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Virginia Zoological Society

The virginia zoological society inc (the "society") exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code. Organized on september 21, 1979, its purpose is …

Animal Welfare Norfolk, VA EIN: 510253147 (IRS) Sign up to see website
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68
Integrity Assessment
Partial transparency
68/100 · methodology

About Virginia Zoological Society

The Virginia Zoo, in Norfolk, Virginia, offers a wide variety of exciting and natural animal exhibits to visit and enjoy.

Founded
Headquarters
Norfolk, VA
Foundation type
Supporting organization (509(a)(3))
NTEE code
D500
IRS subsection
501(c)(03)
Ruling date
Size
medium

Verified certifications

Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.

IRS Tax-Deductible since 1980

Mission

The virginia zoological society inc (the "society") exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code. Organized on september 21, 1979, its purpose is to act as an advisory and supportive organization to advance the development of the virginia zoological park (the "zoo") in norfolk, virginia. The zoo is owned by the city of norfolk (the "city"). The objective of the society is to foster public awareness and appreciation of the zoo and to promote the conservation of the world's flora and fauna. The society provides essential program services for the zoo, as follows: zoo improvements and exhibits: significant assistance for zoo expansion, building renovations and other volunteer efforts into providing services for the zoo. Educational services: encourages an understanding of conservation to a wide variety of individuals by funding and operating all zoo education programs (including programs for the handicapped and community outreach programs); training a

Focus areas & reach

· What they work on and where
Cause tags

How it stacks up against peers

· vs. 8 similar animal welfare in United States
Program spending This charity: 86%
Peer average: 82%
Integrity Assessment This charity: 68
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

· FY2023 · IRS 990 (FY2023)
$0.86
Program$0.86
86% to programs beats the peer average (82%) 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 Virginia Zoological Society with a complete profile, sourced from the IRS.

  • Established in 1979, it predates 85% 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 88% of the 16,157 animal welfare charities in the United States with financial records on GiveRadar. See the filings
  • GiveRadar holds a more complete profile for this organization than for 72% of the 40,468 animal welfare charities in the United States it tracks, because GiveRadar has verified its financial disclosures and its registration. Most of those have little verified data on record yet. View this cohort
GiveRadar has verified
  • government registration
  • financial records (4 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

Virginia Zoological Society is a registered animal welfare nonprofit based in Norfolk, VA, United States. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It was founded in 1979 and has been operating for 47 years. Its EIN is 510253147. 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 68/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports $9M in annual revenue. 114 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. No red flags have been detected.

Virginia Zoological Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 510253147. 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.

Virginia Zoological Society has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 68/100. 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 68 ('Partial transparency') means some public data is on file but key signals are missing - worth a closer look before donating. The charity allocates 86% 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.

Virginia Zoological Society is located in Norfolk, VA, United States. The organization was established in 1979 and has been active for 47 years.

Based on official tax filings, Virginia Zoological Society has $9M in annual revenue. It allocates 86% of expenses to programs and services. This is in line with the average of 82% 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.

Virginia Zoological Society is classified as an Animal Welfare organization, registered in United States. It operates as a Supporting organization (509(a)(3)). By size, it is categorized as a medium organization. It has $9M in annual revenue. The organization has 114 disclosed officers and directors.

No red flags have been detected for Virginia 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, Virginia 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 86% of expenses go to programs (the peer average is 82%). 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.

The Virginia Zoo, in Norfolk, Virginia, offers a wide variety of exciting and natural animal exhibits to visit and enjoy. Virginia Zoological Society is classified as an animal welfare organization registered in United States. The organization was founded in 1979.

Among animal welfare charities registered in United States: It allocates 86% of expenses to programs, in line with the peer average of 82%. Its annual revenue of $9M is well above the peer average of $1M.

Yes, donations to Virginia Zoological Society are generally tax-deductible in the United States. Virginia Zoological Society is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Its EIN is 510253147, 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
$1M-$10M
86% to programs
Source: IRS 990 (FY2023) why this matters
Unlock exact figures

Filing history

4 years on file from IRS 990 (FY2023): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.

Years on record: FY2023, FY2022, FY2021, FY2020.
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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
138

Leadership

From FY2023 filing

GR
Greg B•••••••
Executive Director

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

No recent news coverage found

News coverage will appear here when articles mention this organization.

Activity timeline

Filings and press mentions, merged

Form filed
$8.5M revenue
FY2023
IRS 990
Form filed
$5.6M revenue
FY2022
IRS 990
Form filed
$3.6M revenue
FY2021
IRS 990
Form filed
$2.5M revenue
FY2020
IRS 990

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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 2023 most recent on file.
Officers and trustees
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search - 114 disclosed in the public registry.

Data freshness

Last updated
Jun 6, 2026
Registry checked
Jun 6, 2026
Profile completeness
75%

What we know and don't know

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

On record · 9
  • Financial data · FY2023 on record
  • Named leadership · 114 officers on file
  • 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 · 1979
Not available · 2
  • Executive pay
    Top-officer pay not disclosed
  • 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 Virginia Zoological Society

What is Virginia Zoological Society?
Virginia Zoological Society is a animal welfare supporting organization (509(a)(3)) based in Norfolk, United States. The Virginia Zoo, in Norfolk, Virginia, offers a wide variety of exciting and natural animal exhibits to visit and enjoy.
When was Virginia Zoological Society founded?
Virginia Zoological Society was founded in 1979.
Who leads Virginia Zoological Society?
Greg Bockheim serves as Executive Director.
Where is Virginia Zoological Society located?
Headquartered in Norfolk, VA, United States.
What is Virginia Zoological Society's annual budget?
Annual revenue for fiscal year 2023 is approximately $1M-$10M. 86% of expenses go to program services.
Is Virginia Zoological Society trustworthy?
Virginia Zoological Society has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 68 out of 100 (Partial 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 Virginia Zoological Society's registration number?
IRS EIN: 510253147.
What is Virginia Zoological Society's website?
http://www.virginiazoo.org