How Revenue is Spent at the San Diego Zoo (2022)

The Zoological Society of San Diego is more popularly known, and does business as the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) but is often referred to as simply the San Diego Zoo.  A tax-exempt, non-profit conservation organization, SDZWA has been advertising in the Wall Street Journal trying to raise funds (total revenue dipped from $422 million in 2019 to $247 million in 2020  but then increased to $356 million in 2021).

There are 11 independent voting members (trustees) of the governing body (although 12 are listed on the Form 990 due to timing differences), 8 (75%) of whom are male while 3 (25%) are female (note:  The 990 does not report gender; determinations were made based on name and google searches).

In 2022, total revenue was $392 million, most of which came from the “zoological habitat” which appears to be the San Diego Zoo ($289 million), contributions, gifts, and grants ($42 million), and government grants ($24 million).

Expenses totaled $314 million (not including $38 million in depreciation) – 80% of revenue – in 2022 with expenses categorized as follows:

• $183 million (47% of revenue):  Compensation
• $ 36  million (9% of revenue):  Office-Related Expenses
• $ 27  million (7% of revenue):  Operating Supplies and Forage
• $ 22  million (6% of revenue):  Consultants and Fees for Services
• $ 17  million (4% of revenue):  Advertising and Promotion
• $ 18  million (4% of revenue):  Food and Beverage
• $  7  million (2% of revenue):  Other Expenses (i.e. interest, travel and conferences, etc)
• $  4   million (1% of revenue):  Grants

SDZWA does not award a large portion of revenue in grants. In fact, grants is the smallest expense for the organization.   $4 million in grants were awarded in 2022, $2 million of which were domestic to 8 other non-profits and 9 for-profit organization (although 2 organizations:  The Nature Conservancy and the Audubon Nature Institute received the majority of grant funds).  Foreign grants ($2 million) were primarily made to recipients in Sub-Saharan Africa

As illustrated above, compensation is the largest expense for SDZWA.  4,317 employees received $183 million in compensation (an average of $42,000).  113 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the most highly compensated employee reported to be Paul Baribault, the President and CEO who received $1,314,973

Using the above information, every $100 in revenue was spent as follows:

 $100:  Revenue

-$ 47:  Compensation

-$  9:  Office-Related Expenses

-$  7:  Operating Supplies and Forage

-$  6:  Consultants and Fees for Services

-$  4:  Advertising and Promotion

-$  4:  Food and Beverage

-$  2:  Other Expenses

-$  1:  Grants

-$ 80:  Total Expenses

  $ 20:  Remaining Revenue:  To General Fund

As illustrated above, SDZWA spent $80 out of every $100 on expenses (primarily compensation, office, operating supplies, and fees for outside services including consultants).

At the beginning of the year, SDZWA had $691 million in net assets. After accounting for unspent revenue, unrealized losses on investments, and changes in net assets (primarily pension related changes), SDZWA had $712 million in net assets at year-end, which is a substantial improvement since 2020 when net assets were $561 million.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2022), click here.