL | VC (UNTIL 9/24)/TREAS (AS OF 9/24) Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 |
| STEVEN G TAPPAN | VICE CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 |
| JANE FINLEY | TRUSTEE (UNT 9/24)/SEC (AS OF 9/24) Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 |
| RICHARD GULLEY | SECRETARY (UNTIL 9/24) Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 |
| KATHLEEN CAIN CARRITHERS | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| ADAM DAY | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| CLIFFORD HAGUE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| LINDA LOWENSTINE | TRUSTEE (OUTGOING) Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| BRYAN MIN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| KENJI PRICE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| AULANI WILHELM | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 24 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAUL BARIBAULT | PRESIDENT/CEO Officer | 50 | $1,797,528 | $63,249 |
| SHAWN DIXON | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer | 50 | $761,562 | $53,730 |
| DAVID FRANCO | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer | 50 | $714,414 | $38,992 |
| DAVID GILLIG | CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER Key employee | 50 | $588,231 | $27,621 |
| NADINE LAMBERSKI | CHF. CONSERVATION/WILDLIFE Key employee | 50 | $442,720 | $97,055 |
| WENDY BULGER | GENERAL COUNSEL Highest-paid employee | 50 | $429,555 | $84,633 |
| LISA PETERSON | EXEC DIRECTOR, SAFARI PARK Key employee | 50 | $463,072 | $37,946 |
| ERIKA KOHLER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAN DIEGO ZOO Key employee | 50 | $455,973 | $40,996 |
| DAVID MILLER | CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 50 | $430,679 | $48,134 |
| EAMONN FARRELL | VP OF CONSTRUCTION & ARCH Highest-paid employee | 50 | $250,188 | $29,425 |
| KAREN BHATT | VICE PRESIDENT, HUMAN RESOURCES Highest-paid employee | 50 | $235,804 | $18,845 |
| AIDA ROSA | CHF. HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 50 | $395,740 | -$154,647 |
| JAVADE CHAUDHRI | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 15 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVEN TAPPAN | VICE CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| GARY KNELL | VICE CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| RICHARD GULLEY | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 15 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVEN SIMPSON | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| ROLF BENIRSCHKE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| KATHLEEN CAIN CARRITHERS | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| JANE FINLEY | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| CLIFF HAGUE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| LINDA LOWENSTINE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| BRYAN MIN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| AULANI WILHELM | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- PO BOX 120551, SAN DIEGO, CA 92112-0551
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- SHAWN DIXON, POST OFFICE BOX 120551, SAN DIEGO, CA 921120551
- Signed the 990
- DAVID FRANCO, CFO
- Phone
- (619) 231-1515
- Website
- WWW.SDZWA.ORG
- Return prepared by
- COHNREZNICK ADVISORY LLC
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 95-1648219 or by the name SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE IS COMMITTED TO SAVING SPECIES WORLDWIDE BY UNITING OUR EXPERTISE IN WILDLIFE CARE AND CONSERVATION SCIENCE WITH OUR DEDICATION TO INSPIRING PASSION FOR NATURE.
Program accomplishments
- SDZWA CATEGORIZES ALL ACTIVITIES INTO ONE PROGRAM: WILDLIFE CARE AND CONSERVATION. SDZWA IS AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION WITH TWO FRONT DOORS: THE SAN DIEGO ZOO AND THE SAN DIEGO ZOO SAFARI PARK. SDZWA IS COMMITTED TO SAVING SPECIES WORLDWIDE BY UNITING OUR EXPERTISE IN WILDLIFE CARE AND CONSERVATION SCIENCE WITH OUR DEDICATION TO INSPIRING PASSION FOR NATURE. CONSERVATION IS AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING SDZWA PURSUES AND IT STARTS WITH CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH WILDLIFE THROUGH OUR ZOOLOGICAL PARKS AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS, INSPIRING AND EDUCATING OUR GUESTS EVERYDAY. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OWILDLIFE CONSERVATION PARKS:THE SAN DIEGO ZOO AND SAN DIEGO ZOO SAFARI PARK SERVE AS VITAL HUBS FOR CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION, WELCOMING MILLIONS OF VISITORS ANNUALLY. THE ZOO CARES FOR OVER 12,000 ANIMALS FROM 680 SPECIES, WHILE THE SAFARI PARK HOUSES MORE THAN 3,100 ANIMALS FROM 340 SPECIES. BOTH PARKS PROVIDE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, FOSTERING A DEEPER CONNECTION TO WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION.GLOBAL CONSERVATION INITIATIVES:THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES EIGHT CONSERVATION HUBS WORLDWIDE, ADDRESSING BIODIVERSITY LOSS AND PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE THE REINTRODUCTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES LIKE THE MOUNTAIN YELLOW-LEGGED FROGS AND PACIFIC POCKET MICE, AS WELL AS GROUNDBREAKING WORK IN CRYOPRESERVATION THROUGH THE FROZEN ZOO, WHICH ADDED 199 SPECIES BRINGING THE ORGANIZATION TO A TOTAL OF 11,420 SPECIES IN 2024. THE RETURN OF GIANT PANDAS XIN BAO AND YUN CHUAN IN 2024 MARKED A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION COLLABORATION, WITH PANDA RIDGE OPENING TO PROVIDE STATE-OF-THE-ART HABITATS FOR THIS FIRST NEW GIANT PANDA PAIR TO ENTER THE UNITED STATES IN TWO DECADES.COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION:NEARLY 315,000 STUDENTS VISITED THE ZOO AND SAFARI PARK, WITH OVER 33,000 PARTICIPATING IN GUIDED LEARNING PROGRAMS. THE ORGANIZATION EMPHASIZES COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN CONSERVATION, SUPPORTING LOCAL STEWARDSHIP IN REGIONS LIKE PALAU AND AFRICA'S SAVANNAS. ADDITIONALLY, INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES, SUCH AS THERMAL DRONES, ARE USED TO MONITOR SPECIES LIKE KOALAS AND TIGERS, ENHANCING CONSERVATION EFFORTS GLOBALLY.FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR CONSERVATION:AS A LARGE COMPLEX NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, THE SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE REPORTED $445 MILLION IN REVENUE IN 2024, WITH SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ADMISSIONS AND GIFTS. THE ORGANIZATION REINVESTS REVENUE ABOVE EXPENSES INTO CONSERVATION PRIORITIES AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS, ENSURING SUSTAINABLE SUPPORT FOR ITS EXTENSIVE GLOBAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS.Expenses $332,486,602 · grants $5,703,872 · revenue $318,784,813
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 | Not 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
- 95-1648219
- 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
- 1942
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Animal-related (D500)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $1,046,146,042
- Income (IRS master file)
- $547,384,955
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | $437,607,695 | $391,353,999 | $1,046,146,042 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $411,019,877 | $365,011,304 | $954,802,422 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2022 | $392,443,880 | $352,421,424 | $870,891,979 | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2017 | – | – | – | 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 95-1648219).
Questions about SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE
- What is the EIN of SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE is 95-1648219.
- Is SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1942.
- Are donations to SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE 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 SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
- Who is the principal officer of SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names SHAWN DIXON.
- Who are the officers and directors of SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 26 people; 12 received compensation from the organization, the highest $1,993,422 (PAUL BARIBAULT, PRESIDENT/CEO).
- How much revenue does SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $437,607,695, expenses of $391,353,999 and total assets of $1,046,146,042 at year end.
Other nonprofits in SAN DIEGO
- SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY AND SPCA EIN 95-1661688 · last filed 990 for 2025
- NATIONAL MARINE MAMMAL FOUNDATION INC EIN 26-1501109 · last filed 990 for 2024
- HUBBS SEA WORLD RESEARCH INSTITUTE EIN 95-2304740 · last filed 990 for 2025
- WINGS OF RESCUE INC EIN 45-3343408 · last filed 990 for 2024
- COASTAL K9 GERMAN SHEPHERD RESCUE EIN 45-2899279 · last filed 990 for 2025
- SHELTER TO SOLDIER INC EIN 46-0906020 · last filed 990 for 2024
- HARBIN SHS ANIMAL RESCUE CORP EIN 83-4274095 · last filed 990 for 2025
- HIGH FLOWS FOUNDATION EIN 88-1327283 · last filed 990-PF for 2024