Woodland Park Zoological Society
Woodland Park Zoological Society is a public charity based in Seattle, Washington. Its mission is to save wildlife and inspire everyone to make conservation a priority in their lives. Its work includes animal care, conservation and education, and support for peer institutions’ empathy-focused programs.
Woodland Park Zoological Society at a glance
In short: Woodland Park Zoological Society gave $1.0M across 15 grants in 2024 (avg $67K), top state Wisconsin. 7% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,010,390
- +78.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 15
- +66.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $67,359
- +7.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $60,000
- Total assets
- $102,428,363
- +12.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (1 of 15, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (26% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Woodland Park Zoological Society
- Next open deadline
- November 25, 2026 (Community Access Program (CAP))
- Contact
Mailing address: 5500 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: (206) 548-2500
Website: https://zoo.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Woodland Park Zoological Society
Who Woodland Park Zoological Society funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Idaho Zoological Society ($120K). Together the top 10 received $807K.
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 23 grants of 59 (39%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Wisconsin (26%), Washington (22%), Minnesota (21%), Idaho (18%), and Montana (7%). Listed 2024 grantees were also located in North Dakota. The zoo’s Community Access Program serves the Puget Sound region of Washington State.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Woodland Park Zoological Society open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 15 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $60K; repeat grants $68K. How we count
Medians: $60K first-time, $60K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $81K (2020) to $2.3M (2022). In 2024 it made 15 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho Zoological Society Boise, ID | Empathy Capacity Building Grant Program | $120,000 |
| International Crane Foundation Baraboo, WI | Empathy Capacity Building Grant Program | $119,941 |
| The Seattle Aquarium Seattle, WA | Empathy Capacity Building Grant Program | $98,311 |
| Minnesota Zoo Foundation Apple Valley, MN | Empathy Capacity Building Grant Program | $80,000 |
| Zoological Society of Milwaukee County Milwaukee, WI | Empathy Capacity Building Grant Program | $75,000 |
| Arrowhead Zoological Society Duluth, MN | Empathy Capacity Building Grant Program | $73,452 |
| Dakota Zoological Socety Bismarck, ND | Empathy Capacity Building Grant Program | $60,000 |
| Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Bozeman, MT | Empathy Capacity Building Grant Program | $60,000 |
| Northwest Trek Wildlife Park Eatonville, WA | Empathy Capacity Building Grant Program | $60,000 |
| Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Tacoma, WA | Empathy Capacity Building Grant Program | $60,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Woodland Park Zoological Society?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $102,428,363 | $83,715,805 | $77,905,396 | $1,010,390 | 15 | $2,770,698 |
| 2023 | $91,069,792 | $64,694,779 | $58,545,265 | $566,708 | 9 | $1,766,701 |
| 2022 | $76,993,132 | $61,363,354 | $53,827,120 | $2,337,662 | 20 | $738,699 |
| 2021 | $74,809,827 | $64,503,835 | $43,910,805 | $711,545 | 9 | $2,355,249 |
| 2020 | $50,994,505 | $39,449,665 | $36,780,888 | $81,037 | 6 | $1,304,951 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to save wildlife and inspire everyone to make conservation a priority in their lives. Its 2024 filing describes work in animal care, wildlife conservation and education, and peer-institution capacity building. The filing says conservation and education work includes 28 wildlife conservation partnerships and protection of more than 2.2 million acres of endangered-species habitat regionally and globally. The zoo’s website describes its field conservation projects as preserving species, protecting habitat, and building capacity with local communities.
The 2024 grants were designated for the Empathy Capacity Building Grant Program. Grantees included zoo and aquarium organizations. Their stated missions illustrate the range of work represented: the International Crane Foundation is committed to a world where cranes, people, and natural heritage thrive together; the Seattle Aquarium Society’s mission is to inspire conservation of the marine environment; and the Arrowhead Zoological Society aims to provide animal experiences that inspire connections to wildlife and conservation action. The Idaho Zoological Society says it supports Zoo Boise through animal acquisition, capital improvements, fundraising, volunteer opportunities, and educational programs.
The zoo also runs a Community Access Program that distributes free zoo tickets through partner organizations to people and communities facing economic, ability-related, or cultural barriers to visiting. The program is not described as a grant program for outside applicants.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the society reported 15 grants totaling $1,010,390. Grant amounts ranged from $9,550 to $120,000, with a median of $60,000. The listed purposes were all “Empathy Capacity Building Grant Program.”
Among the largest awards were $120,000 to Idaho Zoological Society, $119,941 to International Crane Foundation, $98,311 to The Seattle Aquarium, $80,000 to Minnesota Zoo Foundation, and $75,000 to Zoological Society of Milwaukee County. Other listed awards included $73,452 to Arrowhead Zoological Society and $60,000 each to Dakota Zoological Society, Grizzly and Wolf Discovery, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, and Racine Zoo.
The zoo’s website separately announced in April 2025 that it would distribute $3.3 million in new empathy-for-wildlife project grants to 14 zoos and aquariums across the western United States through its Advancing Empathy Grant Program.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Anders Brown as chair, Irwin Goverman as vice chair, Mike Ronan as treasurer, and Katie Matison as secretary. It also lists Linda Allen, Vikram Baskaran, Christi Beckley, Andy Bench, Dori Borjesson, and Stacey Campbell as board members.
Woodland Park Zoological Society is led by Alejandro Grajal, Chief Executive Officer since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 16 of 55 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Alejandro Grajal
Chief Executive Officer
President & CEO → Chief Executive Officer, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$404K (2020) → $560K (2024)
Anders Brown
Chair
Board Vice Chair → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Valerie A. Krueger-Stahnke
Senior Director & Finance
Director of Finance → Senior Director & Finance, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$151K (2020) → $174K (2024)
William Dennis Brown
Senior Director
Information Systems Director → Senior Director & Information Technology, 2022
Senior Director & Information Technology → Senior Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$150K (2020) → $183K (2024)
Katie Bang
Senior Director & Facilities
Senior Director, Facilities & The Built Env. → Senior Director, Facilities & The Built Environm, 2023
Senior Director, Facilities & The Built Environm → Senior Director & Facilities, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$150K (2022) → $177K (2024)
Timothy Storms
Director & Animal Health
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$145K (2022) → $164K (2024)
Kristina F. Hulverson
Senior Director People & Culture
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$143K (2023) → $175K (2024)
Lisa Dabek
Senior Director Tkcp & Senior Conservation Scientist
Director, Public Relations & Community Affairs → Senior Director Tkcp & Senior Conservation Scientist, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$146K (2023) → $153K (2024)
Andrea Ramirez
Senior Director of Deai
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$160K (2024)
Jacque Holowaty
Senior Director of Business Operations
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$160K (2024)
Sarah Kathleen Valentine
Chief Development Officer
Vice President of Development → Vice President & Development, 2021
Vice President & Development → Chief Development Officer, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$198K (2020) → $260K (2024)
Rebecca E. Whitham
Vice President & Engagement
Vice President of Engagement → Vice President & Engagement, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$154K (2021) → $209K (2024)
Erica Johnson
Vice President, Learning & Innovation
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$168K (2022) → $196K (2024)
Anne Dalyrymple
Chief People Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$224K (2023) → $231K (2024)
Roger Sweeney
Chief Operations Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$165K (2023) → $254K (2024)
Anji Moraes
Vice President, Conservation & Climate
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$183K (2024)
Beihong Linda Zhang
Chief Financial Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$292K (2024)
Angela Griffin
Board Member
Director → Committee V Chair, 2021
Committee V Chair → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Diane Shrewsbury
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Holly Hirai
Board Member
Director → Committee Chair, 2021
Committee Chair → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Irwin Goverman
Vice Chair
Committee Chair → Board Member, 2022
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Leppo
Board Member
Director → Committee Chair, 2021
Committee Chair → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jill Walker
Board Member
Board Member → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katie Matison
Secretary
Task Force Co-Chair → Board Member, 2022
Board Member → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kyle Rolfe
Board Member
Director → Committee V Chair, 2021
Committee V Chair → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Larry Phillips
Board Member
Director → Committee V Chair, 2021
Committee V Chair → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda Allen
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marlon Dylan Herrera
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Plotnick
Board Member
Director → Committee V Chair, 2021
Committee V Chair → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rosemarie Havranek
Board Member
Director → Committee Co-Chair, 2021
Committee Co-Chair → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sandy Stelling
Board Member
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2023
Immediate Past Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shelley McKinley
Board Member
Director → Committee Co-Chair, 2021
Committee Co-Chair → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stacey Campbell
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Woods
Board Member
Committee Chair → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alison Winfield
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dori Borjesson
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Ronan
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christi Beckley
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Effie Toshav
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Kil
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Justin Umagat
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lian Neeman
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Omari Salisbury
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adjua Dupree
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andy Bench
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cathy Herzig
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Raney
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jackie Kopson
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeanne Kohl-Welles
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeni Elam
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristi Dansereau
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Ronan
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nathan Porter
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sue Roberts
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vikram Baskaran
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (42)
- Former: Kevin Schofield (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Michele Smith (2020–2023) — Chief Business & Finance Officer
- Former: Warren Brown (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Katie Bellows (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Marlon Hererra (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Rebecca Whitman (2022–2023) — Vice President & Engagement
- Former: Sue Borgman (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Toni Godwin Sells (2022–2023) — Senior Director, Grounds, Operations & Events Th
- Former: Claire Godoy-Arnett (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Kecia E. Reichstein (2023) — Senior Director People, Culture & Vendor Contra
- Former: Bill Hilf (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Ethan Stowell (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Evan Wyman (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Laurie Stewart (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Pallavi Wahi (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Brian Mulvaney (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Farrah Paul (2022) — Director, Public Relations & Community Affairs
- Former: Geoffrey Browning (2022) — Veterinarian & Associate
- Former: Nancy Hawkes - To June (2022) — Director & Animal Care
- Former: Peter Zahler - To June (2022) — Vice President & Conservation Initiatives
- Former: Sheri Horiszny - To June (2022) — Chief Operations Officer
- Former: Barbara Gordon (2020–2021) — Committee V Chair
- Former: Matt Hill (2020–2021) — Subcommittee Chair
- Former: Matt Rosauer (2020–2021) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Serae Kim (2020–2021) — Senior Vice President of People & Culture
- Former: Stephanie True (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Bryan Slinker (2021) — Director
- Former: Courtney Wallace (2021) — Director
- Former: Fred Rivera (2021) — Director
- Former: Molly Presley (2021) — Director
- Former: Sheri Horiszny (2021) — Chief Operations Officer
- Former: Bart Ricketts (2020) — Director
- Former: Bryan Slinker Dvm (2020) — Director
- Former: Jackie Martinez-Vasquez (2020) — Director
- Former: Jim Burgett (2020) — Director
- Former: Joseph Woods (2020) — Director
- Former: Kristi Branch (2020) — Director
- Former: Lisa J. Graumlich PhD (2020) — Director
- Former: Nancy Hawkes (2020) — Director of Animal Care
- Former: Peter Zahler (2020) — Vice President of Conservation Initiatives
- Former: Sandra Madrid (2020) — Director
- Former: Tiara Turner (2020) — Director
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 $560K, to Alejandro Grajal (Chief Executive Officer). 16 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Woodland Park Zoological Society
How much does Woodland Park Zoological Society give each year?
Woodland Park Zoological Society gave $1.0M across 15 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $567K across 9 grants.
What is Woodland Park Zoological Society's typical grant size?
Woodland Park Zoological Society's median grant in 2024 was $60,000, and its average grant was $67,359, across 15 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Woodland Park Zoological Society that year got $60K on average.
Where does Woodland Park Zoological Society give grants?
Woodland Park Zoological Society's top state is Wisconsin, with 26% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Washington (22%) and Minnesota (21%).
Does Woodland Park Zoological Society give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on Woodland Park Zoological Society's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Empathy Capacity Building Grant Program" (15 grants).
Who are Woodland Park Zoological Society's largest grantees?
Woodland Park Zoological Society's largest 2024 grantees include Idaho Zoological Society ($120,000), International Crane Foundation ($119,941) and The Seattle Aquarium ($98,311), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Woodland Park Zoological Society?
Woodland Park Zoological Society reported $102.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $83.7M.
What does Woodland Park Zoological Society fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to save wildlife and inspire everyone to make conservation a priority in their lives. Its 2024 filing describes work in animal care, wildlife conservation and education, and peer-institution capacity building. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Woodland Park Zoological Society?
Woodland Park Zoological Society has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check zoo.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Woodland Park Zoological Society's EIN?
Woodland Park Zoological Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-6070005. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 20, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 4, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Woodland Park Zoological Society funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/woodland-park-zoological-society-morg_8ba058d47ada4ab7828ad1bc893ca5b6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_916070005_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Woodland Park Zoological Society funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/woodland-park-zoological-society-morg_8ba058d47ada4ab7828ad1bc893ca5b6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-06. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Woodland Park Zoological Society's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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