Friends of The Folsom Zoo

What Friends of The Folsom Zoo does

Friends of the Folsom Zoo, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1981 (Tax ID 94-2783698) that financially and operationally supports the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary in Folsom, California. The sanctuary itself was founded in 1963 when a bear cub orphaned from a forest fire (later named Smokey) became its first resident, with UC Davis Veterinary Department brokering the placement; the site was renamed from Folsom Zoo to Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary in 2002 to reflect its non-breeding, no-trade mission of providing permanent care for animals that cannot be released to the wild due to injury, confiscation as illegal pets, or other circumstances. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors led by President Peggy Plett and includes Director/Zoo Manager Jocelyn Smeltzer, Treasurer Sue Spielman, Membership/Webmaster Judy Gregory, and Communications Director Rochelle Barcellona.

The entity operates as a hybrid community attraction and fundraising vehicle, monetizing the sanctuary through nine distinct revenue streams: general admission ($10/person for ages 2+), four-tier annual memberships ($45 Senior to $175 Family Plus), facility and event rentals ($349-$949), docent-guided school and group tours ($11-$12/person), children's zoo camps for ages 4-15, on-site Fisher's Beastro dining, an animal adoption sponsorship program ($50-$1,000), a gift shop, and a structured planned-giving program administered in partnership with CAPTRUST. Annual events such as Wild Nights and Holiday Lights, Growl Howl & Wine, Big Day of Giving, Thanksgiving for the Animals, and coloring contests supplement donations. The sanctuary houses nearly 100 animals across nine taxonomic categories (avian, bears, canines, felines, invertebrates, hoofstock, primates, reptiles, small animals) and serves over 100,000 visitors per year, with no proprietary technology disclosed and operations dependent on volunteer docents, school partnerships, and community donations.

Name

Friends of The Folsom Zoo

Legal name

Friends of the Folsom Zoo, Inc.

Website

https://folsomzoofriends.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Friends of the Folsom Zoo, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, providing permanent care for nearly 100 rescued animals while serving 100,000+ annual visitors through admissions, memberships, education programs, and community fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoo and Animal Sanctuary Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAJADAL

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Museums, Galleries & Cultural Institutions

SECONDARYTHAJAEAE

Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Theme Parks, Water Parks & Family Entertainment Centers

SECONDARYBPAGAIAH

Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Animal Welfare & Wildlife Rescue

SECONDARYTHAAAAAG

Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Amusement Parks & Theme Parks

Keywords

• Animal sanctuary operations
• Nonprofit fundraising programs
• Zoological education services
• Wildlife rescue care
• Community zoo events

Headquarters

HQ city

Folsom

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: General admission fees charged to visitors ages 2 and older at $10 per person. Tickets available online in advance or at the gate.
2. Membership Dues: Annual memberships sold at four levels: Individual ($65), Senior ($45), Family ($145), and Family Plus ($175). Valid for one year from month of processing, providing free admission, eMembership cards, and discounts.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations supporting various funds including Sanctuary Support, Animal Welfare Fund, Leadership Folsom Fund, Vet Trailer Fund, Mountain Lion Habitat, Docent Fund, and Barnyard Giving Tree.
4. Planned Giving: Bequests, charitable gift annuities, deferred gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, IRA/401K beneficiary designations, life insurance gifts, real estate donations, and stock options.
5. Facility Rentals: Birthday parties ($374 non-members, $349 members), Breakfast with the Bears ($374 non-members, $349 members), Facility rental of entire zoo ($949 for 2-hour minimum), Barnyard Experience rental ($649 for 2-hour minimum).
6. Zoo Camps: Educational camps for children ages 4-15 including ABC Zoo Camp (ages 4-7), Junior Zookeeper Camp (ages 8-11), and Senior Zookeeper Camp (ages 12-15).
7. Docent-Guided Tours: Educational tours for school groups and the public, priced at $12 per person (peak season) or $11 per person (off-peak). Folsom Schools receive $11 year-round.
8. Fisher's Beastro: On-site dining facility operated at the zoo, with members receiving 10% discount. Proceeds benefit the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary.
9. Animal Adoption Packages: Honorary animal adoptions at $50, $100, $500, and $1000 levels, helping with care and feeding of zoo sanctuary residents.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Friends of the Folsom Zoo, Inc. operates and financially supports the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, providing public zoo admission, annual memberships, docent-guided educational tours, seasonal children's zoo camps, animal adoption packages, private facility rentals for events, on-site dining, and a gift shop. Its sanctuary mission provides permanent homes for nearly 100 rescued animals that cannot be returned to the wild, funded through visitor revenues, memberships, donations, planned giving, and annual fundraising events.

Product overview

Friends of the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary operates as a nonprofit organization supporting the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary with a diverse portfolio of visitor experiences and educational programs. Core offerings include general admission and annual membership tiers (Individual, Senior, Family, Family Plus) providing zoo access, plus a la carte Animal Adoption Packages at four donation levels. Educational programming encompasses Docent-Guided Tours, Zoo-to-You outreach presentations, and seasonal Zoo Camps for three age groups (ABC Zoo, Junior Zookeeper, Senior Zookeeper). Event venues include Birthday Parties at the Canid Deck, Breakfast with the Bears private experiences, Facility Rentals for up to 400 guests, and Barnyard Experience Rentals. Supporting amenities include Fisher's Beastro restaurant, the Zoo Gift Shop, and the Tracks and Tales quarterly newsletter. Fundraising vehicles include Planned Giving (wills, trusts, annuities), designated Donation Funds, and annual events (Wild Nights and Holiday Lights, Growl Howl & Wine, Thanksgiving for the Animals). Additional programs include Docent Training and Wildlife Concerns support resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary Admission General admission tickets to the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, a rescue animal sanctuary with nearly 100 animals including bears, felines, canines, primates, reptiles, birds, and small animals. Priced at $10 per person for ages 2 and older, with children under 2 admitted free.
• Zoo Membership Annual membership program with four tiers (Individual $65, Senior $45, Family $145, Family Plus $175) providing free admission for one year, eMembership cards, email updates, 10% gift shop discount, and 10% Fisher's Beastro discount.
• Animal Adoption Packages

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 visitors annually served
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Folsom Chamber of CommerceminorOthersThe Friends Board of Directors holds active membership in the Folsom Chamber of Commerce, providing networking and community visibility benefits.
• University of California at DavisminorOthersUC Davis Veterinary Department originally contacted Gordon Brong, Folsom Park Superintendent, seeking a safe home for an orphaned bear cub in 1963, leading to the establishment of the zoo. Historical founding relationship.
• Wildlife Rehabilitation OrganizationsminorOthersPartnership network with wildlife rehab facilities including California Fish and Wildlife, Sierra Wildlife Rescue, Northern California Bats, Wildlife Care Association of Sacramento, and others for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation referrals.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• CuriOdyssey: San Mateo, California wildlife center and science museum that houses native California wildlife and offers school programs and visitor experiences. Comparable as a small-to-mid-sized Northern California animal-focused nonprofit with education programming and rescued wildlife.
• Monterey Zoo: California-based small zoo and animal sanctuary offering interactive animal experiences and educational programming. Comparable as a smaller-scale California zoo/sanctuary operator with similar mission of caring for non-releasable animals.
• Oakland Zoo: Larger California zoo with a similar mix of admission, membership, education programs, and conservation-focused mission. Comparable as a California zoo operator with similar programming categories though significantly larger in scale.
• Lindsay Wildlife Experience: Walnut Creek, California-based wildlife rehabilitation and education center that operates a hospital for injured and orphaned wild animals alongside a public-facing visitor experience. Highly comparable in its combination of rescue/rehabilitation mission with public admission and educational programming.
• Sacramento Zoo: Regional zoo located approximately 25 miles from Folsom, serving the greater Sacramento area. Comparable as a similarly-sized mid-market zoo offering admissions, memberships, education programs, and events in the same Northern California geography.

Regional players

• Pacific Marine Mammal Center: Laguna Beach-based marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation organization with a public visitor center and education programming. Comparable as a California wildlife rescue nonprofit with public-facing education and admission components, though focused on marine mammals rather than terrestrial animals.

Emerging players

• The Wildcat Sanctuary: Minnesota-based nonprofit sanctuary for captive wild cats and other animals. Comparable as a rescue-focused wildlife sanctuary with a similar nonprofit-support model, educational programming, and reliance on donations and member support.
• Wildlife Learning Center: Southern California wildlife education center offering public tours and animal ambassador programs. Comparable as a smaller-scale wildlife education nonprofit with a rescued animal collection and structured school/outreach programming.
• Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS): California-based sanctuary for performing and retired captive wildlife, including large cats and elephants. Comparable as a California sanctuary organization focused on rescued animals that cannot be returned to the wild.

Broad incumbents

• San Francisco Zoo: Larger Bay Area zoo operating with a similar nonprofit-support model and offering admissions, memberships, and education programming. Comparable as a California zoo operator in the broader regional market, though substantially larger in scale and scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/folsomzoo
• Facebookfacebook.com/folsomcityzoosanctuary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/folsom-city-zoo-sanctuary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 Friends of The Folsom Zoo