What Connecticut Zoological Society does

Connecticut Zoological Society operates Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the only AZA-accredited zoo in the state, located on 52 acres in Beardsley Park, Bridgeport, CT. The organization maintains a collection of 350 animals across 120+ species, including threatened and endangered taxa, and runs a diversified portfolio spanning gate admissions, tiered memberships ($80–$2,500), Animal Adoptions, venue rentals, birthday parties, weddings, corporate sponsorships, and signature fundraising events. Education and conservation are core programmatic pillars: the Society reaches 162,516 guests annually through Field Trips, Zoo to You mobile outreach (Zoomobile, Wild Assemblies), citizen science programs (FrogWatch, MonarchWatch), and youth programs (Zoo Tots, Zoo Patrol, Conservation Discovery Corps, Zoo Career Explorers), alongside field conservation partnerships with Fairfield University, Sacred Heart University, Yale Peabody Museum, the Maritime Aquarium, and AZA SAFE.

The underlying technology is non-differentiated: a standard website and ticketing platform with online ticket sales, membership management, event registration, social OAuth login integrations (Google, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn), an Amazon wishlist for in-kind donations, and Zoom for virtual lectures. There is no proprietary technology, AI/ML capability, or app.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue stack with eight distinct streams: one-time gate admissions (seasonal on-peak/off-peak pricing), recurring memberships, recurring monthly Zooper Hero donations, recurring corporate sponsorships, transaction-fee signature events, one-time venue rentals, one-time birthday party packages, and one-time/perpetual commemorative bench and Animal Adoption purchases. GTM is primarily direct-to-consumer via the zoo's website and gate, augmented by field-based corporate sponsorship outreach and event-driven fundraising, with community partner distribution through library pass and EBT discount programs. Annual attendance averages approximately 300,000 visitors against a 2,000+ household membership base.

Name

Connecticut Zoological Society

Legal name

Connecticut Zoological Society Inc.

Website

https://beardsleyzoo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Connecticut Zoological Society operates Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the state's only AZA-accredited zoo on 52 acres in Bridgeport, serving ~300,000 annual visitors, 2,000+ member households, and 162,516 education-program participants through admissions, memberships, events, and conservation programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoological Park and Wildlife Education

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions) (THAJAEAE), Wildlife Interpretation & Education Centers (Visitor Centers, Museums) (THAAAFAG)

Keywords

• Zoo admission tickets
• Annual zoo memberships
• Wildlife education programs
• Venue rental events
• Wildlife conservation donations

Headquarters

HQ city

Bridgeport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: General admission tickets sold online and at the gate with tiered pricing based on season (on-peak vs off-peak) and visitor category (adult/child/senior). This is the primary revenue driver for zoo operations.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership subscriptions with multiple tiers (Individual $80, Family $140, Grandparent $140, Family Plus $170, Director's Circle $260, Silver Society $500, Zuele Society $1000-$2500) offering unlimited visits, discounts, and exclusive perks.
3. Animal Adoption: Symbolic animal adoption packages starting at $50 (no plush) or $75 (with plush), supporting conservation programs and offering adoption certificates, fact cards, and plush toys.
4. Venue Rentals: Rental of zoo facilities including Carousel Building ($2750), Hanson Exploration Station ($1000-$1500), Victorian Greenhouse ($750-$1000), Picnic Grove ($1000-$1250), and Entire Zoo ($6000) for private events, weddings, and corporate gatherings.
5. Birthday Parties: Three birthday party packages (Wild Creations $400/$435, Critter Connection $450/$475, Zoo-rific $575/$600 member/non-member) including admission, party space, food, and activities.
6. Monthly Giving: Recurring monthly donations through the Zooper Hero monthly giving program, providing sustained support for zoo operations.
7. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship packages allowing companies to build client relationships, increase community visibility, and boost brand awareness through event sponsorship and educational program partnerships.
8. Special Events: Signature fundraising events including Wild Wine Food & Beverage Safari, Zoom at the Zoo, and Toast to the Wild, with vendor fees, ticket sales, and sponsorship revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Connecticut Zoological Society operates Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, a 52-acre AZA-accredited zoological park offering animal exhibits and wildlife viewing, tiered annual memberships, venue rentals for private events, birthday parties, education and outreach programs for schools, citizen science initiatives, signature fundraising events, and corporate sponsorship packages.

Product overview

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, operated by the Connecticut Zoological Society, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit zoo spanning 52 acres in Beardsley Park, Bridgeport, CT. The organization operates as a single zoo facility with a diversified portfolio of revenue-generating products and programs. Core visitor products include General Admission Tickets with tiered seasonal pricing, and Membership Packages ranging from $80 Individual to $2,500 Zuele Society Founder levels. The zoo offers Animal Adoption programs starting at $50, Venue Rental services (Carousel Building, Victorian Greenhouse, Hanson Station), Birthday Party Packages ($400-$600), and Wedding/Private Event hosting. Educational programs span Field Trips, Zoo to You outreach (Zoomobile, Wild Assemblies), Zoo Tots (ages 22mo-4 years), Zoo Patrol summer camps, Conservation Discovery Corps, Zoo Career Explorers, FrogWatch, MonarchWatch citizen science programs, and Evening Lectures. Conservation initiatives include Trout in the Classroom, RIZE Program partnerships, AZA SAFE Programs, and Pollinator Pathway designation. Fundraising includes signature events (Wild Wine Safari, Zoom at the Zoo, Toast to the Wild), Monthly Giving, Memorial Giving, Amazon Wish List donations, and Corporate Sponsorship packages. The zoo is AZA-accredited and welcomes approximately 300,000 annual visitors with a 2,000+ household membership base.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Admission Tickets Day passes for entry to Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, with tiered pricing for on-peak and off-peak seasons, children, seniors, and discounted rates for Library Pass and EBT cardholders.
• Membership Packages Annual membership tiers including Individual ($80), Family ($140), Grandparent ($140), Family Plus ($170), Director's Circle ($260), Silver Society ($500), Zuele Society Ambassador ($1,000), and Zuele Society Founder ($2,500), offering unlimited admission, discounts, Bring-a-Friend passes, and exclusive events.
• Animal Adoption Symbolic animal adoption program with packages starting at $50 (no plush) and $75 (with plush), featuring adoption certificates, animal fact cards, plush toys, and contributions to conservation programs.
• Birthday Party Packages Three birthday party packages: Wild Creations ($400/$435 member/non-member), Critter Connection ($450/$475), and Zoo-rific ($575/$600), including admission, party space, food, activities, and animal encounters.
• Venue Rental Rental of zoo facilities including the Carousel Building ($2,750 after hours), Hanson Exploration Station ($1,000-$1,500), Victorian Greenhouse ($750-$1,000), Picnic Grove ($1,000-$1,250), and entire zoo ($6,000 after hours) for private events.
• Weddings Wedding venue services in the Victorian Greenhouse, antique Carousel Building with working carousel, or rustic Hanson Building, including ceremonies, receptions, and rehearsal dinners.
• Corporate Events & Sponsorship Corporate sponsorship packages and event hosting including meetings, company picnics, holiday gatherings, and team-building activities with educational programs and onsite activations.
• Fundraising Events Signature fundraising events including Wild Wine Food & Beverage Safari, Zoom at the Zoo car show, and Toast to the Wild, featuring live music, animal encounters, auctions, and food tastings.
• Zoo Bucks Gift Cards Gift cards available in physical and digital formats for use year-round at the zoo for admission, retail, and food purchases.
• Field Trips Educational group visits for schools, camps, and nonprofit organizations with flexible self-guided exploration and group pricing aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.
• Zoo to You Outreach Programs Mobile education programs including Zoomobile with live animal ambassadors, Wild Assemblies, Scout Wild Assemblies, Presentations, and Career Talks, aligned with Next Generation Science Standards for pre-K through college.
• Zoo Tots 30-minute program for children ages 22 months to 4 years accompanied by adults, featuring stories, songs, puppet shows, crafts, and live animal encounters at $25 per tot with up to 2 guardians.
• Zoo Patrol Youth summer programming where children explore different zoo areas daily through guided activities, staff presentations on animals and veterinary care, and zoo-themed games and art activities.
• Conservation Discovery Corps (CDC) Year-long volunteer program for high school students to explore zoological careers, present to visitors, and participate in field conservation research studies including seagrass planting, horseshoe crab tagging, and mussel monitoring.
• Zoo Career Explorers Year-long program for high school students (ages 14-18) offering workshops on eight key departments, job shadows, public presentations, and a year-end project for a $120 registration fee.
• FrogWatch Citizen science program in partnership with The Maritime Aquarium and Yale's Peabody Museum, training volunteers to monitor frog and toad populations in local wetlands through call identification.
• MonarchWatch Monarch butterfly tagging project managed with the University of Kansas, where volunteers learn to tag butterflies during fall migration after attending virtual training sessions.
• Evening Lecture Series Conservation-focused lectures hosted in-person and virtually on Zoom, featuring experts discussing topics like Wolf Conservation, Bat Basics, and Bear Reality.
• Monthly Giving (Zooper Hero) Recurring monthly donation program allowing supporters to provide consistent financial support to the zoo's operations, conservation, and educational programs.
• Memorial Giving & Commemorative Benches Tribute gifts including commemorative benches priced at $2,300 for members and $2,600 for non-members at over 30 locations throughout the zoo grounds.
• Amazon Wish List In-kind donation program where supporters purchase needed supplies like Aquascopes ($50 each), Neoprene Waders ($160 each), and Classroom Microscopes ($1,532) from the zoo's Amazon wish list.

Quantifiable outcome

• 162,516 guests reached through education programs annually
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fairfield University (RIZE Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIZE is a collaboration between Fairfield University and the Zoo dedicated to restoring habitats and encouraging youth engagement in environmental stewardship through education and service projects.
• Sacred Heart University (Project Limulus)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Sacred Heart University's Project Limulus for horseshoe crab tagging, monitoring populations to protect this ancient species and support coastal ecosystems.
• The Maritime AquariumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrogWatch partnership with The Maritime Aquarium, where volunteers help monitor local wetlands by keeping a frog log to record the calls of frogs and toads.
• Yale's Peabody Museum of Natural HistorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrogWatch partnership with Yale's Peabody Museum of Natural History for amphibian conservation and citizen science monitoring.
• Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA SAFE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating with AZA SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) programs to protect endangered species globally through conservation initiatives.
• Pollinator Pathway ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnecticut's Beardsley Zoo joined the chain of properties with gardens that support butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and other pollinators as part of the Pollinator Pathway program.
• National Wildlife FederationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZoo recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation and as a Monarch Waystation.
• World Wildlife FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational resource partner providing science resources and educational materials for teachers and students.
• National Wildlife FederationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational resource partner providing curriculum and activities for educators with resources, activities and lesson plans.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Southwick's Zoo: Family-owned zoo in Mendon, MA offering similar ticketed wildlife experiences, birthday party packages, and group events in the New England market.
• Zoo New England (Franklin Park Zoo & Stone Zoo): Operates two AZA-accredited facilities in Massachusetts. Comparable nonprofit zoo model with membership programs, education outreach, and venue rentals serving a regional New England audience.
• The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk: CT-based aquarium with overlapping citizen science partnerships (FrogWatch) and similar education mission. Comparable visitor attraction competing for the same Connecticut family demographic.
• Mystic Aquarium: Larger aquarium in Mystic, CT. Comparable nonprofit aquatic-focused attraction with membership tiers, education programs, and venue events targeting Connecticut families.
• Roger Williams Park Zoo: AZA-accredited zoo in Providence, RI of similar size and scope. Closest geographic and scale comparable with comparable educational programming, membership model, and visitor base in the Southern New England market.
• Buttonwood Park Zoo: Smaller AZA-accredited zoo in New Bedford, MA. Highly comparable in scale, mission, and community-based nonprofit structure with similar education and event programming.

Broad incumbents

• Bronx Zoo (WCS): One of the largest AZA-accredited zoos globally, operated by the Wildlife Conservation Society. Sets the upper benchmark for AZA accreditation standards, conservation programming, and large-scale visitor experience in the Northeast.
• Smithsonian's National Zoo: Free-admission federally operated zoo that competes for regional Northeast family visitation. Comparable AZA-accredited conservation and education mission at much larger scale.
• Six Flags New England (theme park): Regional amusement park competing for Connecticut family discretionary spending. Provides benchmark for pricing, attendance patterns, and seasonal demand in the same geographic market.

Regional players

• Cape Cod Museum of Natural History: Regional New England nature and conservation-focused institution offering similar education programming and citizen science engagement at smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCkvVJovjB1i0RL2DcZSuICg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ConnecticutsBeardsleyZoo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connecticut's-beardsley-zoo
• Instagraminstagram.com/ctbeardsleyzoo
• Xx.com/CTBZoo

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Connecticut Zoological Society