Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Fresno Chaffee Zoo is a private nonprofit, AZA-accredited zoo in Fresno, California operating a ticketed single-site visitor destination with annual memberships, educational programs, behind-the-scenes experiences, and conservation initiatives serving families, schools, and corporate sponsors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1929
- HeadquartersFresno, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Fresno Chaffee Zoo does
Fresno Chaffee Zoo is a private nonprofit zoological institution established in 1929 and headquartered at 894 West Belmont Ave., Fresno, California. It operates a single physical site featuring exhibits including African Adventure, Sea Lion Cove, Tropical Rainforest, Stingray Bay, Kingdoms of Asia, Wolf Woods, Zoorassic Park, Roo Walkabout, Reptile House, Valley Farm, and a Conservation Action Center, drawing visitors from California's Central Valley and surrounding region. The organization is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), and the California Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA), and is a member of the Aquarium Conservation Partnership.
The zoo generates revenue through a diversified mix: one-time admission ticket sales (including a discounted Welcome Wednesday tier), recurring annual memberships starting at $100 with a seasonal summer variant at $89, charitable donations and matched-funding campaigns (notably Week for Wildlife), fee-based experiences (behind-the-scenes tours, animal chats, family overnights, birthday parties, group bookings), education programs (Zoo Camps, Zoo Art Academy, Zoo Mobile outreach, Zoo Talks, field trips), and a corporate partnership sponsorship program. Ticket and membership transactions are processed through a third-party online ticketing portal (fcz.ticketapp.org); no proprietary technology platform or AI/ML systems are disclosed.
Operational and mission activity centers on wildlife care, public education, and California-native conservation, including a blunt-nosed leopard lizard recovery program on the Panoche Plateau that has produced 100 cumulative releases with more than 40 in the most recent reporting year. The customer base spans families with children, K-12 schools and educational institutions, conservation donors and adopt-package supporters, and corporate sponsors. The organization employs 101-250 staff, has no parent company, no venture funding, and no public listing, operating as an independently funded 501(c)-style nonprofit supported by earned revenue, memberships, donations, and sponsorships.
Fresno Chaffee Zoo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fresno Chaffee Zoo
- Legal name
- Fresno Chaffee Zoo
- Website
- https://fresnochaffeezoo.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1929
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Fresno Chaffee Zoo is a private nonprofit, AZA-accredited zoo in Fresno, California operating a ticketed single-site visitor destination with annual memberships, educational programs, behind-the-scenes experiences, and conservation initiatives serving families, schools, and corporate sponsors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fresno Chaffee Zoo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Zoological Park and Wildlife Conservation
- NAICS
- Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions) (THAJAEAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL), Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release Centers (Public Viewing/Education) (THAAAFAC)
Keywords
Where Fresno Chaffee Zoo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fresno
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fresno Chaffee Zoo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Admission and Ticket Sales: Visitors pay for admission tickets to enter the zoo. The zoo offers various ticket tiers and welcome Wednesday discount pricing.
- Membership Subscriptions: Annual memberships starting at $100 provide unlimited visits for a year. Also offers summer-specific memberships at $89.
- Donations and Fundraising: Week for Wildlife fundraiser collects donations to support conservation efforts including blunt-nosed leopard lizard recovery. Donations are matched during fundraising campaigns.
- Experiences and Programs: Revenue from behind-the-scenes tours, zoo camps, art academy, birthday parties, family zoo overnights, and educational programs.
- Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partnership program allows businesses to support the zoo and gain association with conservation mission.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Membership starting at $100 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Summer Membership at $89 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Fresno Chaffee Zoo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fresno Chaffee Zoo operates a physical zoological park offering animal exhibits, ticketed admission, and annual memberships. It delivers educational programs (Zoo Camps, Art Academy, Field Trips, Zoo Mobile, Zoo Talks), experiential offerings (Behind-the-Scenes tours, Animal Chats, Family Overnights, Birthday Parties), and active conservation initiatives including the blunt-nosed leopard lizard recovery project. Revenue is generated through admissions, memberships, donations, corporate partnerships, and program fees.
Product overview
Fresno Chaffee Zoo is a traditional zoo operating on a ticketed admission model with supplementary membership programs. The core offering is zoo admission combined with educational programming including Zoo Camps, Zoo Art Academy, Field Trips, Zoo Mobile outreach, and Zoo Talks. Experiential offerings include Behind-the-Scenes Tours, Animal Chats, Family Zoo Overnights, and Birthday Parties. Additional revenue programs include Adopt Packages, a splash pad amenity, and seasonal fundraising campaigns such as Week for Wildlife. The Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and participates in conservation programs including the blunt-nosed leopard lizard recovery project.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 100th blunt-nosed leopard lizard released as part of conservation recovery program
Companies that use Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Fresno Chaffee Zoo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Fresno Chaffee Zoo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)coreAZA accreditation ensures the zoo meets the highest standards of animal care, conservation, and education. Membership provides access to best practices, professional development, and conservation initiatives.
- World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)coreGlobal membership in WAZA provides international conservation collaboration and standards alignment for wildlife protection initiatives.
- California Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA)coreRegional membership for collaboration with California zoos on local conservation priorities including blunt-nosed leopard lizard recovery.
- Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP)minorPartnership focused on ocean and freshwater conservation efforts, contributing to broader environmental sustainability initiatives.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Fresno Chaffee Zoo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park: Companion property to the San Diego Zoo operated by the same nonprofit, focused on larger-range species and conservation. Competes for California tourism and donor attention but at substantially larger scale.
- Bronx Zoo (Wildlife Conservation Society): AZA-accredited nonprofit zoo operated by the Wildlife Conservation Society with global conservation programs and large-scale fundraising. Comparable accreditation and nonprofit/conservation positioning, but at substantially larger scale and East Coast geography.
- Smithsonian's National Zoo: Large, nationally renowned AZA-accredited zoo with free admission funded by a major institutional endowment. Sets the national benchmark for conservation, education, and visitor programming that Fresno Chaffee Zoo's conservation messaging is benchmarked against.
- San Diego Zoo: Flagship AZA-accredited California zoo and global brand, much larger in scale, scope, and budget. Competes for California tourism, school groups, and major donor mindshare but operates at a fundamentally different scale and geographic pull.
Direct peers
- Oakland Zoo: AZA-accredited California nonprofit zoo operating on a comparable admissions + membership + donations model with extensive education and conservation programming. Comparable in accreditation tier, revenue mix, and family/school audience focus.
- Monterey Bay Aquarium: Major California nonprofit aquarium with AZA accreditation, memberships, donations, and education programs. While larger and aquarium-focused, it competes for the same California family, school, and tourist audiences and uses an analogous nonprofit operating model.
- Los Angeles Zoo: AZA-accredited nonprofit zoo operated by the City of Los Angeles with comparable admissions, membership, and education offerings. Direct competitor for California tourist and donor attention, though larger in scale and municipally supported.
- Santa Barbara Zoo: Mid-sized AZA-accredited California nonprofit zoo with similar admissions, membership, and conservation programs. Comparable in size, regional California positioning, and nonprofit operating model.
- Sacramento Zoo: Another mid-sized, AZA-accredited nonprofit zoo in California's Central Valley / Northern California region with a similar mix of admissions, memberships, education programs, and conservation fundraising. Highly comparable in scale, business model, and visitor demographic.
Regional players
- Phoenix Zoo: AZA-accredited nonprofit zoo in the comparable hot-climate Southwestern US market with similar admissions, membership, and education programs. Comparable business model and climate exposure, but serves a different metro and does not directly overlap Fresno's catchment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Fresno Chaffee Zoo social profiles
Digital presenceFresno Chaffee Zoo compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Fresno Chaffee Zoo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fresno Chaffee Zoo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Fresno Chaffee Zoo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fresno Chaffee Zoo M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fresno Chaffee Zoo
What does Fresno Chaffee Zoo do?
Fresno Chaffee Zoo operates a physical zoological park offering animal exhibits, ticketed admission, and annual memberships. It delivers educational programs (Zoo Camps, Art Academy, Field Trips, Zoo Mobile, Zoo Talks), experiential offerings (Behind-the-Scenes tours, Animal Chats, Family Overnights, Birthday Parties), and active conservation initiatives including the blunt-nosed leopard lizard recovery project. Revenue is generated through admissions, memberships, donations, corporate partnerships, and program fees.
Is Fresno Chaffee Zoo a public or private company?
Fresno Chaffee Zoo is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Fresno Chaffee Zoo founded?
Fresno Chaffee Zoo was founded in 1929. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Fresno Chaffee Zoo based?
Fresno Chaffee Zoo is headquartered in Fresno, United States, in the North America region.
How does Fresno Chaffee Zoo make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Admission and Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are membership Subscriptions, donations and Fundraising, experiences and Programs and corporate Partnerships.
Who are Fresno Chaffee Zoo's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Bronx Zoo (Wildlife Conservation Society), Smithsonian's National Zoo and San Diego Zoo. Direct peers are Oakland Zoo, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Los Angeles Zoo, Santa Barbara Zoo and Sacramento Zoo. Phoenix Zoo is listed as a regional player.
Does Fresno Chaffee Zoo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fresno Chaffee Zoo.
What industry is Fresno Chaffee Zoo in?
Fresno Chaffee Zoo's product category is Zoological Park and Wildlife Conservation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAEAE, Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions), with a secondary code of THAJADAL, Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections). Its NAICS code is 71213 and its SIC code is 7900.