Zoological Society of Milwaukee Cty
The mission of the zoological society is to conserve wildlife and endangered species, to educate people about the importance of wildlife and the environment, and to support the Milwaukee county zoo.
Zoological Society of Milwaukee Cty at a glance
In short: Zoological Society of Milwaukee Cty gave $4.3M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $4.3M), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,306,049
- +5.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,306,049
- +5.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $4,306,049
- Total assets
- $16,736,798
- -5.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Zoological Society of Milwaukee Cty funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Milwaukee County Zoo ($4.3M).
Grant Size Distribution
10 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 5 grants of 10 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.6M (2020) to $5.9M (2022, 15 months). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $4.3M.
*2022: Covers 15 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee County Zoo Milwaukee, WI | Supporting Their Mission of Conservation and Education | $4,306,049 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $16,736,798 | $14,059,943 | $16,809,299 | $4,306,049 | 1 | $835,923 |
| 2024 | $17,662,694 | $13,032,943 | $14,662,609 | $4,089,526 | 1 | $951,948 |
| 2023 | $17,325,828 | $12,217,753 | $12,845,596 | $4,546,806 | 2 | $497,040 |
| 2022* | $17,515,542 | $19,256,210 | $14,800,338 | $5,864,308 | 4 | $415,193 |
| 2021 | $14,195,858 | $13,548,879 | $13,692,132 | $4,231,480 | 2 | $363,886 |
| 2020 | $14,078,982 | $8,845,311 | $12,806,136 | $1,569,788 | 2 | $415,920 |
| 2019 | $16,419,669 | $15,429,545 | $19,602,943 | $4,899,802 | 2 | $619,797 |
*2022: Covers 15 months (fiscal year-end changed).
About Zoological Society of Milwaukee Cty
Based on IRS filings
Zoological Society of Milwaukee Cty is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Milwaukee, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $16.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $4.3M. Net investment income was $836K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Zoological Society of Milwaukee Cty is led by Jodi Gibson, President & CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 4 of 42 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jodi Gibson
President & CEO
President, CEO & Director → President & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$230K (2019) → $314K (2025)
Tami Scully Garrison
Chair
Vice Chair → Vice Chair & Chair Elect, 2024
Vice Chair & Chair Elect → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barry Sattell
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Caroline Krider
Director
Immediate Past Chair → Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Kempken
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dave Strelitz
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emory Ireland
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Frohna
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Kresl
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Kellerman
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judy Holz Stathas
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kat Morrow
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maria Gonzalez Knavel
Director
Secretary → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rick Schmidt
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roger Smith
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margaret Harris
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nezih Hasanoglu Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chuck Roedel
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janette Braverman
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christine Irgens
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Demond Means
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Ward
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jenna Kunde
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark A. Berkoff
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rob Beres
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tony Staniak
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason Fathallah
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Rock
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristin Occhetti
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jon Crowell
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Kass
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Preston Cole
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sean Finnigan
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Doyle
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Todd Jones
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason Koehler
Chief Financial Officer
CFO - → Chief Financial Officer, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$123K (2024) → $155K (2025)
Jennifer Mueller
Chief Revenue Development
Chief Revenue Development Officer → Chief Revenue Development, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$173K (2024) → $183K (2025)
Elizabeth Heller
Vice President - Programs
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$146K (2025)
Derek Tyus
Immediate Past Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Kissinger
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jon Sohn
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peggy Kelsey
Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (41)
- Former: Harold Redman (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Jay McKenna (2019–2024) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Scott Redlinger (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Tanya Hines (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Wendell Willis (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Don Robertson (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Kate Halfwassen (2022–2024) — CFO -
- Former: Beth Heller (2023–2024) — Vice President - Programs
- Former: Matt Swentkofske (2024) — Director
- Former: Penny Gutekunst (2019–2023) — Vp-Development
- Former: Robin Higgins (2019–2023) — Vice President - Membership
- Former: Russ Kohl (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Dustin Hinton (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Tom Miller (2023) — Director
- Former: Tony Marino (2023) — Director
- Former: Willis Wendell (2023) — Director
- Former: Anthony Marino (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Katherine Hust (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Margaret C. Kelsey (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Joseph Rock (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Thomas Miller (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jim Olson (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Christine Culver (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Eric Christophersen (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: John Heindel (2019–2021) — Former CFO
- Former: Karen Peck Katz (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Peter Hammond (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Raymond Wilson (2019–2021) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Sang Kim (2021) — Director
- Former: Johnathan Sohn (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Meghan Shannon Berndt (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Nathan Cunniff (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: William Bergum (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Greg Wesley (2019) — Vice Chair
- Former: Jane Wierzba (2019) — Director
- Former: John Grunau (2019) — Director
- Former: Kevin Burns (2019) — Director
- Former: Kim Schaffer (2019) — Director
- Former: Michael Stull (2019) — Director
- Former: Rich Tennessen (2019) — Director
- Former: Thomas A. Marini Jr. (2019) — Director
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 $314K, to Jodi Gibson (President and CEO). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Zoological Society of Milwaukee Cty
How much does Zoological Society of Milwaukee Cty give each year?
Zoological Society of Milwaukee Cty gave $4.3M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $4.1M across 1 grant.
How large is Zoological Society of Milwaukee Cty?
Zoological Society of Milwaukee Cty reported $16.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $14.1M.
What is Zoological Society of Milwaukee Cty?
Zoological Society of Milwaukee Cty is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Milwaukee, WI. It holds $16.7M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Zoological Society of Milwaukee Cty operate?
Zoological Society of Milwaukee Cty has awarded grants in Wisconsin.
What is Zoological Society of Milwaukee Cty's EIN?
Zoological Society of Milwaukee Cty's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-6077242. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 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 2019 (received by the IRS April 17, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 22, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Zoological Society of Milwaukee Cty funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Zoological Society of Milwaukee Cty's focus areas in our free grants database
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