TO INSPIRE AN APPRECIATION OF THE NATURAL WORLD THROUGH CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, AND RECREATION.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$27.9M
+11.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$85K
+325.0% YoY
Grant Count
4
+100.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
+112.5% YoY
About Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc
Based on IRS filings
Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc is a nonprofit organization focused on Environment & Animals, based in DES MOINES, IA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $27.9M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $85K. Net investment income was $132K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $27,946,842 | $25,100,315 | $22,987,936 |
| Revenue | $12,564,625 | $11,325,700 | $8,756,051 |
| Expenses | $10,218,751 | $9,580,229 | $7,666,943 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $132,056 | $34,357 | $10,922 |
| 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 4 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
15 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Blank Park Endowment Corporation ($55,000), Giraffe Conservation Foundation - Usa ($10,000), The Living Desert ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GIRAFFE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION - USA ORLANDO, FL | GIRAFFE CONSERVATION | $10,000 |
| THE LIVING DESERT PALM DESERT, CA | BLACK MAMBAS ANTI-POACHING UNIT DONATION | $10,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL RHINO FOUNDATION FT WORTH, TX | RHINO CONSERVATION | $10,000 |
| BLANK PARK ENDOWMENT CORPORATION DES MOINES, IA | GENERAL ASSISTANCE | $55,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROCHELLE BURNETT | CHAIRPERSON | 1 | — |
| DAN SCHWARZ | 1ST VICE CHAIRPERSON | 1 | — |
| MATT GUSTAFSON | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| AARON KENNEDY | IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRPERSON | 1 | — |
| PAT HENSON | MEMBER-AT-LARGE / BOARD RECORDER | 10.5 | — |
| JIM HAGENBUCHER | MEMBER-AT-LARGE | 1 | — |
| JEFFREY KARCH | MEMBER-AT-LARGE | 1 | — |
| PEG ARMSTRONG-GUSTAFSON | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| MATT FRYAR | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| TOBY JOSEPH | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| BEN PAGE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| DAVID BRICK | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| MICHAEL RENNER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| LOU SIPLOT | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| CLINT PURSLEY | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| CARL VOSS | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JOHN VIGGERS | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| TINA HOFFMAN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| VINCE WARD | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JAY BYERS | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| DIANE CROOKHAM-JOHNSON | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| LAUREN DOLL-SHEEDER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| DAN GROOMS | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| MARY RADIA | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| ARMEL R TRAORE DIT NIGNAN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| ROB STEVENSON | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| TUCKER ANDERSON | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| KURT HERBRECHTSMEYER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| HIRAM HOUGHTON | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| CALEB KNUTSON | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| BRITTNEY JOHNSON | DIRECTOR THROUGH 12-1-23 | 0.5 | — |
| DIRK POLLITT | DIRECTOR THROUGH 12-1-23 | 0.5 | — |
| CHARLES WITTMACK | DIRECTOR THROUGH 7-1-23 | 0.5 | — |
| ANNE SHIMERDLA | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 40 | $181,942 |
| GARY TUCKER | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 40 | $92,528 |
| RACHEL SUMMERS | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 40 | $119,458 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc?
Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc is a nonprofit organization focused on Environment & Animals, based in DES MOINES, IA. It holds $27.9M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc?
As of 2024, Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc holds $27.9M in total assets with $12.6M in annual revenue. It awarded 4 grants totaling $85K in 2024.
Where does Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc operate?
Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc has awarded grants in California, Florida, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, Texas.
What size grants does Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc awarded 4 grants totaling $85K — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc's EIN?
Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1171821. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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