Detroit Zoological Society
The mission of the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) is to create meaningful connections between people, animals and the natural world so all can thrive. The vision of the DZS is to be a force for positive change in a world where animals and nature are valued, understood and protected by all people. The DZS operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center.
Key facts about Detroit Zoological Society
In short: Detroit Zoological Society gave $281K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $18K), top state Georgia. 13% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- EIN
- 38-6027356
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $281,020
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- Average grant
- $17,564
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (2 of 16, 2024)
- Total assets
- $70,446,976
- Primary geography
- Georgia (25% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing
Total Assets
$70.4M
-0.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$281K
+12.4% YoY
Grant Count
16
-11.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+26.5% YoY
Is Detroit Zoological Society open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 16 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $14K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 69% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−2%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
About Detroit Zoological Society
Based on IRS filings
Detroit Zoological Society is a nonprofit organization focused on Environment & Animals, based in Royal Oak, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $70.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 16 grants totaling $281K. Net investment income was $3.8M.
Focus Areas
Ready to take the next step with Detroit Zoological Society?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 16 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
97 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International Inc Atlanta, GA | Conservation Support | $70,000 |
| Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center Inc Cumberland Center, ME | Conservation Support | $40,000 |
| Wildlife Conservation Network San Francisco, CA | Conservation Support | $25,000 |
| OnePlanet Inc Virginia Beach, VA | Conservation Support | $20,000 |
| American Forests Washington, DC | Conservation Support | $18,020 |
| Ngogo Chimpanzee Project Inc Phoenix, AZ | Conservation Support | $10,000 |
| Amphibian Survival Alliance Austin, TX | Conservation Support | $10,000 |
| Oklahoma City Zoological Trust dba Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden Oklahoma City, OK | Conservation Support | $10,000 |
| Re wild Austin, TX | Conservation Support | $10,000 |
| Polar Bears International Inc Bozeman, MT | Conservation Support | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $70,446,976 | $70,751,151 | $67,128,670 |
| Revenue | $64,149,877 | $54,342,499 | $55,141,767 |
| Expenses | $67,117,325 | $56,218,168 | $49,367,146 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $3,820,264 | $2,062,630 | $1,823,167 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Detroit Zoological Society is led by Hayley Murphy, Executive Director & CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2021); 11 of 60 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Hayley Murphy
Executive Director & CEO
Executive Director & CEO - Add Nov → Executive Director & CEO, 2022
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$65K (2021) → $547K (2024)
Alan Kalter
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alan Kaufman
Executive Director
Director → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bonnie Larson
Executive Director
Director → Executive Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia Ford
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denise J Lewis
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shawn Patterson
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Terry S Harvill
Executive Director
Director → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Lewand
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Conway
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anthony F Earley Jr.
Chairman
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard K Martin
Director of Individual Philanthropy
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$131K (2021) → $152K (2024)
Alisha Bell
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Beth Chappell
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Beth Daly
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles Ellis
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David E Duprey
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hassan Jaber
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Isaiah McKinnon
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ismael Ahmed
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Rosenthal
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Sawyer
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Tate
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joel D Tauber
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Erb
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Larry Wolfe
Director
Executive Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marvin Daitch
Director - Term May
Director → Director - Term May, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew P Cullen
Director - Term June
Director → Director - Term June, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
N Charles Anderson
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rick Ruffner
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shirley R Stancato
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stuart Robbins
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas C Buhl
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brandon Kolo
Director
Director - Add Aug → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Grieco
Director
Director - Add Aug → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denise Brooks-Williams
Director
Director - Add June → Executive Director, 2023
Executive Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gino Roncelli
Director
Director - Add June → Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marianne Vidershain
Director
Director - Add June → Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mario Marrow Sr.
Director
Director - Add June → Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Douglas
Director
Director - Add June → Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tonya Berry
Director
Director - Add June → Executive Director, 2023
Executive Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Blake
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Betty Chu
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Diane Banks
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly Andrews Espy
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Manny Torgow
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sharima Bulchak
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ann Duncan
Associate Vice President of Life Sciences
Director of Animal Health → Associate Vice President of Life Sciences, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$122K (2019) → $182K (2024)
Diane Miller
Vice President of Education
Chief Program Officer → Vice President of Education, 2022
On filings since 2019
50 hrs/week
$163K (2019) → $202K (2024)
Jane Alessandrini
Vice President of Development
Chief Development Officer → Vice President of Development, 2022
On filings since 2019
50 hrs/week
$201K (2019) → $246K (2024)
Robert Schumaker
Chief Financial Officer
Director of Finance → Chief Financial Officer, 2021
On filings since 2019
50 hrs/week
$125K (2019) → $278K (2024)
Toria Bradley
Vice President of Human Resources - Term Aug
Director of Human Resources → Vice President of Human Resources, 2022
Vice President of Human Resources → Vice President of Human Resources - Term Aug, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$118K (2021) → $177K (2024)
DeAndrea Matthews
Vice President of Diversity & Community Engagement
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$127K (2022) → $140K (2024)
Randi Hamilton
Vice President of Guest Services, Communications & Marketing
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$144K (2022) → $213K (2024)
Amanda Hanlin
Chief of Staff
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$136K (2023) → $183K (2024)
Mike Murray
Vice President of Life Sciences
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$144K (2023) → $183K (2024)
John G Sznewajs
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lloyd A Semple
Chair Emeritus
Executive Director - Chair Resign June → Executive Director, 2020
Executive Director → Chair Emeritus, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert G Riney
Vice Chair
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen R Polk
Vice Chair
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (44)
- Former: Clark Bunting (2019–2023) — Director - Term Feb
- Former: Lisa Lis (2019–2023) — Director - Term June
- Former: Rachel Vitti (2019–2023) — Director - Term June
- Former: Richard B Platt (2019–2023) — Executive Director - Term June
- Former: Sabarras George (2019–2023) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Anthony Adams (2023) — Director - Term June
- Former: PJ Jenkins (2023) — Director - Term May
- Former: Allan D Gilmour (2019–2022) — Director - Term June
- Former: Andre Spivey (2019–2022) — Director - Term February
- Former: Anmar Sarafa (2019–2022) — Director - Term June
- Former: Candice Miller (2019–2022) — Director - Term March
- Former: Dawn Lee-Cotton (2019–2022) — Director - Term June
- Former: Gail L Warden (2019–2022) — Director - Term June
- Former: Gerry VanAcker (2019–2022) — COO - Term Sept
- Former: Kristy Fercho (2019–2022) — Director - Term January
- Former: Paul Huxley (2019–2022) — Director - Term April
- Former: Rejji Hayes (2019–2022) — Director - Term March
- Former: Ron L Kagan (2019–2022) — Executive Director & CEO - Term Dec
- Former: Scott F Carter (2019–2022) — Chief Life Science Officer
- Former: Sean Werdlow (2019–2022) — Executive Director - Term June
- Former: Virinder Moudgil (2019–2022) — Director - Term April
- Former: Burton D Farbman (2019–2021) — Director - Term July
- Former: Julie Nicholson (2019–2021) — Director - Term Aug
- Former: Karen Dumas (2019–2021) — Executive Director - Term Dec
- Former: Lawrence Scott (2019–2021) — Director - Term Sept
- Former: Marina A Houghton (2019–2021) — Director - Term Sept
- Former: Mary Kay Crain (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Matthew B Elliott (2019–2021) — Director - Term March
- Former: Melissa Roy (2019–2021) — Director - Term Sept
- Former: Shery L Cotton (2019–2021) — Director - Term Jan
- Former: Victor Martin (2019–2021) — Director - Term Sept
- Former: Ed Falkowski (2020–2021) — Director of It
- Former: George G Johnson (2019–2020) — Director - Term Sept
- Former: Grace Shore (2019–2020) — Director - Term June
- Former: Hiram Jackson (2019–2020) — Director - Term Nov
- Former: Jeff Hauswirth (2019–2020) — Director - Term Aug
- Former: Jeffrey Evans (2019–2020) — Chief Financial Officer - Term July
- Former: Larry Alexander (2019–2020) — Executive Director - Term Dec
- Former: Linda Gillum (2019–2020) — Director - Term June
- Former: Ruth Marcec-Greaves (2020) — Nacc Director
- Former: Doreen Hermelin (2019) — Director - Term March
- Former: Matthew Ahearn (2019) — Director - Term March
- Former: Randi Meyerson (2019) — Deputy Chief Life Sciences Officer
- Former: Richard Friday (2019) — Director of Marketing
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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
Frequently asked questions about Detroit Zoological Society
How much does Detroit Zoological Society give each year?
Detroit Zoological Society gave $281K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2023 it gave $250K across 18 grants.
What is Detroit Zoological Society's typical grant size?
Detroit Zoological Society's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $17,564, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Organizations receiving their first grant from Detroit Zoological Society that year got $14K on average.
Where does Detroit Zoological Society give grants?
Detroit Zoological Society's top state is Georgia, with 25% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. The next largest states were Maine (14%) and California (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (2 grants), Austin, TX (2 grants) and Apple Valley, MN (2 grants).
Does Detroit Zoological Society give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Detroit Zoological Society's 2024 IRS Form 990 filing were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Conservation Support" (16 grants).
Who are Detroit Zoological Society's largest grantees?
Detroit Zoological Society's largest 2024 grantees include Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International Inc ($70,000), Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center Inc ($40,000) and Wildlife Conservation Network ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Detroit Zoological Society?
Detroit Zoological Society reported $70.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $64.1M.
What is Detroit Zoological Society?
Detroit Zoological Society is a nonprofit organization focused on Environment & Animals, based in Royal Oak, MI. It holds $70.4M in total assets as of 2024.
What is Detroit Zoological Society's EIN?
Detroit Zoological Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-6027356. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Here's the math on researching Detroit Zoological Society by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Detroit Zoological Society's focus areas in our free grants database
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