Conservation Society of California

What it reported doing in 2024

Oakland zoo is proud of its continued success in animal care and welfare, learning and engagement, and conservation initiatives. The zoo is home to over 700 animals that our staff provide industry leading care for to ensure their physical and social wellbeing. Conservation is core to our mission, and the zoo continues to focus its efforts on ten species including african elephants, chimpanzees, bison, african lions, California condors, and more. Our veterinary and animal care teams continue our local wildlife rescue work with oakland's city bird, the black crowned night heron, and we rescued our 30th mountain lion in 2025. Continued on schedule o.we are the first zoo in the united states to receive funding for a dedicated position to address animal welfare rescue and the wildlife trade, which is devasting species and habitats internationally. Last year we expanded our onsite guest education providing animal highlight programs to 30,000 guests and enhancing our docent offerings to increase knowledge of biodiversity. And we celebrated the one-year anniversary of the conservation education center we helped to open in uganda, which has now provided services for over 5,000 local community members coexisting with chimpanzees and other species. Alongside our programmatic work the zoo welcomed 58,000 guests for free during fiscal year 2025, providing our community with a space for connection, hope, and lifelong memories. In 2023, the zoo established a four-year strategic plan with input from thousands of community stakeholders. The following key priorities remain our focus through 2027:- inspiring action for animals and the planet- expanding leadership in animal wellbeing and rescue- deepening our conservation impact- enhancing our team culture and organizational effectiveness

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 82.1%; rating input score 82
• Program expense ratio: 79.3%; rating input score 79
• Fundraising efficiency: $5.22 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.7%; rating input score 95; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 2 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 25
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Limited
  • Conducts field audits: Limited
  • May suspend future funding: Limited
  • Requires financial reports: Limited
  • Conducts site visits: Pass
  • Requires grant agreements: Limited
  • May require repayment: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 92.5%; rating input score 93; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -3.1%; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.57; rating input score 70; 70th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.08; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.1%; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 7.6% per year; rating input score 100; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.9% per year; rating input score 100; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 6% per year; rating input score 100; 43rd percentile among comparable filings