Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc
To inspire an appreciation of the natural world through conservation, education, and recreation.
Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc gave $10K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Iowa. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $10,000
- -88.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -75.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,000
- -52.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $28,547,961
- +2.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Iowa (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Blank Park Endowment Corporation ($10K).
Grant Size Distribution
13 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 11 grants of 13 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
How Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc gives
- Giving fell 88% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2025) to $85K (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $10K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Blank Park Endowment Corporation Des Moines, IA | General Assistance | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $28,547,961 | $11,913,239 | $10,590,247 | $10,000 | 1 | $169,161 |
| 2024 | $27,946,842 | $12,564,625 | $10,218,751 | $85,000 | 4 | $132,056 |
| 2023 | $25,100,315 | $11,325,700 | $9,580,229 | $20,000 | 2 | $34,357 |
| 2022 | $22,987,936 | $8,756,051 | $7,666,943 | $82,440 | 3 | $10,922 |
| 2021 | $21,956,722 | $8,389,454 | $6,493,297 | $34,700 | 3 | — |
| 2020 | $20,030,319 | $8,006,593 | $7,637,895 | $15,000 | 3 | $-15,191 |
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.
Focus Areas
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
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.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Iowa
Naples Zoo Inc
Naples, FL
Naples Zoo is accredited by the American zoo & aquarium association (AZA) and has numerous animal exhibits placed on its 45-acre site. Each exhibit is unique and designed to simulate typical conditions for the animals and to ensure the visitors have as much visual interaction as possible while maintaining the safety of both the animals and guests. The zoo provides educational experiences to guests through question and answer formats with our zoo keepers, lectures and multimedia presentations incorporating information about nutritional diets, healthy/clean environments, veterinary care and methods for creating behavioral enrichment for the mental and physical well being for the wild animals in the zoo's care. The zoo educates its guests about the importance of conserving wild animals and their natural habitats.
Assets
$45.5M
Grants
5
Total Given
$117K
Galanthus Foundation Trust
Sioux Falls, SD
Assets
$135K
Grants
3
Total Given
$70K
Bradford Family Foundation
St. Louis, MO
The Bradford Family Foundation supports a broad range of charitable organizations, including Catholic institutions, food assistance, education, and services for people with disabilities. Its 2024 grants ranged from $104 to $15,000, with a median of $1,000, and went to organizations in multiple states, especially Missouri. The filing names an application contact and says giving is not limited to preselected organizations, but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$587K
Grants
101
Total Given
$163K
The Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence
Seattle, WA
The Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence funds AI research and resources, scientific discovery, robotics, and related applications; its 2024 grants went to universities and research organizations in Washington, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Massachusetts, and Israel. Grants ranged from $59,000 to $2.3 million, with a median of $100,000. It gives only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$138.9M
Grants
8
Total Given
$5.5M
The Wilson Sexton Foundation
Prosper, TX
The Wilson Sexton Foundation supports education, humanitarian relief, local nonprofits, and community programs, with giving that includes local and international initiatives; its 2024 grants were concentrated in California, with additional funding in Colorado, Texas, New York, and Oregon. Grants ranged from $25 to $50,000, with a median of $1,000. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.9M
Grants
134
Total Given
$371K
Fort Wayne Zoological Society Inc
Fort Wayne, IN
Fort Wayne Zoological Society supports conservation programs and education, with 2024 financial grants ranging from $5,500 to $8,271 (median $7,452) for partners in Indiana and elsewhere in the U.S. Its Zoo For All program offers free admission tickets to area nonprofits serving children and families; applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The profile does not state whether unsolicited requests for financial grants are accepted.
Assets
$40.1M
Grants
13
Total Given
$96K
More similar funders
More Funders in Iowa
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?