ZooTampa at Lowry Park

What it reported doing in 2024

ZooTampa at Lowry Park features 63 acres of lush, natural habitats comprising Florida, Asia, Primates, Australia, and Africa. As a nonprofit cultural organization committed to conservation, the focus is on animals from Florida, such as manatees and Florida panthers, and animals from Florida-like climates, such as elephants and orangutans. ZooTampa houses over 900 animals in naturalistic outdoor habitats year-round. The organization helps to ensure conservation goals and objectives as well as the sustainability of a healthy, genetically diverse, and demographically varied population of numerous species. (Continued on Schedule O) ZooTampa has contributed to the propagation of species, in conjunction with AZA species survival plans, to help save numerous species from extinction and participate in species conservation efforts locally, nationally, and internationally. ZooTampa manages a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital that is part of its larger medical campus that includes a nutrition center and animal care annex. It is the only zoological or aquarium facility in the nation that is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). ZooTampa is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and licensed to operate by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The Zoo is dedicated to serving as an educational resource for the community, and to providing an exciting, nature-based entertainment destination for families, schools, and organizations. Up-close experiences with living animals at the zoo teach the value of the living world firsthand. ZooTampa is proud to list the following accomplishments in fiscal year 2025: Zoological Operations - ZooTampa at Lowry Park continues to provide leadership aimed at saving manatees: The manatee care and veterinary team at the David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Hospital received 27 manatees for rehabilitation, of which 25 were released back into the Florida waters; 4 manatees were transferred to other facilities after ZooTampa provided the critical care needed and are now awaiting the State of Florida to determine release dates. - ZooTampa received the FAZA FWC Collaborative Conservation Award for our Manatee Critical Care program at the FWC Commission Meeting. This award from the Florida Association of Zoos and Aquariums (FAZA) recognizes excellence in field conservation efforts that benefit Florida species. - Notable births: Bali Mynah (3), Coconut Lorikeet (9), Eastern Bongo (3), Horseshoe crab (7), Bay duiker (1), Impala (2), Komodo (2), Roseate Spoonbill (4), Marabou Stork (1), Masked Lapwing (1) Siamang (1) - Notable acquisitions: Abdim Stork (1), African pygmy goose (2), African wild dog (1), Cownose Ray (13), Crested wood partridge (1), Emu (1), Four-toed hedgehog (1), Hamerkop (1), Inca Tern (2), Nicobar pigeon (1), Panamanian Golden frog (3), Puerto Rican Crested toad (2), Southern Tamandua (1), Striped Newt (14), Viginia opossum (1), Wattled Crane (1) Yellow-backed duiker (1) - Number of animals at the zoo during fiscal year 2025 = 824 Conservation & Education - Partnerships with external conservation projects, including Association of Zoos and Aquariums- Saving Animals from Extinction Program, AZA's Wildlife Trafficking Alliance, International Rhino Foundation, International Elephant Foundation, Elephant Human Relations Aid, Tampa Bay Estuary, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, Florida Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Audubon Florida, Okapi Conservation Project, Coastal Plains Institute Striped Newt, Puerto Rican Crested Toad Conservancy, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUNC), South African Conservation Foundation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Hospital, Conservation Center for Species Survival, World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Conservation Centers for Species Survival, Orianne Society, Ecosphere Restoration Institute, Florida Wildlife Corrid

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 82.9%; rating input score 83
• Program expense ratio: 88.4%; rating input score 88
• Fundraising efficiency: $17.36 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.7%; rating input score 95; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • 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: 0%; rating input score 0; 4th 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; 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: 16.8%; rating input score 79; 79th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.33; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.16; rating input score 64; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 6.4%; rating input score 40; 40th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 7.6% per year; rating input score 100; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 9% per year; rating input score 100; 70th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 6% per year; rating input score 100; 42nd percentile among comparable filings