Chicago Zoological Society
To inspire conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature.
Chicago Zoological Society at a glance
In short: Chicago Zoological Society gave $113K across 4 grants in 2026 (avg $28K), top state Ohio. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $112,733
- +379.7% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 4
- +100.0% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $28,183
- +139.9% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $26,792
- Total assets
- $329,655,000
- +3.9% vs 2025
- Primary geography
- Ohio (47% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2026; updated November 2026.
How to apply to Chicago Zoological Society
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Chicago Zoological Society
Who Chicago Zoological Society funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Pangolin Conservation and Research Fdn ($53K). Together the top 4 received $113K.
Grant Size Distribution
13 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 10 grants of 13 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Chicago Zoological Society gives
- Giving fell 39% from 2023 to 2026. 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 2019 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $24K (2025) to $360K (2022). In 2026 it made 4 grants totaling $113K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pangolin Conservation and Research Fdn Marysville, OH | Conservation fieldwork | $53,000 |
| Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois Urbana, IL | Conservation fieldwork | $46,583 |
| Species 360 Minneapolis, MN | Conservation fieldwork | $7,000 |
| American Association of Zoo Veterinarians Jacksonville, FL | conservation related event sponsor | $6,150 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $329,655,000 | $90,541,500 | $85,502,432 | $112,733 | 4 | $5,663,009 |
| 2025 | $317,202,000 | $107,989,615 | $78,379,597 | $23,500 | 2 | $5,510,186 |
| 2024 | $265,240,000 | $94,260,071 | $75,495,346 | $27,830 | 3 | $4,492,644 |
| 2023 | $226,030,000 | $64,594,406 | $66,115,083 | $185,000 | 2 | $2,365,021 |
| 2022 | $234,132,000 | $82,219,310 | $60,703,209 | $360,000 | 2 | $3,467,136 |
| 2020 | $212,053,000 | $59,844,719 | $56,812,252 | $25,000 | 1 | $1,906,500 |
| 2019 | $212,738,000 | $70,997,747 | $73,578,150 | $106,000 | 6 | $3,002,411 |
About Chicago Zoological Society
Based on IRS filings
Chicago Zoological Society is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Brookfield, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2026. As of 2026, the organization holds $329.7M in total assets. In 2026, it awarded 4 grants totaling $113K. Net investment income was $5.7M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Chicago Zoological Society is led by Michael Adkesson, President & CEO on every filing since 2022; 12 of 56 officers listed in 2026 are compensated.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Michael Adkesson
President & CEO
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$239K (2022) → $799K (2026)
Cherryl T Thomas
Chair of the Board
Vice Chairman of the Board → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Chair of the Board, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barbara J Bradford
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Levy Kipper
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bonny Chen
Trustee
Trusted → Trustee, 2020
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edward McCormick Blair Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gregory J DiDomenico
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heidi Huizenga
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James A Bryan
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jay D Bergman
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Manne
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John A Carpenter
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelley C Schueler
Trustee
Vice Chairman of the Board → Vice Chair of the Board, 2022
Vice Chair of the Board → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin M Keeley
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark G Sander
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Merrick M Elfman
Trustee
Vice Chairman of the Board → Vice Chair of the Board, 2022
Vice Chair of the Board → Trustee, 2026
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael F DeSantiago
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael G Canning
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick E Whiteside
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rita Sola Cook
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sasha L Gerritson
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stuart B Abelson
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Toni Reed Preckwinkle
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Walter W Becky II
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Grayson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
JR Davis III
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin M Killips
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Benita S Romano
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Darius A Gill
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer L Bellini
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa C Freeman
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth S Quinn
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Drai
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tim Ozinga
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Gambs
Trustee
On filings since 2025
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sunny Elebua
Trustee
On filings since 2025
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melissa L Canning
Trustee
New on the 2026 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David E Burns
Chief Financial & Administrator Officer
Senior Vice President Finance → Chief Financial & Administrator Officer, 2020
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$254K (2019) → $399K (2026)
Jennifer L Baader
Senior Vice President Govt Affairs
Senior Vice President Govt Affairs → Senior Vice President Govt Affairscommunity Pgms, 2024
Senior Vice President Govt Affairscommunity Pgms → Senior Vice President Govt Affairs, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$144K (2019) → $227K (2026)
Sathya K Chinnadurai
Senior Vice President Animal Health Welfare
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$188K (2023) → $223K (2026)
Cathleen Brueggemann
Senior Vice President Development
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$314K (2024) → $331K (2026)
Heather Bilcer
Vice President Finance
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$180K (2024) → $267K (2026)
Melissa Lewkowich
Vice President Risk Facilities Management
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$178K (2024) → $181K (2026)
Andrea S Rodgers
Senior Vice President Guest Experience Operations
On filings since 2025
40 hrs/week
$245K (2025) → $315K (2026)
Randall Wells
Vice President Marine Mammal Conservation
On filings since 2025
40 hrs/week
$194K (2025) → $199K (2026)
Shannon Heston
Vice President Information Tech
Vice President Information Technology → Vice President Information Tech, 2026
On filings since 2025
40 hrs/week
$182K (2025) → $197K (2026)
Anthony Ray
Vice President People Culture
New on the 2026 filing
40 hrs/week
$180K (2026)
Rita Vondra
Senior Vice President Programs Impact
New on the 2026 filing
40 hrs/week
$247K (2026)
Bert A Getz Jr.
Honorary Vice Chair of the Board
Vice Chairman of the Board → Vice Chair of the Board, 2022
Vice Chair of the Board → Honorary Vice Chair of the Board, 2026
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Hamill Bramsen
Honorary Vice Chair of the Board
Vice Chairman of the Board → Vice Chair of the Board, 2022
Vice Chair of the Board → Honorary Vice Chair of the Board, 2026
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John P Grube
Past Chair of the Board
Chair of the Board → Vice Chair of the Board, 2023
Vice Chair of the Board → Past Chair of the Board, 2026
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael P Emmert
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Molly Keller
First Vice Chair of the Board
Trustee → Vice Chair of the Board, 2025
Vice Chair of the Board → First Vice Chair of the Board, 2026
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Randall G Vickery
Secretary
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William C Kunkler III
Deputy Chair of the Board
Deputy Chairman of the Board → Deputy Chair of the Board, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stan Pepper
Second Vice Chair of the Board
Trustee → Second Vice Chair of the Board, 2026
On filings since 2025
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (27)
- Former: Jerome E Johnston (2019–2025) — Vice President Guest Services Operations
- Former: Joseph A Gregoire (2019–2025) — Trustee
- Former: Sandra L Dornhecker (2019–2025) — Senior Vice President Human Resources
- Former: Stuart D Strahl PhD (2019–2025) — Trustee
- Former: Kathryn Babcock Shaffer (2019–2024) — Vice Chair
- Former: Leah Rippe (2019–2024) — Vice President Marketing Communications
- Former: Veronica Gomez (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Mary A Cronin (2020–2024) — Master Planning Coordinator
- Former: Kristi Weaver (2022–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Amy Best (2024) — Trustee
- Former: Frank W Zeigler (2019–2023) — Senior Vice President Animal Programs
- Former: George Barr (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Michael Owens (2019–2023) — Vice President Information Technology
- Former: Steve Groetsema (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Arthur J Fogel (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Cynthia W Zeigler (2019–2022) — Chief Advancement Officer
- Former: Fred A Krehbiel (2019–2022) — Honorary Chair
- Former: Kevin M Carmody (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Ryan P Williamson (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Sarah Breen-Bartecki (2019–2022) — Senior Vice President Conserv Pgms & Researchfunding
- Former: Ted Staszak (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Christine E Holden (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Dawn M Davis (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: LW Alberts (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Richard G Gamble (2019–2020) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: William O Lipinski (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Jeffrey D Warner (2019) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2026 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $799K, to Dr Michael Adkesson (President and CEO). 12 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Chicago Zoological Society
How much does Chicago Zoological Society give each year?
Chicago Zoological Society gave $113K across 4 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990. In 2025 it gave $24K across 2 grants.
What is Chicago Zoological Society's typical grant size?
Chicago Zoological Society's median grant in 2026 was $26,792, and its average grant was $28,183, across 4 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990.
Where does Chicago Zoological Society give grants?
Chicago Zoological Society's top state is Ohio, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Illinois (41%) and Minnesota (6%).
Does Chicago Zoological Society give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Chicago Zoological Society's 2026 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Conservation fieldwork" (3 grants).
How large is Chicago Zoological Society?
Chicago Zoological Society reported $329.7M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $90.5M.
What is Chicago Zoological Society?
Chicago Zoological Society is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Brookfield, IL. It holds $329.7M in total assets as of 2026.
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 2019–2026.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 10, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 27, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 1, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work Chicago Zoological Society funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Chicago Zoological Society's focus areas in our free grants database
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Chicago Zoological Society down — hundreds of funders to go?