PROVEN ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY, STEWARDSHIP, AND OUTCOMES

The Indianapolis Zoo is a nonprofit corporation whose founders, board, and management believe that sound business practices must remain central to the pursuit of our mission.

› We live within our means.
› We provide value.
› We are accountable to our stakeholders.
› While we have developed extraordinary institutional expertise, we are careful and responsive listeners.
› Above all, we must be strong if we are to advance our mission.

With those core principles guiding us:

› The Zoo operates with a balanced budget.
› We withdraw only three percent of our endowment annually.
› Earned income represents more than 70 percent of our revenue stream.
› The governance structure is effective, and board members are dedicated, capable, and diligent.
› Management and staff are committed, experienced, and stable.
› Membership is rising.
› New exhibits reliably produce substantially higher, sustained levels of visitation.
› Three recent campaigns have raised $14 million, $11 million, and $31 million.
› Endowment value increased 500 percent from 2002 to 2007 and recovered to its pre-downturn level by the end of 2009.
 
The Indianapolis Zoo in brief:

› Founded in 1964 as a small children’s zoo at Washington Park on the near eastside of Indianapolis.
› Moved to 64 acres in White River State Park in 1988, anchoring the country's only urban state park.
› The largest American zoo operated without any tax-supported funding.
› 2011 operating budget: $20 million.
› Full-time employees: 200.
› Animal collection: 2,700 specimens representing 255 species.