Fort Wayne Zoological Society Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Conservation & research: conservation & research the zoo is a conservation leader, providing financial support to 40 conservation partners around the globe in 2024. The kids for nature conservation kiosk continues to involve guests in conservation, allowing them to vote among three projects with their zoo provided penny at the entrance. Funds are generated through ticket sales and memberships, along with corks for conservation event proceeds, employee giving, guests donations and wild things gift shop "round up" program. The zoo participates in various research projects initiated by external and internal investigators that want to learn more about the animals that call our zoo home. One of our signature conservation programs is headstarting eastern hellbenders in partnership with purdue university, the department of natural resources, and several other midwest zoos. We currently have over 300 hellbenders that are being raised for future release into the wild. In collaboration with purdue university, we have completed our initial growth rate trends and unique spot pattern retention potential. The data will then be used as we investigate if size versus age has a more significant effect on survivability in the wild with their release over the next two years. As part of the one-year veterinary internship at the fort wayne zoo, post-graduate veterinarians are mentored and trained in zoo medicine and conservation research. The current intern, dr. Emma zhang, has initiated a research study that aims to determine reference ranges of several gastrointestinal tests in red pandas so that potential abnormal results can be better interpreted. This may assist in diagnosing gastrointestinal disease in this endangered species and guide future treatments. Serum samples are being utilized from red pandas across the u.s. And analyzed at Texas a&m university diagnostic lab, who is collaborating on this endeavor. Director of animal health and conservation, dr. Kami fox represented the fort wayne zoo by participating in the mariana avifauna conservation program (mac) in the south pacific. Heading up the veterinary and research components of this project, she and the team focused on an endangered bird, the saipan reed warbler, that only exists on the single island of saipan. With very little information known about this species, data was collected on behavior, husbandry, health, and disease during the trip. Over the next 5 years, the focus will be shifted to another endangered species, the rota white-eye, with an extensive recovery plan that involves future translocations to create insurance populations, in hopes of securing their long-term survival. The fort wayne zoo has been participating in the mac program for more than 10 years.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 74.2%; rating input score 74
• Program expense ratio: 69.5%; rating input score 70
• Fundraising efficiency: $6.38 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 26; 26th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 1 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 12
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Limited
  • Conducts field audits: Limited
  • May suspend future funding: Limited
  • Requires financial reports: Limited
  • Conducts site visits: Limited
  • Requires grant agreements: Limited
  • May require repayment: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 99.2%; rating input score 99; 32nd 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: 0.5%; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.22; rating input score 65; 65th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.11; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.7%; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.8% per year; rating input score 100; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 4.6% per year; rating input score 100; 41st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 8% per year; rating input score 100; 55th percentile among comparable filings