Chicago Zoological Society

Name

Chicago Zoological Society

Legal name

Chicago Zoological Society

Website

https://czs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoological Park and Wildlife Conservation

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Amusement and Theme Parks (71311)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Zoological park operations
• Wildlife conservation education
• Animal exhibit experiences
• Nonprofit zoo management
• Conservation education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Brookfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Visitors purchase tickets for admission to Brookfield Zoo Chicago, with online ticket purchasing available through the zoo's webstore
2. Membership Program: Annual memberships offering free unlimited admission, free parking, and exclusive benefits for members
3. Donations: General donations supporting conservation efforts and zoo operations
4. Adopt an Animal: Symbolic animal adoption programs where supporters can adopt animals with associated benefits
5. Events and Experiences: Special events like Dinos After Dark, Roaring Nights, and attractions including Carousel and Ferris Wheel generate additional revenue

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Chicago Zoological Society operates Brookfield Zoo Chicago, a single-location zoological park in Brookfield, Illinois, offering animal exhibits across species categories (Cats, Reptiles and Amphibians, Birds, Bears, Insects and Invertebrates, Primates), attractions including Dolphin Discovery, Carousel, and Ferris Wheel, plus special events (Dinos After Dark, Roaring Nights) and conservation education programs. The organization funds operations through ticket sales, annual memberships, donations, adopt-an-animal programs, and special events.

Product overview

Brookfield Zoo Chicago is a single-location zoological park operated by the Chicago Zoological Society, offering visitor experiences organized around animal exhibits (organized by species categories: Cats, Reptiles and Amphibians, Birds, Bears, Insects & Invertebrates, Primates), attractions (Dolphin Discovery, Carousel, Ferris Wheel), and events (Dinos After Dark, Roaring Nights). The zoo's conservation mission is supported through membership programs, adoption/donation opportunities, and volunteer engagement. Recent additions include the Bramsen Tropical Forests habitat, opened as part of the Next Century Plan initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brookfield Zoo Chicago Admission

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Forest Preserves of Cook CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrookfield Zoo Chicago is located within and operates in partnership with the Forest Preserves of Cook County, Illinois. The zoo sits on county-owned land managed in cooperation with the forest preserve district.
• Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAZA accreditation requires zoos to meet stringent standards for animal care, conservation, education, and safety. AZA-accredited facilities collaborate on conservation initiatives and species survival programs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Wildlife Conservation Society (Bronx Zoo): Operator of the Bronx Zoo and other NYC wildlife parks, an AZA-accredited nonprofit with a global conservation mandate. Comparable institutional scale, multi-experience model (zoos, aquarium, rides), and donor-driven funding base, but with a multi-site portfolio that Brookfield lacks.
• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: One of the largest and most recognized zoo organizations globally, operating the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. Highly comparable mission, accreditation profile, and conservation programming, but with substantially larger scale, multi-site footprint, and international brand reach.
• Smithsonian's National Zoo (NZCBI): Federally operated free-admission zoo with AZA accreditation, conservation research programs, and donor support. Comparable mission and accreditation footprint, but funded and operated by the Smithsonian rather than a private nonprofit society, making it a public-sector analog.

Direct peers

• Lincoln Park Zoo: Free-admission nonprofit zoo also serving the Chicago metropolitan area. Directly comparable in mission (AZA-accredited, conservation, education) and customer base (Chicago families, schools, donors), competing for the same regional visitation and philanthropic dollars.
• Philadelphia Zoo: Historic AZA-accredited nonprofit zoo founded in the 19th century, comparable in scale, accreditation profile, and mission mix. Operates a similar ticketed admissions, membership, and special-events revenue stack with family entertainment amenities.
• Oregon Zoo: AZA-accredited metropolitan zoo supported by a metropolitan district and donor contributions. Similar single-location operating model, conservation focus, and education programming make it a structural peer, though with a slightly different governance/funding structure.
• Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance: AZA-accredited nonprofit zoo of similar scale offering animal exhibits, rides, and event programming with a comparable membership/donation revenue mix. Closely matches Brookfield's blend of conservation, education, and family entertainment at a single major urban site.
• Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden: Mid-sized AZA-accredited nonprofit zoo combining wildlife exhibits with botanical collections and rides. Closely matches Brookfield's blended zoo-plus-amusement, conservation-and-education positioning and donor-funded operating model.
• Saint Louis Zoo: AZA-accredited nonprofit zoo of comparable scale operating a single large urban site. Similar mission mix (conservation, education, paid and free days), membership/donation-driven revenue model, and Next-Generation-style capital plans make it a strong size-and-model peer.
• Como Park Zoo & Conservatory (Saint Paul): Mid-size AZA-accredited zoo paired with a botanical conservatory, operated with public support in a major Midwest metro. Comparable in blended zoo-garden model and family/conservation mission, though smaller in scale and capital intensity than Brookfield.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/brookfield_zoo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CZSBrookfieldZoo
• Facebookfacebook.com/BrookfieldZoo
• Instagraminstagram.com/brookfieldzoo
• TikToktiktok.com/@brookfieldzoo

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Chicago Zoological Society