The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), also known as the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Silver Spring, Maryland. Founded in 1971 and tax-exempt since June 1972, AZA serves as the professional membership organization for accredited zoos and aquariums. The organization advances wildlife conservation and education through its member institutions, managing animal programs and supporting species preservation initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$35.2M
+6.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.1M
+401.0% YoY
Grant Count
50
+61.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$142K
+210.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: AZA helps its members and the animals in their care thrive by providing services advancing animal welfare, public engagement and the conservation of wildlife. The organization envisions a world where all people respect, value and conserve wildlife and wild places.
Primary Program Areas:
Conservation & Science: AZA facilitates, supports, promotes and coordinates cooperative animal management, conservation and scientific initiatives of member institutions. The organization provides grants for conservation through the Conservation Grants Fund.
Accreditation & Membership: AZA maintains accreditation standards and membership services for zoo and aquarium facilities.
Conservation Education: AZA provides support to member institutions in the development and implementation of zoo and aquarium education programs to advance understanding of wildlife. The organization offers ongoing professional development opportunities through on-site and online programs, conferences, publications, websites, and newsletters, facilitating the exchange of educational information relevant to the zoo and aquarium community.
Endangered Species Relief Fund: AZA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have entered into a cooperative agreement to implement provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act, providing reimbursements to eligible facilities that cared for native endangered and threatened species and rescued and confiscated wildlife while experiencing earned revenue declines due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grantmaking
AZA maintains an active grantmaking portfolio with the following programs:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
AZA's grantmaking priorities focus primarily on California, Ohio, and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Revenue: $13.3 million
- Total Expenses: $12.1 million
- Total Assets: $33 million
- Total Liabilities: $11.9 million
- Number of Employees: 50
Additional Details:
- The organization operates a donor-advised fund through which donors can direct the distribution or investment of funds.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $35,169,032 | $32,978,351 | $29,617,587 |
| Revenue | $20,870,405 | $13,318,166 | $31,309,593 |
| Expenses | $18,320,152 | $12,145,369 | $28,739,293 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,385,684 | $335,379 | $288,149 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
202 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from American Association of
AZA Conservation Grants Fund
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF
Amount
Approximately US $22,500
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Disney Diversity Advancement Scholarship Grant
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Gary Clarke & Clayton Freiheit Scholarship Grant
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Marine Mammal Center ($1,002,077), Lincoln Park Zoological Society ($618,598), Monterey Bay Aquarium ($602,176).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABILENE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY ABILENE, TX | CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP | $11,524 |
| ALASKA SEALIFE CENTER SEWARD, AK | PARTY FOR THE PLANET & CONSERVATION -ZEBRA SHARKS | $18,624 |
| AQUARIUM OF NIAGARA NIAGRA FALLS, NY | PARTY FOR THE PLANET | $189,543 |
| BLANK PARK ZOO FOUNDATION DES MOINES, IA | FL BROODSTOCK MANAGM & CORAL HOLDING PROJECT | $152,803 |
| BUTTERFLY PAVILION WESTMINSTER, CO | MONARCH BUTTERFLIES | $32,214 |
| CINCINNATI ZOO & BOTANICAL GAR CINCINNATI, OH | AFRICAN LIONS & ENDAGERED SPECIES COVID RELIEF | $205,388 |
| CLEVELAND METROPARKS ZOO CLEVELAND, OH | PARTY FOR THE PLANET | $38,400 |
| COLUMBUS ZOOLOGICAL PARK ASSOC POWELL, OH | FL BROODSTOCK MANAGM & CORAL HOLDING PROJECT | $28,973 |
| DENVER ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION DENVER, CO | ENDANGER SPECIES COVID RELIEF | $39,127 |
| DUBUQUE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY DUBUQUE, IA | FL BROODSTOCK MANAGM & CORAL HOLDING PROJECT | $15,159 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DENISE VERRET | CHAIR | 6 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER DOLD | CHAIR-ELECT | 6 | — |
| DWIGHT SCOTT | VICE CHAIR | 6 | — |
| LISA NEW | PAST CHAIR | 6 | — |
| KYLE BURKS | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| BECKY DEWITZ | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| ROGER GERMANN | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| CHARLES HOPPER | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| CARRIE LEWIS | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| LUIS PADILLA | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| LISA PETERSON | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| CHRIS PFEFFERKORN | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| DOUGLAS PIEKARZ | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| ERIC ROSE | DIRECTOR (UNTIL 9/24) | 3 | — |
| MEGAN ROSS | DIRECTOR (UNTIL 9/24) | 3 | — |
| DANIEL M ASHE | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $537,925 |
| CRAIG M HOOVER | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $258,436 |
| PHILIP F WAGNER | SR. VP OF FINANCE | 40 | $205,906 |
| JOHN C KEENEY JR | GENERAL COUNSEL | 40 | $225,953 |
| MELISSA A HOWERTON | SR. VP OF MEMBER SERVICES | 40 | $194,944 |
| CANDICE DORSEY | SR. VP CONSERVATION & MGMT | 40 | $196,250 |
| SARA WALKER | SR. ADVISOR ON WILDLIFE TR | 40 | $186,094 |
| SARAH E MILBERG | SR. VP OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS | 40 | $139,982 |
Contact Information
Address: 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 710, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3397
Phone: 301-562-0777
Website: www.aza.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does American Association of fund?
**Mission:** AZA helps its members and the animals in their care thrive by providing services advancing animal welfare, public engagement and the conservation of wildlife. The organization envisions a world where all people respect, value and conserve wildlife and wild places. **Primary Program Areas:** • **Conservation & Science:** AZA facilitates, supports, promotes and coordinates cooperative animal management, conservation and scientific initiatives of member institutions. The organization …
How do I apply for a grant from American Association of?
AZA maintains an active grantmaking portfolio with the following programs: • **AZA Conservation Grants Fund** • **Disney Diversity Advancement Scholarship** • **Gary Clarke & Clayton Freiheit Scholarship** • **Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) Granting Program** Typical grant awards range from $5,552 to $1,002,077. The organization currently has 4 live grant opportunities available.
Where does American Association of make grants?
AZA's grantmaking priorities focus primarily on California, Ohio, and Texas.
What size grants does American Association of award?
In 2024, American Association of awarded 50 grants totaling $7.1M — an average of about $142K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is American Association of's EIN?
American Association of's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 55-0526930. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in American Association of's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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