ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO INC

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1931

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

LISA SMITH

Phone

7168373900

Tax Period

2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31

ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO INC, founded in 1931, is a mid-sized nonprofit in the Animal-Related sector that reported $10.8M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Expenses of $12.8M exceeded revenue, resulting in a 18% operating deficit.

Mission

BUILDING COMMUNITY; CREATING CONNECTIONS; SAVING WILDLIFE THROUGH A COLLABORATION FOR CHANGE: THE BUFFALO ZOO WILL BE A CENTER OF CONSERVATION EXCELLENCE, PROVIDING LEADERSHIP TO SECURE A FUTURE WHERE WILDLIFE THRIVES. WE EMBODY OUR MISSION AND VISION THROUGH PRACTICES THAT EXEMPLIFY OUR VALUES OF TEAMWORK, WELCOMING, INTEGRITY, CARING, AND GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $8,290,420 Revenue: $3,935,273

ANIMAL CARE AND HORTICULTURE MAINTENANCE AND EXPERIENCE: AS AN AZA (ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS) ACCREDITED ZOO, WE STRIVE TO PROVIDE OUR ANIMALS WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE HABITATS, NUTRITION...

ANIMAL CARE AND HORTICULTURE MAINTENANCE AND EXPERIENCE: AS AN AZA (ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS) ACCREDITED ZOO, WE STRIVE TO PROVIDE OUR ANIMALS WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE HABITATS, NUTRITION, ENRICHMENT AND VETERINARY CARE TO ENSURE CONSERVATION OF ANIMAL SPECIES AS WELL AS THE MAINTENANCE AND EXPANSION OF HORTICULTURE THROUGHOUT THE ZOO. THE GOAL OF ZOOS IS NOT STRICTLY TO PROVIDE RECREATION BUT TO PROVIDE AN INTERESTING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF CONSERVATION LEADING TO A CONNECTION TO ANIMALS AND NATURE NOT OTHERWISE POSSIBLE FOR MOST PEOPLE.

Program 2

Expenses: $846,741 Revenue: $287,198

EDUCATION - PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO STIMULATE AN EARLY INTEREST IN THE LIFE SCIENCES, NATURE AND CONSERVATION, BEGINNING WITH TODDLERS THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

Program 3

Expenses: $979,337 Revenue: $1,994,207

GUEST SERVICES - CONCESSIONS, RIDES, GIFT SHOP AND OTHER ANCILLARY SERVICES DESGINED TO PROVIDED THE ULTIMATE GUEST EXPERIENCE.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $4,513,190

Program Service Revenue $6,216,678

Investment Income $65,900

Other Revenue $0

TOTAL REVENUE $10,795,768

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $6,347,649

Fundraising Expenses $865,495

Program Expenses $10,116,498

Other Expenses $6,430,567

TOTAL EXPENSES $12,778,216

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2024	2023	Change
Revenue	$10,795,768	$10,847,156	0.0%
Expenses	$12,778,216	$12,560,378	+0.0%
Net Income	$-1,982,448	$-1,713,222	+0.2%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✓ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

203

Volunteers

271

Governance Policies

✓ Conflict of Interest Policy

✓ Whistleblower Policy

✓ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✓ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✓ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$372,477

Total Directors

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
EUGENE P GRAMZA JR	CHAIR	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
LISA CEGLIA	VICE CHAIR	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
RYLAN O RAWLINS	VICE CHAIR	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
JOHN R YURTCHUK	VICE CHAIR	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
RAJIV RANJAN	TREASURER	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
NICOLE R TZETZO	SECRETARY	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
MICHELLE A SULLIVAN	CHAIR ELECT	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
DAVID P FLYNN	IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
BARBARA T BAKER	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
CAVETTE A CHAMBERS	DIRECTOR - EX-OFFICIO	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JOEL P FEROLETO	DIRECTOR - EX-OFFICIO	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SERGIO P GANGAROSSA	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JOHN T GAVIGAN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SUSAN GINGRICH	DIRECTOR- EX-OFFICIO	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
CRAIG A HARRIS	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SEAN HEIDINGER	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
CHRIS KANIA	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
BRANDON SCHULZ-KOLLER	DIRECTOR- EX-OFFICIO	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
BRIAN J KULPA	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DENISE LANZ	DIRECTOR - EX-OFFICIO	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
PAUL MILLSTEIN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
RONALD MORNELLI	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SUSAN O'SULLIVAN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ELIZABETH POTOZNIAK	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JOHN R SANDERSON	DIRECTOR - EX-OFFICIO	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
CHRIS SCANLON	DIRECTOR - EX-OFFICIO	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DONNA M SIWEK	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MICHAEL T ULBRICH	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
KANISHKA WANNINAYAKA	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ABIGAIL L ZABRODSKY	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DENISE SCHAEFER	CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER	40.00	Officer	$131,518	$19,178	$150,696
LISA SMITH	PRESIDENT/CEO	40.00	Officer	$188,111	$33,670	$221,781
KURT VOLLE	VETERINARIAN	40.00	Highest	$106,143	$31,250	$137,393

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2024	$10,795,768	$12,778,216	$34,119,903	$-1,982,448
2023	$10,847,156	$12,560,378	$35,989,502	$-1,713,222
2022	$10,380,031	$13,238,523	$38,366,633	$-2,858,492
2021	$10,493,866	$10,675,827	$41,190,755	$-181,961
2020	$8,631,319	$9,959,511	$40,726,764	$-1,328,192
2019	$10,821,399	$10,568,158	$48,223,662	$253,241
2018	$8,533,062	$10,466,347	$47,400,044	$-1,933,285