Cleveland Zoological Society
The Cleveland Zoological Society is a Cleveland, Ohio-based public charity and the independent nonprofit partner of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Founded in 1957, it raises philanthropic support and public awareness for the Zoo, and operates the Zoo’s membership program.
Key facts about Cleveland Zoological Society
In short: Cleveland Zoological Society gave $13.1M across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $934K), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 34-0816490
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $13,071,992
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- Average grant
- $933,714
- Median grant
- $60,063
- Total assets
- $41,562,540
- Primary geography
- Ohio (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$41.6M
+17.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$13.1M
+222.2% YoY
Grant Count
14
+180.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$934K
+15.1% YoY
How Cleveland Zoological Society gives
- Giving grew 149% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Society’s stated mission is to raise awareness of the Zoo as a community priority, secure private donations, and run a membership program that provides operating and conservation funding. It shares a joint mission with Cleveland Metroparks Zoo: to create compelling experiences that connect people with wildlife and inspire personal responsibility for conserving the natural world.
The Society funds animal care, education, conservation, and capital improvements at the Zoo. Its website describes conservation work in terms of protecting wildlife, building local and regional conservation capacity, and promoting conservation science. It also reports that its support has helped fund at least half of the needed costs for the Zoo’s last 10 capital improvement projects. The Society is fundraising for Primate Forest, a planned transformation and expansion of The RainForest.
In 2024, the Society’s filing describes grants for the Zoo’s animal care, education, conservation, capital projects, and general operations, as well as field conservation grants to other organizations. Those grantees describe their missions in their own terms: the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International focuses on gorilla conservation and study in Africa through protection, research, training, and support for local communities; the Giraffe Conservation Foundation USA supports organizations working to conserve giraffes and their habitats in Africa; the Environmental Wildlife Conservation Trust provides public education about Vietnam’s nature and environment; the Wildlife Conservation Society works to save wildlife and wild places through science, conservation action, and education; and the North Carolina Zoological Society champions its zoo, wildlife, and wild places.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Society reported 13 grants totaling $13,050,872. Grant amounts ranged from $7,000 to $9,000,000, with a median of $60,125. The largest reported grants went to Cleveland Metropolitan Park District: $9,000,000 for Primate Forest, $2,966,739 for general operating support, $407,194 for animal care and research, $205,400 for capital projects, and $164,148 for education. Other listed 2024 grants included $85,966 to Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, $60,000 to Giraffe Conservation Foundation USA, $30,000 to Environmental Wildlife Conservation Trust, $28,000 to Association of Zoos & Aquariums, $21,300 to Wildlife Conservation Society, and $15,000 to North Carolina Zoological Society.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Cleveland Zoological Society
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports that 98% of grant dollars went to Ohio recipients. The listed grants also include recipients in Georgia, Florida, Virginia, Maryland, New York, and North Carolina. The Society’s website describes Cleveland Metroparks Zoo conservation partnerships in more than 25 countries.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $4.1M (2023) to $13.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $13.1M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cleveland Metropolitan Park District ($12.8M across 7 grants). Together the top 8 received $13.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
34 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 8 grants of 34 (24%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Metropolitan Park District Cleveland, OH | Primate Forest | $9,000,000 |
| Cleveland Metropolitan Park District Cleveland, OH | General Operating Support | $2,966,739 |
| Cleveland Metropolitan Park District Cleveland, OH | Animal Care and Research | $407,194 |
| Cleveland Metropolitan Park District Cleveland, OH | Capital Projects | $205,400 |
| Cleveland Metropolitan Park District Cleveland, OH | Education | $164,148 |
| Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International Atlanta, GA | Field Conservation | $85,966 |
| Cleveland Metropolitan Park District Cleveland, OH | Field Conservation | $60,125 |
| Giraffe Conservation Foundation USA Orlando, FL | Field Conservation | $60,000 |
| ENV Wildlife Conservation Trust Marshall, VA | Field Conservation | $30,000 |
| Association of Zoos & Aquariums Silver Spring, MD | Field Conservation | $28,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant total | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $41,562,540 | $14,559,194 | $16,904,424 | $13,050,872 | 13 |
| 2023 | $35,448,440 | $13,324,293 | $7,695,996 | $4,057,449 | 5 |
| 2022 | $30,703,125 | $13,952,854 | $10,341,983 | $7,297,569 | 5 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $41,562,540 | $35,448,440 | $30,703,125 |
| Revenue | $14,559,194 | $13,324,293 | $13,952,854 |
| Expenses | $16,904,424 | $7,695,996 | $10,341,983 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,202,473 | $876,743 | $386,311 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 1, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists these officers and directors: Myles M. Abbott, Cheryl Bailey, Patricia O. Bemer, Virginia D. Benjamin (emeritus director), Anne E. Bingham, Carl E. Black, Martha Boland, Barbara Brown, PhD (secretary), Marilyn K. Brown (emeritus director), and Vishnu B. Chandran.
Cleveland Zoological Society is led by Sarah Crupi, CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 5 of 59 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sarah Crupi
CEO
Executive Director → CEO, 2022
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$153K (2020) → $194K (2024)
Christine Myeroff
Chair
President Elect → President, 2021
President → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rachael Fuller
Director of Marketing
Director of Marketing & Events → Director of Marketing, 2024
On filings since 2022
45 hrs/week
$110K (2022) → $136K (2024)
Andrea Ponikvar
Director of Advancement
On filings since 2023
45 hrs/week
$102K (2023) → $122K (2024)
Eustacia Netzel-Hatcher
Director of Finance
On filings since 2023
45 hrs/week
$130K (2023) → $139K (2024)
Nicole Stracensky
Capital Campaigns Director
New on the 2024 filing
45 hrs/week
$102K (2024)
Bernard L. Karr
Director
Board Member → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carl E. Black
Director
Board Member → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joanne M. Kirk
Director
Board Member → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly Pinter
Director
Board Member → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lawrence H. Hatch
Director
Board Member → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lori J. Kalberer
Director
Board Member → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan L. Racey
Director
Board Member → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan M. Zanetti
Director
Board Member → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Theodore R. Evans Jr.
Director
Board Member → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas A. Waltermire
Director
Board Member → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James M. Parish
Director
Board Member → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul A. Hechko Dvm
Director
Board Member → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Elmore
Director
Board Member → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Coty Franklin
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Kaminski
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martha Boland
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia O. Bemer
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Russell O'Rourke
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anne E. Bingham
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cheryl Bailey
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Howard S. Essner
Director
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James M. Donchess
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Kesselman
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin P. Murphy
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melinda Phinney MD
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Myles M. Abbott
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Spencer Dieken
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas N. Tyrrell
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alana Coakley
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deanna M. Murlin
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denise Zubizarreta
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric S. Gordon
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth J. Mountcastle
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly Levinson
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Truelson
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Taylor
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ven Ochaya PhD
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vishnu B. Chandran
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Brown PhD
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carol B. Hall
Emeritus Director
Life Director → Emeritus Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George S. Coakley
Emeritus Director
Life Director → Emeritus Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregory D. Friedman
Emeritus Director
Life Director → Emeritus Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James L. Francis
Emeritus Director
Board Member → Life Director, 2023
Life Director → Emeritus Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph J. Mahovlic
Emeritus Director
Life Director → Emeritus Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren B. Spilman
Emeritus Director
Life Director → Emeritus Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marilyn K. Brown
Emeritus Director
Life Director → Emeritus Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert J. Rogers
Emeritus Director
Life Director → Emeritus Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert S. Reitman
Chairman Emeritus
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sally Everett
Emeritus Director
Life Director → Emeritus Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Theodore A. Wagner
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas G. Fistek
Vice Chair
Vice President → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Virginia D. Benjamin
Emeritus Director
Life Director → Emeritus Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sally S. Messinger
Emeritus Director
Director → Emeritus Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (27)
- Former: A. Malachi Mixon IV (2020–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Allen J. Mistysyn (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Christopher Nehez (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Gregg G. Muresan (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Iris J. Vail (2020–2023) — Life Director
- Former: Jessica M. Jung (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Julie A. Edgar PhD (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Lindsay M. Guzowski (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Patrick S. Mullin (2020–2023) — Life Director
- Former: Becky Truelson (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Ken Mountcastle (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Lisa O'Brien (2023) — Director
- Former: Leta Obertacz (2020–2022) — Director of Advancement
- Former: Mary Kay Schneider (2020–2022) — Vice President
- Former: Mary McMillan (2020–2022) — Controller
- Former: Ronald E. Plazek (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Anthony R. Petruzzi (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Lisa M. Hunt (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Michael D. Vaughn (2020–2021) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Sara S. Messinger (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Shelly M. Peet (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Jason Orlando (2020) — Director of Operations
- Former: Jim Parish (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Paul A. Hechko (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Rob Elmore (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Ron Plazek (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Thomas Leiden (2020) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $194K, to Sarah Crupi (CEO). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, OH 44109
Phone: (216) 635-3368
Website: https://clevelandzoosociety.org
Frequently asked questions about Cleveland Zoological Society
How much does Cleveland Zoological Society give each year?
Cleveland Zoological Society gave $13.1M across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $4.1M across 5 grants.
What is Cleveland Zoological Society's typical grant size?
Cleveland Zoological Society's median grant in 2024 was $60,063, and its average grant was $933,714, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Cleveland Zoological Society give grants?
Cleveland Zoological Society gives mostly in Ohio: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (7 grants).
Does Cleveland Zoological Society give general operating support?
Yes: 14% of Cleveland Zoological Society's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Field Conservation" (8 grants).
Who are Cleveland Zoological Society's largest grantees?
Cleveland Zoological Society's largest 2024 grantees include Cleveland Metropolitan Park District ($12,824,726 across 7 grants), Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International ($85,966) and Giraffe Conservation Foundation USA ($60,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 99% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Cleveland Zoological Society?
Cleveland Zoological Society reported $41.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $14.6M.
What does Cleveland Zoological Society fund?
The Society’s stated mission is to raise awareness of the Zoo as a community priority, secure private donations, and run a membership program that provides operating and conservation funding. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cleveland Zoological Society?
Cleveland Zoological Society has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check clevelandzoosociety.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Cleveland Zoological Society's EIN?
Cleveland Zoological Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-0816490. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Cleveland Zoological Society by hand.
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Cleveland Zoological Society down — hundreds of funders to go?