COMO FRIENDS

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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

1999

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

KATHERINE HILL BEGAN 725

Phone

6514878229

Tax Period

2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31

COMO FRIENDS, founded in 1999, is a community nonprofit in the Animal-Related sector that reported $5.4M in total revenue in fiscal year 2025. Revenue surged 22% from the prior year, signaling strong growth momentum. Expenses of $7.0M exceeded revenue, resulting in a 29% operating deficit.

Mission

WE INSPIRE COMMUNITY GENEROSITY IN SUPPORT OF COMO PARK ZOO & CONSERVATORY SO IT THRIVES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $4,287,284

COMO FRIENDS SECURES DONATIONS AND GENERATES RETAIL REVENUES TO INVEST IN COMO PARK ZOO & CONSERVATORY. INVESTMENTS SUPPORT NEW CAPITAL PROJECTS SUCH AS COMO HARBOR AND THE ORDWAY GARDENS, ANNUAL...

COMO FRIENDS SECURES DONATIONS AND GENERATES RETAIL REVENUES TO INVEST IN COMO PARK ZOO & CONSERVATORY. INVESTMENTS SUPPORT NEW CAPITAL PROJECTS SUCH AS COMO HARBOR AND THE ORDWAY GARDENS, ANNUAL IMPROVEMENTS TO ANIMAL EXHIBITS AND GARDENS, CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS AROUND THE WORLD, PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND FREE AND EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR ALL VISITORS. THE PAST DECADE OF TRANSFORMATIVE IMPROVEMENTS CHAMPIONED BY COMO FRIENDS HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR COMO TO MEET AND EXCEED BEST PRACTICE STANDARDS FOR ANIMAL CARE, GROW AND CURATE WORLD-CLASS HORTICULTURAL COLLECTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FREE ADMISSION FOR ALL.

Program 2

Expenses: $942,776 Revenue: $1,712,882

COMO FRIENDS OPERATES GARDEN SAFARI GIFTS IN THE VISITOR CENTER. THREE SATELLITE LOCATIONS ARE OPEN DURING THE SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL MONTHS. PROCEEDS ARE INVESTED AT COMO PARK ZOO & CONSERVATORY TO...

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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 (2025)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $3,641,919

Program Service Revenue $0

Investment Income $280,092

Other Revenue $1,492,879

TOTAL REVENUE $5,414,890

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $4,146,063

Salaries & Benefits $1,937,170

Fundraising Expenses $645,552

Program Expenses $5,230,060

Other Expenses $909,871

TOTAL EXPENSES $6,993,104

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2025	2024	Change
Revenue	$5,414,890	$4,447,538	+0.2%
Expenses	$6,993,104	$4,883,103	+0.4%
Net Income	$-1,578,214	$-435,565	+2.6%

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

Volunteers

175

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

$226,150

Total Directors

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
KATHERINE HILL BEGAN 725	PRESIDENT/BO	45.00	Officer	$90,773	$4,539	$95,312
JACQUELINE STICHA THRU 725	PRESIDENT/BO	45.00	Officer	$108,938	$21,900	$130,838
JEFFERY MUNDINGER	DIRECTOR OF	40.00	Highest	$123,597	$26,185	$149,782
LAUREL LUNDBERG	DIRECTOR OF	40.00	Highest	$121,335	$21,996	$143,331
CAROLINE MEHLHOP	DIRECTOR OF	40.00	Highest	$110,586	$39,208	$149,794
SUSANNAH BAUDHUIN	CREATIVE DIR	40.00	Highest	$105,990	$20,263	$126,253
ANDY DAVIS	BOARD CHAIR	4.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
SHEILA BROWN	BOARD VICE C	4.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
WENDY HARDEN	BOARD TREASU	4.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
ADAM PROCK	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
AMY HICKS	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ANNIE HUIDEKOPER	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
BARB SHUMSKER	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DAVID MCKINNEY THRU 925	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ERIKA PERRAULT	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ERIN WACH	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
FORD NICHOLSON	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
GREG PEELMAN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JANE GERBER	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JEN SYVERSEN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JOHN BAUER	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
KARL HALLING	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
KELLY BLOCH	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
KELLY SAM	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
LYNETTE PALMGREN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
PATRICIA KAUFMAN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
PETER EVERETT	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
RENEE LEE	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SHERYL ZAWORSKI	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
STEVE PROESCHEL	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
THERESA NEAL	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
TOM FRATTALLONE	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0

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
2025	$5,414,890	$6,993,104	$19,733,646	$-1,578,214
2024	$4,447,538	$4,883,103	$18,950,875	$-435,565
2023	$5,445,916	$4,280,466	$18,490,549	$1,165,450
2022	$4,864,821	$3,992,903	$15,847,385	$871,918
2021	$4,049,100	$3,423,886	$15,930,991	$625,214
2020	$2,603,608	$3,713,704	$13,545,377	$-1,110,096
2019	$2,743,310	$3,782,769	$13,827,222	$-1,039,459
2018	$4,881,827	$3,704,103	$13,770,274	$1,177,724