Lincoln Park Zoological Society
The Lincoln Park Zoological Society is based in Chicago, Illinois, and operates Lincoln Park Zoo, a free, family-oriented wildlife experience. Its stated purpose is to connect people with nature and advance animal care, horticulture, education, science, and conservation. The organization’s website also describes support for conservation, animal welfare, learning, and community engagement.
Key facts about Lincoln Park Zoological Society
In short: Lincoln Park Zoological Society gave $361K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $24K), top state Illinois. 47% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 36-2512404
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $361,098
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- Average grant
- $24,073
- Median grant
- $24,925
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (7 of 15, 2025)
- Total assets
- $253,968,470
- Primary geography
- Illinois (20% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$254.0M
-4.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$361K
+8.8% YoY
Grant Count
15
+36.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
-20.2% YoY
Is Lincoln Park Zoological Society open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 15 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $27K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $29K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The mission stated in the filing is to connect people with nature through a free, family-oriented wildlife experience in Chicago and to advance high-quality animal care, horticulture, education, science, and conservation. The organization’s website describes its work in terms of care, conservation, and community, including science-informed animal welfare, wildlife research, and programs co-created with Chicago neighborhood partners.
Its 2025 grants included conservation and community outreach. The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported: Latinos Progresando says it provides information and resources to help people build secure, healthy, and productive lives; OPEN Center for the Arts describes providing a space for people to develop and share artistic talents while connecting with the community; and Enlace Chicago says it works with Little Village stakeholders to address inequities and expand access to educational and economic opportunities. The Rare Species Conservatory Foundation describes its work as international wildlife conservation, habitat protection, species recovery, capacity building, and outreach.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the society reported 15 grants totaling $361,098. Grant amounts ranged from $9,134 to $48,774, with a median of $24,925. The largest listed grants included $48,774 to WCS – Congo BZV for conservation, $37,830 to Mad Dog Initiative for conservation, $33,827 to Latinos Progresando for community outreach, and $30,959 to OPEN Center for the Arts for community outreach. Other listed recipients included the Organization for Tropical Studies ($30,775), Rare Species Conservatory Foundation ($27,000), and Enlace Chicago ($9,134).
Review Cycle
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The society is based in Chicago. Its 2025 grants went to recipients in multiple states; the largest reported shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Illinois (20%), New York (14%), Florida (11%), Arkansas (10%), and California (9%). The listed grants included Chicago-based community outreach recipients and conservation recipients in several states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $201K (2021) to $361K (2025). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $361K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was WCS - Congo BZV ($49K). Together the top 10 received $295K.
Grant Size Distribution
46 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 46 (89%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WCS - Congo BZV Bronx, NY | Conservation | $48,774 |
| Mad Dog Initiative Greenbrier, AR | Conservation | $37,830 |
| Latinos Progresando Chicago, IL | Community Outreach | $33,827 |
| Open Center for the Arts Chicago, IL | Community Outreach | $30,959 |
| Organization for Tropical Studies Inc Durham, NC | Conservation | $30,775 |
| Rare Species Conservatory Foundation Inc Loxahatchee, FL | Conservation | $27,000 |
| University of Connecticut Storrs, CT | Conservation | $25,924 |
| Boston University Boston, MA | Conservation | $24,925 |
| Fundacion Jose a Baleseiro Inc Livermore, CA | Conservation | $17,930 |
| Ngogo Chimpanzee Project Phoenix, AZ | Conservation | $16,650 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $253,968,470 | $50,519,973 | $44,259,231 | $361,098 (15) |
| 2024 | $264,865,031 | $56,439,039 | $43,076,073 | $331,961 (11) |
| 2023 | $225,884,838 | $48,421,031 | $40,005,808 | $283,181 (10) |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $253,968,470 | $264,865,031 | $225,884,838 |
| Revenue | $50,519,973 | $56,439,039 | $48,421,031 |
| Expenses | $44,259,231 | $43,076,073 | $40,005,808 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,154,354 | $7,911,606 | $4,683,935 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Megan Ross as president/CEO; Francesca M. Edwardson as chair; Tracey E. Benford as vice chair of finance; Charles A. Barone as secretary; and Ian Radomski as vice chair. Trustees listed include Himani Ashleman, Buck Betten, David P. Bolger, Michael Collins, and Ronald Denard.
Lincoln Park Zoological Society is led by Megan Ross, President & CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2019); 8 of 72 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Megan Ross
President & CEO
Zoo Director → Zoo Director & President, 2022
Zoo Director & President → President & CEO, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$206K (2019) → $501K (2025)
Francesca M. Edwardson
Chair
Trustee → Chair-Elect, 2023
Chair-Elect → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin J. Bell
President Emeritus & Life Trustee
President & CEO → President & Emeretus, 2022
President & Emeretus → President Emeritus & Life Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2019
$527K (2019) → $158K (2025)
Katie Cronin
Director of Animal Welfare
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$159K (2025)
Barbara A. Higgins
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Malott Kizziah
Trustee
Secretary → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
C. John Mostofi
Trustee
Chairman-Elect → Chairman, 2021
Chairman → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David L. Nichols
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David P. Bolger
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denise Stefan Ginascol
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward C. Haffner
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elisabeth C. Meeker
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth A. Karlson
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth A. Mihas
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregory Y. Pearlman
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
J. Thomas Hurvis
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John H. Rodi
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John M. Holmes
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John McLinden
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John R. Ettelson
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
K. Jay Weaver
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Stone Kaplan
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Powers Baria
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Luis Gutierrez
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marcia S. Kaminsky
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mayari Pritzker
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Collins
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Myra Reilly
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Polly Eldringhoff
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Randall E. Mehrberg
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Poulton
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roger G. Hill II
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shannon Schuyler
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan L. Regenstein
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas F. Walker Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adam Nordin
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kandace Lenti
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Feitler
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ronald Denard
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sharon Zackfia
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Sherman Dvm
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tarek Fadel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scot Pepper
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brenda Palms
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Egwele
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Buck Betten
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greg Leos
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason Miller
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lee T. Moore
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Neil Kawashima
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Oscar Johnson
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Heyman
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gayle Littleton
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Himani Ashleman
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jared White
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Oxtoby
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Missy Dolski
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sharon Szafranski
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Betsy Ziegler
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Christine Tierney
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Lynn Jekkals
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Ron Mallicoat
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Sharif Walker
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Tracy Brown
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Dana Murphy
Vice President of Learning
Vice President of Learning → Vice President of Learning & Community Engagement, 2020
Vice President of Learning & Community Engagement → Vice President of Learning, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$159K (2019) → $167K (2025)
Rena Solano
CFO
Chief Financial Officer → CFO, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$193K (2019) → $300K (2025)
Maureen Leahy
Vice President of Animal Care & Horticulture
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$141K (2022) → $175K (2025)
Brendan Daley
Vice President of Operations
Senior Director & Principal Gifts → Vice President of Operations, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$164K (2023) → $177K (2025)
Ginevra Ranney
Vice President of Development
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$255K (2024) → $273K (2025)
Charles A. Barone
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tracey E. Benford
Vice Chair of Finance
Trustee → Vice Chair of Finance, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ian Radomski
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (34)
- Former: Elizabeth Gillette (2019–2024) — Senior Director & Principal Gifts
- Former: Kimbra D. Walter (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Linda Leadbitter (2019–2024) — Vice President of Hr & Administration
- Former: Marsha A. Cruzan (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: S. Biff Bowman (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Lori Goltermann (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Pamela Lucina (2022–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Catherine H. Gledhill (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: James E. Compton (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Joseph R. Trpik Jr. (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Mareile B. Cusack (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Mani Ashleman (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Christine M. Zrinksy (2019–2022) — Snr Vice President Development & Govt Relations
- Former: Douglas C. Grissom (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Kelly Darin Rainko (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Randall Dunn (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Uche Ndumela (2022) — Trustee
- Former: Thomas L. McLeary (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Lisa Faust (2021) — Vice President of Conservation & Science
- Former: Anna M. Livingston (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: David M. Keller (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Joseph S. Carr (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Kurt Zitzner (2020) — Vice President of Operations
- Former: Ann H. Benjamin (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Carole B. Segal (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Dan Draper (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Demi Hannon (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Hossein Youssefi (2019) — Trustee
- Former: James M. Neis (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Mary Burrus Babson (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Paul A. Svoboda (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Rich Feitler (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Steve Thompson (2019) — Senior Vice President of Capital & Programmatic
- Former: Susan Sherman (2019) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $501K, to Megan Ross (President/CEO). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 2001 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: (312) 742-2000
Website: https://lpzoo.org
Frequently asked questions about Lincoln Park Zoological Society
How much does Lincoln Park Zoological Society give each year?
Lincoln Park Zoological Society gave $361K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $332K across 11 grants.
What is Lincoln Park Zoological Society's typical grant size?
Lincoln Park Zoological Society's median grant in 2025 was $24,925, and its average grant was $24,073, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lincoln Park Zoological Society that year got $20K on average.
Where does Lincoln Park Zoological Society give grants?
Lincoln Park Zoological Society's top state is Illinois, with 20% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were New York (14%) and Florida (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (3 grants) and Loxahatchee, FL (2 grants).
Does Lincoln Park Zoological Society give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on Lincoln Park Zoological Society's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Conservation" (12 grants) and "Community Outreach" (3 grants).
Who are Lincoln Park Zoological Society's largest grantees?
Lincoln Park Zoological Society's largest 2025 grantees include WCS - Congo BZV ($48,774), Mad Dog Initiative ($37,830) and Latinos Progresando ($33,827), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lincoln Park Zoological Society?
Lincoln Park Zoological Society reported $254.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $50.5M.
What does Lincoln Park Zoological Society fund?
The mission stated in the filing is to connect people with nature through a free, family-oriented wildlife experience in Chicago and to advance high-quality animal care, horticulture, education, science, and conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lincoln Park Zoological Society?
Lincoln Park Zoological Society has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check lpzoo.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Lincoln Park Zoological Society's EIN?
Lincoln Park Zoological Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-2512404. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Lincoln Park Zoological Society by hand.
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