Detroit Zoological Society
8450 W 10 Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI · IRS data through FY2024
Revenue, expenses and net assets
Revenue Expenses Net assets
| Tax year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 | $64,149,877 | $67,117,325 | $59,955,811 |
| FY2023 | $54,342,499 | $56,218,168 | $61,371,869 |
| FY2022 | $55,141,767 | $49,367,146 | $58,097,296 |
| FY2021 | $55,152,416 | $36,945,849 | $62,308,114 |
| FY2020 | $31,136,737 | $29,464,717 | $42,304,158 |
| FY2019 | $46,934,007 | $45,049,172 | $36,727,654 |
| FY2018 | $46,953,637 | $44,999,693 | $33,982,883 |
| FY2017 | $46,208,478 | $40,691,390 | $34,000,278 |
| FY2016 | $46,740,730 | $48,352,809 | $26,771,742 |
| FY2015 | $48,156,944 | $59,541,937 | $27,868,781 |
| FY2014 | $44,269,214 | $34,748,979 | $39,951,601 |
| FY2013 | $33,321,711 | $30,929,648 | $31,500,338 |
| FY2012 | $32,032,774 | $29,743,356 | $28,077,958 |
| FY2011 | $32,037,189 | $31,429,305 | $24,170,071 |
Form 990 filings
The returns filed by Detroit Zoological Society (EIN 38-6027356), including Form 990 PDFs and e-file data by year, are available in ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer. The figures on this page come from IRS data files built from those returns.
Where the revenue came from
| Source | Amount | % of revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Contributions & grants | $33,036,298 | 51% |
| Program service revenue | $26,588,742 | 41% |
| Other revenue | $4,524,837 | 7% |
Where the money was spent
| Category | Amount | % of expenses |
|---|---|---|
| Program services | $56,905,825 | 85% |
| Management & general | $8,305,131 | 12% |
| Fundraising | $1,906,369 | 3% |
What the numbers show
- Contributions & grants made up 51% of total revenue in FY2024.
- Program services accounted for 85% of functional expenses, management & general 12%, and fundraising 3%.
- 85% of functional expenses went to program services in FY2024. That is higher than 66.8% of 241 Animal-Related organizations nationwide (too few in MI for a state comparison).
- Net assets covered about 10.7 months of expenses at the end of the reporting year. That puts it in the 44th percentile among 300 Animal-Related organizations in MI.
- Total revenue was the highest among 302 Animal-Related organizations in MI.
- Total revenue rose from $32,037,189 in FY2011 to $64,149,877 in FY2024. Revenue increased in 6 and decreased in 7 of 13 year-over-year comparisons.
- Expenses exceeded revenue in 4 of 14 reported years (FY2015, FY2016, FY2023, FY2024).
- Net assets grew from $24,170,071 to $59,955,811 between FY2011 and FY2024.
- Listed in the IRS Publication 78 data as eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (public charity).
Figures compared against other organizations of the same NTEE program area in the same state. See the methodology page for how these are calculated and the guide to reading nonprofit financials for their limits.
About this organization
The mission of the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) is to create meaningful connections between people, animals and the natural world so all can thrive. The vision of the DZS is to be a force for positive change in a world where animals and nature are valued, understood and protected by all people.
IRS status
| Ruling year | 1958 |
| Subsection | 501(c)(3) |
| Classification | Public charity |
| Program area (NTEE) | D500 — Animal-Related |
| Donations | Listed in the IRS Publication 78 data as eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (public charity). |
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Source: Internal Revenue Service — Exempt Organizations Business Master File (downloaded November 4, 2026), Statistics of Income extracts, Form 990 e-file data, Publication 78 and the Automatic Revocation list. Figures are as reported by the organization; IRS processing may adjust them. This is not a charity rating and not tax advice. Confirm deductibility in IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
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