Executive Compensation at the San Diego Zoo (2023)

The Zoological Society of San Diego is more popularly known, and does business as the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA).  A tax-exempt, non-profit conservation organization, and perhaps more widely known for the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, SDZWA is also known as one of the wealthiest zoos in the US with nearly $800 million in net assets.

Key financial information includes the following:

• Total revenue was $411 million, most of which came from the “zoological habitat” which appears to be the San Diego Zoo ($289 million);
• Expenses totaled $314 million (not including $38 million in depreciation) in 2022 with the largest expense reported to be compensation ($193 million).

4,297 employees received $193 million in compensation (an average of $45,000).

145 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the most highly compensated employees reported to be:

• $1,860,777:  Paul Baribault, President and CEO
• $  815,292:  Shawn Dixon, COO
• $  753,406:  David Franco, CFO
• $  615,852:  David Gillig, Chief Philanthropy Officer
• $  539,775:  Nadine Lamberski, Chief Conservation
• $  514,188:  Wendy Bulger, General Counsel*
• $  501,018:  Lisa Peterson, Executive Director, Safari Park
• $  496,969:  Erika Kohler, Interim Exec Dir, San Diego Zoo
• $  478,813:  David Miller, Chief Marketing Officer
• $  279,613:  Eamonn Farrell, VP,  Construction
• $  254,649:  Karen Bhatt, VP, HR
• $  241,093:  Aida Rosa, Chief HR Officer*

The most highly compensated employee was Paul Baribault who received $1.9 million in 2023.  6 of the 12 highly compensated employees are male while 6 are female.

The five (5)  most highly compensated employees received $14 million in compensation from 2020-2023:

Paul Baribault:  Total Compensation 2020-2023:  $5 million

• 2023:  $1,860,777
• 2022:  $1,314,973
• 2021:  $1,018,648
• 2020:  $  820,768

Shawn Dix0n: Total Compensation 2020-2023:  $3 million

• 2023:  $815,292
• 2022:  $697,439
• 2021:  $600,584
• 2020:  $507,241

David Franco:  Total Compensation 2021-2022:  $2 million

• 2023:  $753,406
• 2022:  $687,188
• 2021:  $515,898
• 2020:  $210,287

David Gillig:  Total Compensation 2021-2023:  $2 million

• 2023:  $615,852
• 2022:  $543,176
• 2021:  $411,154

Nadine Lamberski:  Total Compensation 2020-2023:  $2 million

• 2023:  $539,775
• 2022:  $513,837
• 2021:  $529,901
• 2020:  $586,686

As illustrated above, Paul Baribault, the President and CEO was the highest compensated employee.

SZDWA paid for first class or charter travel and provided discretionary spending accounts. Specifically,

A LIMITED NUMBER OF FIRST-CLASS TICKETS HAVE BEEN BOOKED FOR LONG DISTANCE TRAVEL WHEN BUSINESS CLASS IS NOT OFFERED (IN 2023, 7 TICKETS FOR A TOTAL COST OF UNDER $4,000). CHARTER FLIGHTS ARE BOOKED IN REMOTE FIELD LOCATIONS WHERE OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION ARE UNAVAILABLE, OR ARE IMPRACTICAL DUE TO TIME, COST, OR SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS. A DISCRETIONARY SPENDING PLAN COVERING HEALTHY LIFESTYLE EXPENDITURES TO PROMOTE WELLBEING IS OFFERED TO EXECUTIVES AND OFFICERS, COVERING CERTAIN ELIGIBLE EXPENSES TO SUPPLEMENT THE ORGANIZATION’S HEALTH PLANS. QUALIFIED PLAN EXPENSES ARE REIMBURSED BY THE EMPLOYER UP TO $300 PER MONTH FOR EXECUTIVES AND $450 PER MONTH FOR OFFICERS AND ARE TAXABLE TO THE EMPLOYEE AS INCOME.

24 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation with the five most highly compensated reported to be:

• $2,010,751:  Legacy Rock and Waterscapes, of Yorba Linda, CA for construction
• $1,130,136:  David Smith Productions, of San Diego, CA for entertainment provider
• $1,129,845:  Whole Trees, of Madison, WI for construction
• $  958,503:  The Shipyard, of Columbus, OH for advertising
• $  735,743:  Arimaw Productions, of San Diego, CA for entertainment provider

To view the IRS Form 990 (2023), click here.