Cleveland Zoological Society

What Cleveland Zoological Society does

The Cleveland Zoological Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, Ohio, that operates as the philanthropic fundraising partner to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Its core function is to raise and deploy charitable capital in support of animal care, education, conservation, and capital improvement programs at the 180-acre zoo, which houses approximately 450 species and is led by CEO Sarah Crupi. The Society channels more than $4 million annually to the Zoo and has funded at least 50% of the costs of the last 10 capital improvement projects, including the Rosebrough Tiger Passage (2016), Daniel Maltz Rhino Reserve (2020), and the ongoing Primate Forest multi-year capital campaign launched in 2024.

The Society's revenue model is a hybrid of recurring and transactional streams: annual Individual & Family Memberships (with digital card and Wild Savings Pass variants), recurring donations via The Pride Donor Circle for $1,000+ donors, multi-level Corporate Champions sponsorships sold to local enterprises, legacy planned gifts through ZooFutures, multi-year capital campaign major gifts, and special events such as Twilight at the Zoo and Tails + Cocktails. Distribution is primarily regional through the Society's website, on-site sales at the Zoo, and direct enterprise sales for corporate sponsorships; its programmatic reach is global through long-standing conservation partnerships with organizations including the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Asian Turtle Program, Andean Bear Conservation Alliance, Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Project, and the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, spanning more than 25 countries.

The organization operates without a parent entity or subsidiaries, is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Lawrence Hatch (selected December 2025), and is staffed by a leadership team including a VP of Philanthropy, a Capital Campaigns Director, and donor services personnel. Recent strategic emphasis is concentrated on capital campaign execution (Primate Forest), donor pipeline expansion (2026 gifts from the Pandrangi Family, PNC Foundation, and Lubrizol Foundation), and governance refresh rather than on technology platform expansion.

Name

Cleveland Zoological Society

Legal name

Cleveland Zoological Society

Website

https://clevelandzoosociety.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Cleveland Zoological Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises and deploys over $4 million annually to support Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's animal care, education, conservation, and capital improvement programs, serving individuals, families, major donors, and corporate sponsors in the Cleveland region and global conservation partners across 25+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoo Nonprofit Philanthropy & Membership Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions) (THAJAEAE)

Keywords

• Zoo membership programs
• Wildlife conservation funding
• Nonprofit fundraising services
• Corporate sponsorship programs
• Animal care support

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland, Ohio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Memberships: Annual memberships providing free unlimited daytime admission to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, plus special discounts and member benefits. Includes Individual & Family memberships, Digital Membership Cards, and Wild Savings Pass.
2. Donations: General donations, annual giving through The Pride Donor Circle, memorial and tribute gifts, and legacy bequests through ZooFutures Heritage Society.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate Champions program with multiple participation levels providing marketing visibility, client attraction, and employee engagement benefits in exchange for sponsorship support.
4. Capital Campaign: Multi-year capital campaigns such as Primate Forest transformation project, funded through major gifts from donors, foundations, and corporate partners.
5. Events: Special events including Twilight at the Zoo, Tails + Cocktails, and Earth Day E-Recycling that generate ticket revenue and donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Cleveland Zoological Society is a nonprofit philanthropic organization that raises and channels funds to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Its core offerings include annual Individual & Family memberships providing unlimited daytime admission, premium donor programs such as The Pride Donor Circle, tiered Corporate Champions sponsorships, and legacy gifts via ZooFutures. The Society contributes over $4 million annually to support animal care, education, conservation, and capital improvements at the 180-acre zoo housing approximately 450 species.

Product overview

Cleveland Zoological Society operates as a nonprofit membership organization supporting Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Its core offerings consist of membership programs (Individual & Family Memberships, Digital Membership Cards, Wild Savings Pass, Reciprocal Zoos), premium donor programs (The Pride Donor Circle), corporate sponsorship (Corporate Champions), and quarterly publication (Z Magazine). The organization funds four key areas: Animal Care, Education, Conservation, and Capital Improvements. Currently, the Society is undertaking a major Primate Forest capital campaign transforming the primate habitat. The Society provides over $4 million annually to the Zoo for programs, operating support, and capital improvements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual & Family Memberships Annual memberships providing free unlimited daytime admission to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo plus member discounts and benefits, targeted at individuals and families.
• Digital Membership Cards Mobile-based digital membership cards that provide convenient entry and benefits management for zoo members.
• Wild Savings Pass Discounted-admission membership alternative providing reduced-rate access to the Zoo.
• Reciprocal Zoos Program Program granting members free or discounted admission to other participating zoos through reciprocal agreements.
• The Pride Donor Circle Premium donor program supporting the Society's annual fund, providing exclusive behind-the-scenes zoo experiences and tour privileges to qualifying donors.
• Corporate Champions Corporate sponsorship program with multiple participation tiers offering marketing visibility, client attraction, and employee engagement opportunities in exchange for sponsorship support.
• ZooFutures Heritage Society Legacy giving program enabling planned bequests and estate gifts to support the Cleveland Zoological Society over the long term.
• Honor and Memorial Tribute Gifts Tribute and memorial gift program allowing donors to honor loved ones via dedicated benches, signs, or other named recognitions at the Zoo.
• Support a Species Directed donation program enabling supporters to contribute to the care and conservation of a specific species at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
• Z Magazine Quarterly publication featuring zoo news, conservation updates, animal stories, and membership content.

Quantifiable outcome

• Provides over $4 million annually to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Cheyenne Mountain ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Co-leaders of the AZA Giraffe SAFE program, with Cleveland Metroparks Zoo taking the leadership role in implementing Uganda conservation efforts.
• Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with the world's preeminent center for gorilla protection and study. The Zoo supports the Fossey Fund's general operating budget, education and research programs, and helps develop the next generation of conservationists. Staff from the Zoo's Department of Conservation & Science provide expertise and leadership to students at the Karisoke Research Center.
• Asian Turtle Program (ATP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCleveland Metroparks Zoo is a founding partner and has been a leader in the protection of Asia's freshwater turtles and tortoises for over 20 years - the Zoo's longest running conservation program. Dr. Mike Selig provides veterinary training and supplies to ATP staff in Vietnam.
• Andean Bear Conservation Alliance (ABCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABCA is a partnership initiative between Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). The alliance works to produce accurate assessments of Andean bear populations across five countries in South America, conducting first-of-its-kind monitoring and protection of this elusive species.
• Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Project (KOCP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA 17-year partnership supporting the study and protection of wildlife in Sabah, Malaysia. KOCP works to conserve critical secondary forest habitat, build conservation capacity, and address the palm oil crisis affecting orangutans and other species.
• Giraffe Conservation FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCleveland Metroparks Zoo leads the AZA Giraffe SAFE program with support from the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. Julian Fennessey of the Foundation co-chairs the IUCN Species Survival Commission Specialist Group for giraffe and okapi.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/clevezoosociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cleveland-zoological-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Cleveland Zoological Society