Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance

What it reported doing in 2025

Guest experiences: the denver zoo exists to help our community connect with wildlife here and around the world so that we can all be part of the solution to helping species thrive. Our passion and reason for being is to inspire communities to save wildlife for future generations. We achieve this by providing an outstanding guest experience every day. The denver zoo monitors and evaluates the guest experience through a mystery shopper program, consistently monitoring online feedback, and extensive guest satisfaction surveys. The denver zoo continues to make a profound impact, creating meaningful experiences for guests, both at the denver zoo and off-site in the community, engaging citizens through impactful animal encounters that inspire a lifelong love of science learning. The denver zoo is a place where guests make local, regional, and international connections, linking people, animals, and nature. The denver zoo connects people with animals, inspiring them to champion the denver zoo's mission to inspire communities to save wildlife for future generations. As an accredited association of zoos and aquariums (aza) institution, the denver zoo is an important resource for the denver metro region to understand wildlife and the need to conserve the places animals live. The denver zoo is also american humane certified, recognizing excellence in animal wellbeing. The denver zoo's guests learn about the important role zoos have as leaders in conservation research. Through up-close experiences, visitors experience a stronger connection to nature, consider their role in environmental problems and conservation action, and see themselves as part of the solution as a result of their visit. The denver zoo served 1.8 million people in 2025 through visits and outreach education programs. Approximately 158,000 guests were provided access to the denver zoo with free admission and approximately 203,000 guests were provided access with reduced priced admission.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 86.2%; rating input score 86
• Program expense ratio: 80%; rating input score 80
• Fundraising efficiency: $9.21 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 24; 24th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 6 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • 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: Pass
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Fail
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Fail
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 65th 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: -7.5%; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.37; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.39; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.2%; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.5% per year; rating input score 100; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 5.3% per year; rating input score 100; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 3.8% per year; rating input score 100; 25th percentile among comparable filings