irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $850KMEMBERSHIPWE HAD THE SUPPORT OF OVER 14,000 MEMBERS IN 2024 INCLUDING 1,289 HEAD OF THE HERD HOUSEHOLDS WHO HAVE MAINTAINED THEIR MEMBERSHIP FOR 10 OR MORE CONSECUTIVE YEARS. MEMBER ATTENDANCE WAS OVER 115,000 AND 78% OF MEMBERS WENT DIGITAL WITH THEIR MEMBER CARDS HELPING US DRAMATICALLY REDUCE PAPER CONSUMPTION AND PRINTING COSTS.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Beginner Birding Tour
Guided bird watching tour at the zoo teaching participants about bird species present on the grounds
Conservation Awareness Days
Special events such as Cold Asia Awareness Day and Panamanian Golden Frog Day that highlight specific species and conservation efforts through keeper chats, talks, and activities
KinderZoo
Early childhood education program for children ages 18 months to 5 years focusing on animal themes, senses, and beneficial insects through interactive activities
Zoo Membership Program
Offers tiered membership levels providing free admission, discounts, early entry, and reciprocal benefits at other zoos; supports conservation and education initiatives
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 4 activities
- Conduct offsite and community outreach educationDelivers educational programming beyond the zoo through the ZooMobile, which visits schools, daycare centers, nursing homes, libraries, and community events, as well as offsite nature hikes, journaling programs, and partnerships with local institutions to engage diverse audiences in conservation.
- Deliver wildlife and environmental education programs for childrenOffers age-specific educational programs including KinderZoo for preschoolers (ages 18 months to 5 years), ZooCamp for children ages 3–12, after-school programs, and homeschool sessions focused on animals, science, and biodiversity through interactive activities, animal encounters, and nature exploration.
- Host guided and themed educational experiencesOffers curated on-site programs such as Insight EdVenture (a two-hour tour with classroom time and ambassador animals), Stroller Walkabouts for young children, guided bird watching tours, and themed events like Cold Asia Awareness Weekend and Panamanian Golden Frog Day to deepen visitor understanding of species and conservation.
- Offer at-home and digital educational resourcesProvides downloadable Zoo Projects and Exploration Field Guides for families, students, and teachers to support remote learning about wildlife and conservation, extending educational access beyond physical visits.
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Museum Volunteer Engagement & Operations Support 1 activity
- Engage volunteers in zoo operations and conservation supportUtilizes adult and teen volunteers in guest services (greeters, photographers), animal behavior observation, event support, and career development opportunities for those pursuing veterinary or animal care fields, enhancing operational capacity and public engagement.
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Membership Program Administration 1 activity
- Manage membership program supporting conservation and accessOperates a membership program with over 14,000 members (including 1,289 long-term households) providing free admission to members and their families, digital card options, discounts at on-site retail and food locations, reciprocal benefits at 150+ zoos and aquariums, and distribution of the ZooNooz magazine; membership revenue supports conservation and education initiatives.
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Community Event Fundraising 1 activity
- Operate annual special events and fundraising programsHosts recurring events including a 5K run/walk, 21+ tasting events (e.g., wine and pollinator-themed), galas with animal encounters and auctions, family Halloween events, outdoor movie screenings, and after-hours experiences like Trek in the Twilight to engage the public and raise funds for conservation and education.
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Inclusive Social & Recreational Events 1 activity
- Promote inclusivity through cultural awareness programmingHosts Deaf Culture Awareness Weekend and other inclusive events designed to foster connection and accessibility for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, ensuring equitable participation in zoo experiences.
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Youth Counselor-in-Training Programs 1 activity
- Provide teen education and volunteer programsRuns a structured teen volunteer program that includes conservation case studies, public education using biofacts and games, leadership roles as ZooTeen Captains, and skill-building in communication and animal conservation; engages teens in ZooCamp support and guest interaction.
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Beach and Waterway Cleanup Initiatives 1 activity
- Support conservation through local environmental actionOrganizes annual clean-up efforts removing over 2,000 pounds of trash from local parks, green spaces, and waterways, including over 500 pounds of invasive water chestnut in partnership with the DEC and PRISM, to protect regional ecosystems.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Operate zoo facility and on-site servicesOperates the zoo for 362 days per year (closed only on major holidays), serving hundreds of thousands of guests annually through admissions, gift shop sales, and food service; proceeds support animal acquisitions, interpretive signage, education, and in situ conservation programs.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$5.38M
Contributions & grants$2.81M52%
Program service revenue$2.17M40%
Investment income$162K3%
Other revenue$233K
expenses
Total expenses$4.46M
Program expenses50%
Admin / overhead26%
Fundraising23%
Salaries & benefits$2.45M
Grants paid out$283K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$6.68M
Cash$2.19M
Investments$3.89M
Liabilities$802K
Net assets$5.88M
Liquid reserves16.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +11.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAMELA REED SANCHEZ | PRESIDENT & CEO | 39 | $172K |
| SHARON PETERSON | VICE PRESIDENT & CFO | 39 | $150K |
board members · 23
- BARBARA KELLEY — VICE CHAIR
- CHRIS STERN — IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
- CHRISTINE OSBORNE — TRUSTEE
- DAN MATTEO — TRUSTEE
- DAVID WILKS — TRUSTEE
- DEBBY WILSON — TRUSTEE
- ERIC ALLEN — TRUSTEE
- GAVIN BROWNLIE JR — TRUSTEE
- JAMES MYERS — TRUSTEE
- JAY WEAVER — TRUSTEE
- JOZEF KUZMKOWSKI — TRUSTEE
- KATIE LALLY — TRUSTEE
- KATRINA BUSCH — TRUSTEE
- KEVIN NOWACK — TRUSTEE
- LEONARD BAYER — TRUSTEE
- LINDA HASMAN — TRUSTEE
- LUIS BURGOS — TRUSTEE
- MAUREEN DOBIES — TRUSTEE
- PAMELA O'CONNOR-CHAPMAN — TRUSTEE
- PATRICK MEREDITH — TRUSTEE
- PETER HIN — TRUSTEE
- ROSE MARY VILLARRUBIA-IZZO — TRUSTEE
- SHELLY DORAN — CHAIR
relationships · 15
Who they work with
- City of Rochester Partner — Collaborates on park and waterway clean-up efforts, including removal of trash and invasive species.
- DEC Government — Partners in removing invasive water chestnut from local waterways.
- GCV&M Partner — Reciprocal membership program allowing GCV&M members free admission to Seneca Park Zoo and vice versa.
- Grants for Animals Funder — Funds animal care and conservation programs at Seneca Park Zoo
- Monroe County Government — Operates in partnership with Monroe County, which oversees Seneca Park Zoo.
- Monroe County's Movies in the Park Partner — Collaborates to host outdoor movie events at Seneca Park Zoo.
- New York State Education Department Government — Aligns school programs with New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards
- Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Network — Aligns school programs with NGSS standards
- PRISM Partner — Collaborates on removal of invasive water chestnut from local waterways.
- RMSC Partner — Reciprocal membership program allowing RMSC members free admission to Seneca Park Zoo and vice versa.
- Seneca Park Zoo education team Partner — Collaborates with teen volunteers in delivering public education programs and training.
- The SSA Group Partner — Partners with The SSA Group to manage food & beverage, retail, and admissions staffing at the zoo.
- Zoo members Network — Zoo members receive early access to the zoo, opening at 9:30 a.m.
- over 150 zoos and aquariums Network — Participates in a reciprocal admission network offering members 50% off admission at more than 150 zoos and aquariums.
- sustainable local vineyards Partner — Collaborates with vineyards that use earth-friendly practices to provide wine for the Wine for Wildlife event.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Case Study-Based Conservation Learningmethodology: case-study-based-conservation-educationBy engaging participants in real-world conservation case studies, the zoo connects abstract issues to tangible species and solutions, because narrative-based, problem-solving formats deepen understanding and inspire action.
- Experiential Conservation Educationmethodology: experiential-conservation-educationBy using immersive, interactive experiences with animals and nature, the zoo fosters emotional connections that lead to increased conservation awareness and stewardship behaviors, because direct engagement strengthens personal relevance and care for wildlife.
- Standards-Aligned Educational Programmingmethodology: standards-aligned-educationBy aligning school programs with state and national science standards, the zoo ensures that visits reinforce classroom learning and support formal education outcomes, because curriculum coherence increases teacher adoption and student retention.
- Youth Peer-Led Conservation Engagementmethodology: peer-education-outreachBy training teens as peer educators and ambassadors, the zoo enhances public learning and conservation messaging through relatable, age-similar interactions, because shared identity and enthusiasm increase message receptivity among guests.