To inspire conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$317.2M
+19.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$24K
-15.6% YoY
Grant Count
2
-33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
+26.7% YoY
About Chicago Zoological Society
Based on IRS filings
Chicago Zoological Society is a nonprofit organization focused on Environment & Animals, based in BROOKFIELD, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $317.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $24K. Net investment income was $5.5M.
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 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $317,202,000 | $265,240,000 | $226,030,000 |
| Revenue | $107,989,615 | $94,260,071 | $64,594,406 |
| Expenses | $78,379,597 | $75,495,346 | $66,115,083 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $5,510,186 | $4,492,644 | $2,365,021 |
| 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 2 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
10 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Chicago Zoological Society
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Pangolin Conseravtion and Research Foundation ($17,000), The Biodiversity Group ($6,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Biodiversity Group Tucson, AZ | Pangolin Conservation | $6,500 |
| Pangolin Conseravtion and Research Foundation Marysville, OH | Pangolin Conservation | $17,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Michael Adkesson | President and CEO | 40 | $692,858 |
| David E Burns | Chief Financial and Admin. Officer | 40 | $388,865 |
| Cathleen Brueggemann | Sr. VP Development | 40 | $317,613 |
| Andrea S Rodgers | Sr. VP Guest Experience Operations | 40 | $244,810 |
| Jennifer L Baader | Sr. VP Govt Affairs | 40 | $236,116 |
| Dr Sathya K Chinnadurai | Sr. VP Animal Health Welfare | 40 | $214,505 |
| Sandra L Dornhecker | Sr. VP Human Resources | 40 | $225,740 |
| Randall Wells | VP Marine Mammal Conservation | 40 | $194,171 |
| Shannon Heston | VP Information Technology | 40 | $181,871 |
| Melissa Lewkowich | VP Risk Facilities Mgmt | 40 | $186,448 |
| Heather Bilcer | VP Finance | 40 | $195,060 |
| Jerome E Johnston | VP Guest Services Operations | 40 | $177,475 |
| Cherryl T Thomas | Chair of the Board | 2 | — |
| William C Kunkler III | Deputy Chair of the Board | 2 | — |
| Elizabeth Hamill Bramsen | Vice-Chair of the Board | 2 | — |
| Merrick M Elfman | Vice-Chair of the Board | 2 | — |
| Bert A Getz Jr | Vice-Chair of the Board | 2 | — |
| John P Grube | Vice-Chair of the Board | 2 | — |
| Molly Keller | Vice-Chair of the Board | 2 | — |
| Michael P Emmert | Treasurer | 2 | — |
| Randall G Vickery | Secretary | 2 | — |
| Stuart B Abelson | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Walter W Becky II | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Jennifer L Bellini | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Jay D Bergman | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Edward McCormick Blair Jr | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Barbara J Bradford | Trustee | 2 | — |
| James A Bryan | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Michael G Canning | Trustee | 2 | — |
| John A Carpenter | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Dr Bonny Chen | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Rita Sola Cook | Trustee | 2 | — |
| JR Davis III | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Michael F DeSantiago | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Gregory J DiDomenico | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Michael Drai | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Sunny Elebua | Trustee as of 10/24 | 2 | — |
| Dr Lisa C Freeman | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Matthew Gambs | Trustee as of 10/24 | 2 | — |
| Sasha L Gerritson | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Darius A Gill | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Barbara Grayson | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Heidi Huizenga | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Kevin M Keeley | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Kevin M Killips | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Barbara Levy Kipper | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Jerry Manne | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Tim Ozinga | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Stan Pepper | Trustee as of 11/24 | 2 | — |
| Toni Preckwinkle | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Elizabeth S Quinn | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Benita S Romano | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Mark G Sander | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Kelley C Schueler | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Patrick E Whiteside | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Joseph A Gregoire | Trustee thru of 12/24 | 2 | — |
| Stuart D Strahl PhD | Trustee thru of 3/25 | 2 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chicago Zoological Society?
Chicago Zoological Society is a nonprofit organization focused on Environment & Animals, based in BROOKFIELD, IL. It holds $317.2M in total assets as of 2025.
How large is Chicago Zoological Society?
As of 2025, Chicago Zoological Society holds $317.2M in total assets with $108.0M in annual revenue. It awarded 2 grants totaling $24K in 2025.
Where does Chicago Zoological Society operate?
Chicago Zoological Society has awarded grants in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Ohio, Texas.
What size grants does Chicago Zoological Society award?
In 2025, Chicago Zoological Society awarded 2 grants totaling $24K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Chicago Zoological Society's EIN?
Chicago Zoological Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-2167016. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Chicago Zoological Society'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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