Charities United States Animal Welfare Detroit Zoological Society
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Detroit Zoological Society

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 …

Animal Welfare Royal Oak, MI EIN 386027356 · IRS Sign up to see website
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77
Integrity Assessment
Strong transparency
77/100 · methodology

About Detroit Zoological Society

See the animals, experience enrichments and find your friends.

Founded
Headquarters
Royal Oak, MI
Foundation type
Supporting organization (509(a)(3))
NTEE code
D500
IRS subsection
501(c)(03)
Ruling date
Size
major

Verified certifications

Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.

IRS Tax-Deductible since 1958

Mission

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.

Focus areas & reach

· What they work on and where
Animal Welfare · NTEE D500
Cause tags
SDG alignment The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the global agenda for ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity by 2030. We tag each charity to the goals its work advances.
SDG 15 SDG 15 · Life on Land Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity.

How it stacks up against peers

· vs. 8 similar animal welfare in United States
Program spending This charity: 0%
Peer average: 96%
CEO comp as % of revenue This charity: 0.81%
Peer average: 0.48%
Integrity Assessment This charity: 77
Peer average: 92

Red flags

· All clear
IRS revocation history
OFAC / EU / UN sanctions
Open investigations
Governance scandals
Related-party deals
Excessive exec comp

Common questions

· Auto-generated from filings + methodology

Detroit Zoological Society is a registered animal welfare nonprofit based in Royal Oak, MI, United States. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It was founded in 1924 and has been operating for 102 years. Its EIN is 386027356. It has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 77/100 (Strong transparency), indicating well-documented governance, financials, and contact details. This is below the average of 92/100 for animal welfare charities in United States. The organization reports $64M in annual revenue. 295 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. No red flags have been detected.

Detroit Zoological Society has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 77/100. This score combines five components: Registration (20 pts), Financial Transparency (30 pts), Governance (20 pts), Contact Availability (10 pts), and Data Recency (20 pts), with negative adjustments for any red flags. A score of 77 ('Strong transparency') reflects well-documented governance, recent financials, named leadership, and working contact details. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for animal welfare charities in United States is 92/100.

Detroit Zoological Society is located in Royal Oak, MI, United States. The organization was established in 1924 and has been active for 102 years.

Based on official tax filings, Detroit Zoological Society has $64M in annual revenue. Its revenue is significantly above the peer average of $1M. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.

Detroit Zoological Society is classified as a Animal Welfare organization, registered in United States. It operates as a Supporting organization (509(a)(3)). By size, it is categorized as a major organization. It has $64M in annual revenue. The organization has 295 disclosed officers and directors.

No red flags have been detected for Detroit Zoological Society. GiveRadar automatically screens charities for concerning patterns including high executive compensation, low program spending, and missing financial filings. Based on available official data, no issues have been identified.

Detroit Zoological Society has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 77/100 (Strong transparency) and no red flags have been detected, which suggests it is a well-documented organization. It is regulated by the IRS. You can donate directly through their official donation page linked on their GiveRadar profile. GiveRadar provides data for research purposes and does not endorse any organization. Always do your own due diligence.

See the animals, experience enrichments and find your friends. Detroit Zoological Society is classified as a animal welfare organization registered in United States. The organization was founded in 1924.

Among animal welfare charities registered in United States: Detroit Zoological Society's GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 77/100 is below the peer average of 92/100. Its annual revenue of $64M is well above the peer average of $1M.

Yes, donations to Detroit Zoological Society are generally tax-deductible in the United States. Detroit Zoological Society is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Its EIN is 386027356, which you can use for tax filing purposes. Donors can typically deduct contributions on their federal income tax return if they itemize deductions. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Verified against 6 official sources, last refreshed .

Annual revenue
$10M-$100M
0% to programs
Source: IRS 990 (FY2024) why this matters
Unlock exact figures

Filing history

10 years on file from IRS 990 (FY2024): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.

Years on record: FY2024, FY2023, FY2022, FY2021, FY2020, FY2019, FY2018, FY2017, FY2016, FY2015.
Financial details are free - with a GiveRadar account

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Taxes

Tax-deductibility for donors

Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United States under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.

Always confirm tax treatment with the charity directly or your tax advisor before donating.

Leadership

RO
Robert Schumaker
Chief Financial Officer

Officers & trustees (25)

Source: Public filings

AL
Alan K•••••
Executive Director
AL
Alan K••••••
Executive Director
AL
Alisha B•••
Director
AL
Allan D G••••••
Director
AM
Amanda H•••••
Chief of Staff
AN
Andre S•••••
Director
AN
Anmar S•••••
Director
AN
Ann D•••••
Associate VP of Life Sciences
AN
Anthony A••••
Director
AN
Anthony F E••••• J•
Chairman
BE
Beth C•••••••
Director
BE
Beth D•••
Director
BO
Bonnie L•••••
Executive Director
BR
Brandon K•••
Director
BU
Burton D F••••••
Director
CA
Candice M•••••
Director
CH
Charles E••••
Director
CL
Clark B••••••
Director
CY
Cynthia F•••
Executive Director
DA
David E D•••••
Director
DA
Dawn L•••••••••
Director
DE
DeAndrea M•••••••
VP of Diversity and Community Engagement
DE
Denise B••••••••••••••
Executive Director
DE
Denise J L••••
Executive Director
DI
Diane M•••••
VP of Education
Full names, contact details & compensation

Free with an account.

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Latest news

From global news sources

10 articles found

From global news sources

Sentiment

Neutral

Activity timeline

Filings and press mentions, merged

11 Detroit Zoo animals that emerge outdoors as spring and summer arrive - MLive.com
May 2026
www.mlive.com
First ever Tigers Day coming to the Detroit Zoo with former players, big cats - MLive.com
Apr 2026
www.mlive.com
Our first look at three river otter pups born at the Detroit Zoo - MLive.com
Apr 2026
www.mlive.com
Meet the salamanders keeping watch over the Detroit River - Planet Detroit
Apr 2026
planetdetroit.org
Detroit Zoo welcomes three baby otters to its family - FOX 2 Detroit
Apr 2026
www.fox2detroit.com
Global partnerships, golden results - Crain's Detroit Business
Apr 2026
www.crainsdetroit.com
'Misunderstood' Detroit River creatures get tracked in bid to halt decline - The Detroit News
Apr 2026
www.detroitnews.com
Jane Alessandrini - Crain's Detroit Business
Mar 2026
www.crainsdetroit.com
Detroit Zoological Society budget hearing: coyote habitat, new trails and more - Outlier Media
Mar 2026
outliermedia.org
Detroit Zoo hires new chief development officer - C&G Newspapers
Feb 2026
www.candgnews.com
Form filed
$64.1M revenue
FY2024
IRS_990
Form filed
$54.3M revenue
FY2023
IRS_990
Form filed
$55.1M revenue
FY2022
IRS_990
Form filed
$55.2M revenue
FY2021
IRS_990
Form filed
$31.1M revenue
FY2020
IRS_990
Form filed
$46.9M revenue
FY2019
PROPUBLICA
Form filed
$47.0M revenue
FY2018
PROPUBLICA
Form filed
$46.2M revenue
FY2017
PROPUBLICA
Form filed
$46.7M revenue
FY2016
PROPUBLICA
Form filed
$48.2M revenue
FY2015
PROPUBLICA

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Peer charities

Other animal welfare in United States, by integrity assessment

Charity Score Revenue Program %
Detroit Zoological Society This page 77 $64.1 million -
Critter Encounters 93 $230,370 100%
Wedrose Acres 93 $114,491 99%
Spca of Tennessee 93 $189,417 83%
Arizona Poodle Rescue Inc 93 $658,982 100%
Better Days Inc 93 $181,989 99%
Fifty Shades of Furr Inc 93 $314,656 94%
Bullpen Way Station & Sanctuary Ltd 90 $151,835 93%
Clay County Animal Rescue & Education Center Inc 90 $136,295 100%

Sources and verification

Refreshed

Registration and legal identity
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search
Financial filings
IRS Form 990 filings - Fiscal year 2024 most recent on file.
Officers and trustees
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search - 295 disclosed in the public registry.
News and media coverage
GDELT Project + Google News
Supplementary verification
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Supplementary verification
Charity Navigator

Data freshness

Last updated
May 27, 2026
Profile completeness
100%

What we don't know

Honest gaps - our score reflects transparency, not impact

Programs & projects
No named programs listed by the charity
Operating reach
Countries where programs run not specified

Methodology

GiveRadar combines public registry filings, ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and news archives into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.

Read full methodology

Quick facts about Detroit Zoological Society

What is Detroit Zoological Society?
Detroit Zoological Society is a animal welfare supporting organization (509(a)(3)) based in Royal Oak, United States. See the animals, experience enrichments and find your friends.
When was Detroit Zoological Society founded?
Detroit Zoological Society was founded in 1924.
Who leads Detroit Zoological Society?
Robert Schumaker serves as Chief Financial Officer.
Where is Detroit Zoological Society located?
Headquartered in Royal Oak, United States.
What is Detroit Zoological Society's annual budget?
Annual revenue for fiscal year 2024 is approximately $10M-$100M. 0% of expenses go to program services.
Is Detroit Zoological Society trustworthy?
Detroit Zoological Society has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 77 out of 100 (Strong transparency). The score reflects public-data transparency: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and how recently data was refreshed. It does not measure program impact.
What is Detroit Zoological Society's registration number?
IRS EIN: 386027356.
What is Detroit Zoological Society's website?
http://www.detroitzoo.org/