Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc logo

Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Des Moines, IA EIN: 42-1171821 Website

To inspire an appreciation of the natural world through conservation, education, and recreation.

Key facts about Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc

In short: Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc gave $10K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Iowa. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
42-1171821
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$10,000
Grants made (2025)
1
Average grant
$10,000
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$28,547,961
Primary geography
Iowa (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$28.5M

+2.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$10K

-88.2% YoY

Grant Count

1

-75.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$10K

-52.9% YoY

How Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc gives

  • Giving fell 88% from 2022 to 2025. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

About Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc

Based on IRS filings

Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Des Moines, IA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $28.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $10K. Net investment income was $169K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.

Cities

Ft WorthDes MoinesOrlandoClevelandPalm DesertSilver Spring

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$25K$50K$75K$100K3 grants2020 3 grants2021 3 grants2022 2 grants2023 4 grants2024 1 grant2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2025) to $85K (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $10K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top recipient in 2025

Blank Park Endowment Corporation: $10KBlank Park EndowmentCorporation$10K

The largest 2025 recipient was Blank Park Endowment Corporation ($10K).

Grant Size Distribution

13 grants across all recorded years

11<$50K2$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 11 grants of 13 (85%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Blank Park Endowment Corporation Des Moines, IAGeneral Assistance$10,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$5M$10M$15M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$28,547,961$27,946,842$25,100,315
Revenue$11,913,239$12,564,625$11,325,700
Expenses$10,590,247$10,218,751$9,580,229
Net Investment Income$169,161$132,056$34,357

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc is led by Anne Shimerdla, Chief Executive Officer since 2023 (on filings since 2021); 3 of 38 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Anne Shimerdla

    Chief Executive Officer

    Ceo-Starting June → CEO, 2022

    CEO → Chief Executive Officer, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $103K (2021) → $160K (2025)

  • Rochelle Burnett

    Chairperson

    1st Chairperson → 1st Vice Chairperson, 2023

    1st Vice Chairperson → Chairperson, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ben Page

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Carl Voss

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Clint Pursley

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • David Brick

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lou Siplot

    Director

    Member-At-Large → Director, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Matt Fryar

    Director

    Member-At-Large → Director, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael Renner

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Peg Armstrong-Gustafson

    Director

    Chairperson → Immediate Past Chairperson, 2022

    Immediate Past Chairperson → Director, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Toby Joseph

    Director

    Immediate Past Chairperson → Director, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tina Hoffman

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Vince Ward

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jay Byers

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Armel R. Traore Dit Nignan

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dan Grooms

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lauren Doll-Sheeder

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mary Radia

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Caleb Knutson

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Hiram Houghton

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kurt Herbrechtsmeyer

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tucker Anderson

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Heather Etnyre

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jen Clausen

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Judy Ralston-Hansen

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Julie Jackowski

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Neusa Facenda

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gary Tucker

    Chief Financial Officer

    CFO → Chief Financial Officer, 2023

    On filings since 2022

    40 hrs/week

    $71K (2022) → $79K (2025)

  • Rachel Summers

    Chief Operating Officer

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $114K (2023) → $119K (2025)

  • Aaron Kennedy

    Immediate Past Chairperson

    1st Vice Chairperson → Chairperson, 2022

    Chairperson → Immediate Past Chairperson, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dan Schwarz

    1st Vice Chairperson

    2nd Chairperson → 2nd Vice Chairperson, 2023

    2nd Vice Chairperson → 1st Vice Chairperson, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jeffrey Karch

    Member-At-Large

    Director → Member-At-Large, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jim Hagenbucher

    Member-At-Large

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Viggers

    Member-At-Large

    Director → Member-At-Large, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Pat Henson

    Member-At-Large & Board Recorder

    Board Recorder → Member-At-Large & Board Recorder, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    10.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Matt Gustafson

    2nd Vice Chairperson, Secretary & Treasurer

    Director → Secretary & Treasurer, 2022

    Secretary & Treasurer → 2nd Vice Chairperson, Secretary & Treasurer, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Diane Crookham-Johnson

    Member-At-Large

    Director → Member-At-Large, 2025

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rob Stevenson

    Member-At-Large

    Director → Member-At-Large, 2025

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (15)
  • Former: Brittney Johnson (2020–2024) — Director
  • Former: Dirk Pollitt (2020–2024) — Director
  • Former: Charles Wittmack (2023–2024) — Director
  • Former: Justin Tuck (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Dean Whitaker (2020–2022) — Member-At-Large
  • Former: Jacob Jaacks (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Jonathan Wilson (2020–2022) — Member-At-Large
  • Former: Kevin Chorniak (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Mark Vukovich (2020–2022) — Former CEO
  • Former: Ray Hansen (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Richard Hoffmann (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Charlie Wittmack (2021–2022) — Director
  • Former: James Fleming (2020–2021) — Member-At-Large
  • Former: Mark Rasmussen (2020–2021) — Member-At-Large
  • Former: Todd Mendenhall (2020–2021) — Member-At-Large

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Anne Shimerdla — Chief Executive Officer: $160KAnne ShimerdlaChief Executive Officer$160KRachel Summers — Chief Operating Officer: $119KRachel SummersChief Operating Officer$119KGary Tucker — Chief Financial Officer: $79KGary TuckerChief Financial Officer$79K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $160K, to Anne Shimerdla (Chief Executive Officer). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc

How much does Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc give each year?

Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc gave $10K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $85K across 4 grants.

How large is Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc?

Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc reported $28.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $11.9M.

What is Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc?

Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Des Moines, IA. It holds $28.5M in total assets as of 2025.

Where does Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc operate?

Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc has awarded grants in California, Florida, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, Texas.

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 2020–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

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