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Lincoln Park Zoological Society

Lincoln park zoo is dedicated to connecting people with nature by providing a free, family-oriented wildlife experience in the heart of chicago and by advancing the highest quality …

Animal Welfare Chicago, IL EIN: 362512404 (IRS) Sign up to see website
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87
Integrity Assessment
Strong transparency
87/100 · methodology

About Lincoln Park Zoological Society

Founded in 1868, Lincoln Park Zoo is among the most established zoos in the country.

Founded
Headquarters
Chicago, IL
Foundation type
Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2))
NTEE code
D500
IRS subsection
501(c)(c3)
Ruling date
Size
major

Verified certifications

Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.

IRS Tax-Deductible since 1961

Mission

Lincoln park zoo is dedicated to connecting people with nature by providing a free, family-oriented wildlife experience in the heart of chicago and by advancing the highest quality of animal care, education, science and conservation.

Focus areas & reach

· What they work on and where
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.

How it stacks up against peers

· vs. 6 similar animal welfare in United States
Program spending This charity: 87%
Peer average: 83%
CEO comp as % of revenue This charity: 0.90%
Peer average: 0.48%
Integrity Assessment This charity: 87
Peer average: 90

Concerns

· None found
No red flags found
Screened for IRS revocation history, Open investigations, Governance scandals, Related-party deals, Excessive exec comp.

Where every $1 goes

· FY2025 · IRS 990 (FY2025)
$0.87
Program$0.87
87% to programs beats the peer average (83%) and beats the Charity Navigator "highly efficient" threshold (75%).

GiveRadar Analysis

Original analysis from GiveRadar's dataset of comparable organizations

GiveRadar's verified records show Lincoln Park Zoological Society with a complete profile, cross-referenced across 4 independent sources including the IRS.

  • GiveRadar has verified more about this organization than about 99% of the 40,468 animal welfare charities in the United States it tracks, because GiveRadar has verified its financial disclosures and its governance. Most of those have little verified data on record yet. View this cohort
  • Established in 1959, it predates 94% of the animal welfare charities in the United States GiveRadar has a founding year for. View this cohort
  • By reported annual revenue, it is larger than 98% of the 16,157 animal welfare charities in the United States with financial records on GiveRadar. See the filings
GiveRadar has verified
  • government registration
  • financial records (6 filed years)
  • disclosed leadership
  • a website
  • a donation page
  • third-party accreditation
Not yet verified by GiveRadar
  • a contact email
  • an owner-submitted profile claim

Analysis based on GiveRadar's benchmark dataset of 2026-07-03. It describes what GiveRadar has verified, not a judgment of the organization itself.

Common questions

· Auto-generated from filings + methodology

Lincoln Park Zoological Society is a registered animal welfare nonprofit based in Chicago, IL, United States. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It was founded in 1959 and has been operating for 67 years. Its EIN is 362512404. According to GiveRadar's records, it holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 87/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports $51M in annual revenue. 272 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. No red flags have been detected.

Lincoln Park Zoological Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 362512404. This is the organization's IRS tax identification number; you can use it to verify tax-exempt status and to look up its Form 990 filings with the IRS.

Lincoln Park Zoological Society has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 87/100. 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 87 ('Strong transparency') reflects well-documented governance, recent financials, named leadership, and working contact details. The charity allocates 87% of expenses to programs, which contributes positively to its score. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for animal welfare charities in United States is 90/100.

Lincoln Park Zoological Society is located in Chicago, IL, United States. The organization was established in 1959 and has been active for 67 years.

Based on official tax filings, Lincoln Park Zoological Society has $51M in annual revenue. It allocates 87% of expenses to programs and services. This is in line with the average of 83% for animal welfare charities in United States. 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.

Lincoln Park Zoological Society is classified as an Animal Welfare organization, registered in United States. It operates as a Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)). By size, it is categorized as a major organization. It has $51M in annual revenue. The organization has 272 disclosed officers and directors.

No red flags have been detected for Lincoln Park 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.

According to GiveRadar's records, Lincoln Park Zoological Society holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It reports that 87% of expenses go to programs (the peer average is 83%). You can donate directly through their official donation page linked on their GiveRadar profile. GiveRadar provides data for research and does not endorse any organization. A GiveRadar Integrity Assessment reflects how much public data is available, not whether an organization is safe to donate to, so it is always smart to do your own research before giving.

Founded in 1868, Lincoln Park Zoo is among the most established zoos in the country. Lincoln Park Zoological Society is classified as an animal welfare organization registered in United States. The organization was founded in 1959.

Among animal welfare charities registered in United States: It allocates 87% of expenses to programs, in line with the peer average of 83%. Its annual revenue of $51M is well above the peer average of $1M.

Yes, donations to Lincoln Park Zoological Society are generally tax-deductible in the United States. Its EIN is 362512404, 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.

Annual revenue
$10M-$100M
87% to programs
Source: IRS 990 (FY2025) why this matters
Unlock exact figures

Filing history

6 years on file from IRS 990 (FY2025): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.

Years on record: FY2025, FY2024, FY2023, FY2022, FY2021, FY2020.
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.

Staff & volunteers

From filings and published profiles

Employees
546

Leadership

From FY2025 filing

ME
Megan R•••
President & CEO

Officers & trustees (25)

Source: Public filings

See full names, roles, and stories

25 officers and trustees on file - free with a GiveRadar account.

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Latest news

From global news sources

10 articles found

From news sources and the organization. Shown for transparency; news never affects the integrity score.

Activity timeline

Filings and press mentions, merged

Lincoln Park Zoo - Britannica
Jun 2026
www.britannica.com
Lincoln Park Zoo opens new open-air aviary exhibit - NBC26
Jun 2026
www.nbc26.com
Form filed
$50.5M revenue
FY2025
IRS 990
Must see in Manitowoc — Lights in Lincoln Park runs nightly Dec. 11-30 - Herald Times Reporter
Dec 2025
www.htrnews.com
Form filed
$56.4M revenue
FY2024
IRS 990
Form filed
$48.4M revenue
FY2023
IRS 990
Grand Opening Held for New Coyote Exhibit at Lincoln Park Zoo - Seehafer News
Oct 2023
www.seehafernews.com
Form filed
$64.2M revenue
FY2022
IRS 990
Lincoln Park Zoo Unveils Master Plan - Seehafer News
Feb 2022
www.seehafernews.com
Form filed
$29.2M revenue
FY2021
IRS 990
Former Lincoln Park Zoo director Lester Fisher dies at age 100 — a transformational leader for the zoo and its animals -
Dec 2021
www.chicagotribune.com
Retiring president Kevin Bell bids goodbye to the Lincoln Park Zoo that has been his home for nearly half a century - Ch
Nov 2021
www.chicagotribune.com
Form filed
$51.4M revenue
FY2020
IRS 990
Need to Know Details for Your Trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo - TripSavvy
Nov 2019
www.tripsavvy.com
Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo to remain free through at least 2050 - WIFR
Jul 2019
www.wifr.com
Lincoln Park Zoo to remain free until 2050 — and why the contract was extended early - Chicago Tribune
Jul 2019
www.chicagotribune.com

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Cause areas in United States

How many charities work in each area, with this charity's area highlighted.

Human Services 322,679
Education 195,586
Arts & Culture 133,128
Advocacy & Civil Rights 128,026
Religion 114,636
Health 98,862
Community Development 56,086
Youth Development 53,450
Animal Welfare this charity 40,468
See all cause areas in United States

Most common causes in United States

Causes charities work on most, with this charity's causes ticked.

Community Development 235,146
Education 159,016
Religion 103,741
Arts & Culture 101,203
Human Rights 76,926
Health 65,250
Youth Development 47,775
Animal Welfare 32,425

Sources and verification

Registration and legal identity
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search
Financial filings
IRS Form 990 filings - Fiscal year 2025 most recent on file.
Officers and trustees
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search - 272 disclosed in the public registry.
News and media coverage
GDELT Project + Google News
Supplementary verification
Charity Navigator

Data freshness

Last updated
Jun 12, 2026
Registry checked
Jun 6, 2026
Profile completeness
100%

What we know and don't know

Exactly which public data we hold on this charity. Our score reflects transparency, not impact.

On record · 10
  • Financial data · FY2025 on record
  • Named leadership · 272 officers on file
  • Executive pay · Disclosed
  • Government registration · Registered with an official registry
  • Mission statement · Published
  • Official website · On record
  • Headquarters address · On file
  • Direct contact · Email or phone published
  • Tax-deductibility · Verified
  • Founding date · 1959
Not available · 1
  • Programs & activities
    No named programs listed by the charity

Methodology

GiveRadar builds each profile primarily from official government charity registries, supplemented where available by third-party nonprofit databases and news archives, and combines it into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. The exact sources for this charity are listed above. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.

Read full methodology

Are you the owner or a board member?

If you represent this organization and want to correct or update its data, you can claim this listing to edit details yourself, or email [email protected] with the correct information. We review every request and respond within 30 days.

Quick facts about Lincoln Park Zoological Society

What is Lincoln Park Zoological Society?
Lincoln Park Zoological Society is a animal welfare publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)) based in Chicago, United States. Founded in 1868, Lincoln Park Zoo is among the most established zoos in the country.
When was Lincoln Park Zoological Society founded?
Lincoln Park Zoological Society was founded in 1959.
Who leads Lincoln Park Zoological Society?
Megan Ross serves as President & CEO.
Where is Lincoln Park Zoological Society located?
Headquartered in Chicago, IL, United States.
What is Lincoln Park Zoological Society's annual budget?
Annual revenue for fiscal year 2025 is approximately $10M-$100M. 87% of expenses go to program services.
Is Lincoln Park Zoological Society trustworthy?
Lincoln Park Zoological Society has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 87 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 Lincoln Park Zoological Society's registration number?
IRS EIN: 362512404.
What is Lincoln Park Zoological Society's website?
http://lpzoo.org