Chicago Zoological Society: $94.3M Revenue, $58.9M Program Expenses

Chicago Zoological Society earns a C on the efficiency rubric — the median bucket on the LakeQuality scale, indicating performance close to the national midpoint across program spending, executive compensation, and financial reserves. Composite score: 63/100.

Chicago Zoological Society reported $94.3M in 2024 revenue — a mid-sized nonprofit by U.S. standards. Organizations in this bracket typically operate with a small permanent staff, project-based program structures, and modest reserves. Program-spending efficiency is strong: 80% of total expenses flow to program activities, above the 75% benchmark most third-party charity raters use.

Revenue has grown meaningfully across the five-year filing history — a sign of expanding donor base, new grants, or scaling programs. Chicago Zoological Society reported $94.3M in 2024, up notably from the start of the window. CEO compensation is reported as zero in the filing — typical for nonprofits where the chief executive is paid through a related entity (parent system, university, or foundation) rather than the filing organization itself, or for small organizations whose chief is a volunteer or board member. Chicago Zoological Society works in Environment & Animals — environmental, conservation, animal-welfare, and natural-resources programs. The sector spans large international conservation groups and small local land trusts; the financial profile varies accordingly.