Sacramento Zoo

What Sacramento Zoo does

Sacramento Zoo is a nonprofit, AZA-accredited zoological facility operated by the Sacramento Zoological Society on a single site at 3930 West Land Park Drive in Sacramento, California. Founded circa 1924, the zoo maintains a collection of over 300 native, rare, and endangered animals representing more than 90 species and serves as a regional destination for wildlife education, recreation, and conservation programming. The organization targets four primary customer segments: general public families seeking recreational and educational experiences, school and youth groups using summer camps and field trips, corporate and private clients booking events, and conservation supporters providing donations, memberships, and volunteer labor.

The zoo's product surface is built around a core general admission offering (the Land Park walk-through experience) extended through paid add-ons including behind-the-scenes tours, overnight safaris, a seasonal Dinosaur Safari animatronic exhibit, and adult-targeted events such as Wine on the Wild Side and the Wild Love Valentine's event. The educational arm includes summer camp, scout days, ZooMobile offsite classroom programs, pre-K classes, and home learning resources. Private event services encompass birthday parties, weddings, and corporate functions. The zoo coordinates or participates in multiple AZA Species Survival Plans (thick-billed parrot studbook, jaguar, Grevy's zebra) and partners with international conservation organizations including the International Rhino Foundation, Red Panda Network, Okapi Conservation Project, Turtle Conservation Fund, and Grevy's Zebra Trust. No proprietary technology stack is referenced; the website functions as the primary ticketing, membership, and donation platform.

The business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue mix spanning eight streams: admission tickets (transaction), annual memberships (recurring subscription), tax-deductible donations and animal sponsorships (donation/recurring), private and corporate events (services), special ticketed events and tours (transaction), retail and food concessions, and corporate sponsorship partnerships. The organization employs between 51 and 100 people, has no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. The zoo is pursuing a footprint expansion via a 2024 Memorandum of Understanding request to the City of Sacramento to enlarge its Land Park operating area.

Name

Sacramento Zoo

Legal name

Sacramento Zoological Society

Website

https://saczoo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Sacramento Zoo is a nonprofit, AZA-accredited zoological facility in Sacramento, California, operating since circa 1924 with 300+ animals across 90+ species. It serves families, schools, corporate event clients, and conservation donors through admissions, memberships, education programs, events, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoological Park Services

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

Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation
• Zoo education programs
• Animal exhibits
• Zoo membership
• Conservation fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: Visitors purchase tickets for zoo admission, with standard pricing and special community day rates.
2. Memberships: Annual membership programs providing free general admission and member benefits.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible cash donations supporting animal care and zoo operations.
4. Private Events: Birthday parties, weddings, and corporate events hosted at the zoo venue.
5. Animal Sponsorship: Zoo Parent program allowing donors to sponsor specific animals with plush packages and recognition.
6. Events and Tours: Special events like Wine on the Wild Side, behind-the-scenes tours, overnight safaris, and dinosaur safaris.
7. Retail and Food: Snacks and souvenirs available at the zoo gift shop and food outlets.
8. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship opportunities for businesses to partner with the zoo.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Sacramento Zoo operates a nonprofit zoological park offering general admission access to over 300 animals representing more than 90 species, supplemented by educational programs (summer camp, field trips, scout days), private event venue hosting (birthday parties, weddings, corporate events), behind-the-scenes tours, overnight safaris, and seasonal exhibits. Revenue is generated through admission tickets, annual memberships, donations, corporate sponsorships, animal sponsorships, gift shop and food sales, and private event bookings.

Product overview

The Sacramento Zoo operates as a nonprofit, AZA-accredited zoo offering a unified visitor experience centered on animal conservation and education. The core product is general zoo admission providing access to over 300 animals across 90+ species. This is supplemented by paid add-on experiences including Behind-the-Scenes Tours, the seasonal Dinosaur Safari animatronic exhibit, and the 21+ Wine on the Wild Side event. The zoo's educational arm includes Summer Camp, Field Trips, and Scout Days programs, while private event services cover Birthday Parties, Weddings, and Corporate Events. Conservation programming, Animal Sponsorship (Zoo Parent packages), Membership, and Donation programs support the organization's nonprofit mission. The zoo is also undergoing a significant expansion project within Land Park.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zoo Admission & Animal Exhibits General admission tickets providing access to over 300 native, rare, and endangered animals representing over 90 unique species across the zoo's exhibit areas. Designed for general public visitors, families, and tourists seeking recreation and wildlife education.
• Behind-the-Scenes Tours Guided tours and animal encounters offering visitors exclusive access to zoo areas and interactive experiences with animals, including the Wild Love Valentine's Day 21+ event. Designed for visitors seeking deeper engagement beyond general admission.
• Event Hosting (Birthday Parties, Weddings, Corporate Events) Private event venue services including birthday parties, weddings, and corporate events held at the zoo's unique indoor and outdoor spaces. Designed for individuals planning celebrations and businesses seeking distinctive event venues.
• Education Programs (Summer Camp, Field Trips, Scout Days) Conservation-based educational programming for youth including week-long summer camps for K-8th graders, school field trips, scout programs, and evening educational sessions. Designed for schools, youth organizations, and families seeking structured wildlife learning experiences.
• Overnight Safari Overnight camping experiences at the zoo for families and scout groups, providing unique after-hours access to the zoo. Designed for families and scout groups seeking immersive overnight experiences.
• Dinosaur Safari Seasonal animatronic dinosaur exhibit featuring life-size dinosaurs included with regular zoo admission through October 5. Designed for general visitors and families seeking an additional themed exhibit experience.
• Conservation Programs Wildlife conservation initiatives including support for conservation partners across global regions (North/Central America, South America, Asia, Africa), onsite zoo conservation efforts, and take-action programs. Designed for conservation-minded donors, partners, and supporters.
• Zoo Parent Animal Sponsorship Animal sponsorship program allowing donors to support specific zoo animals through Zoo Parent packages with plush animals, and plush-free sponsorship options. Designed for individual donors seeking tangible connections to animal welfare.
• Annual Membership Annual membership program providing free general admission, member events, discounts on programs, and other benefits for zoo visitors. Designed for repeat visitors and families seeking year-long access and benefits.
• Donations & Giving Tax-deductible donation options including one-time and recurring gifts, vehicle and real estate donations, memorial/tribute gifts, and in-kind donations. Designed for individual and corporate donors supporting the zoo's nonprofit mission.
• Wine on the Wild Side 21+ adult-only evening event featuring wine tastings from local wineries, live music performances, and animal encounters. Tickets priced at $45 per person with member discounts available. Designed for adults seeking a zoo experience paired with wine tasting and entertainment.
• ZooMobile Offsite Programs Mobile educational programs bringing interactive science curriculum to classrooms and offsite locations. Designed for schools and educational organizations unable to visit the zoo in person.

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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Rhino FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sacramento Zoo partners with the International Rhino Foundation dedicated to ensuring the survival of rhinos through education, targeted protection, and poaching intervention for southern white rhinoceros conservation.
• Red Panda NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sacramento Zoo supports the Red Panda Network to assist local communities in saving red pandas in the wild through conservation efforts and community engagement.
• AZA Species Survival Plan for Thick-billed ParrotcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSacramento Zoo staff coordinates the Survival Plan Studbook for thick-billed parrots, working nationwide with zoos and government agencies on a breeding program to help reestablish this bird in its former United States range.
• AZA Species Survival Plan for JaguarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sacramento Zoo participates in the Species Survival Plan for jaguar, supporting captive breeding programs and conservation education for this endangered species.
• Grevy's Zebra TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sacramento Zoo participates in the Grevy's Zebra AZA Species Survival Plan and works with the Grevy's Zebra Trust to support conservation efforts in wild habitats, including staff assistance with census and population counts.
• Okapi Conservation ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sacramento Zoo supports the Okapi Conservation Project, a grassroots conservation organization working to lessen human pressures affecting the okapi species in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Turtle Conservation FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sacramento Zoo supports the Turtle Conservation Fund's Global Action Plan for Madagascar Big-headed Turtle, including captive breeding and reintroduction projects, trade monitoring, and establishment of rescue centres.
• Durrell Wildlife Conservation TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvolved independently in conservation and protection of the Madagascar Big-headed Turtle species.
• City of SacramentocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sacramento Zoological Society has submitted a request to the City of Sacramento to expand the operating footprint of the zoo within Land Park through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Oakland Zoo: AZA-accredited mid-sized nonprofit zoo in the San Francisco Bay Area with a similar mix of conservation, education, and admission/membership revenue; the most direct regional competitor to Sacramento Zoo for visitors, school groups, and donations within Northern California.
• San Francisco Zoo: AZA-accredited nonprofit zoo in the same Northern California catchment, with overlapping visitor demographics, school field-trip business, and corporate event market; one of Sacramento Zoo's closest geographic competitors.
• Micke Grove Zoo: Small public zoo in Lodi, California, similar in scale to Sacramento Zoo's collection; comparable as a community-level zoological attraction competing for local visitors in Northern California.
• Fresno Chaffee Zoo: AZA-accredited nonprofit zoo of comparable scale and operating model, serving California's Central Valley with admissions, memberships, education programs, and conservation partnerships—an analogous mid-sized regional zoo.
• Sequoia Park Zoo: AZA-accredited small nonprofit zoo in Eureka, California, with a comparable focus on conservation education, native species, and community programming; similar operating profile to Sacramento Zoo.
• Happy Hollow Park & Zoo: Small nonprofit zoo and amusement park in San Jose, California, offering a similar family-focused mix of animals, education, and recreational programming at a comparable scale.
• Los Angeles Zoo: AZA-accredited nonprofit zoo operated by a municipal authority with a similar revenue mix (admissions, memberships, events, education) and a comparable education/outreach mission within California.

Broad incumbents

• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: The largest and most iconic zoo organization in California (and globally), operating multiple sites with substantially greater resources; competes for tourism, corporate sponsorships, and conservation donor mindshare across the state.
• Smithsonian's National Zoo: Large, federally operated zoo with deep conservation and education programming; relevant comparable for AZA accreditation standards, conservation partnerships, and education-driven mission even though scale differs vastly.

Emerging players

• Monterey Zoo: Smaller, privately operated wildlife facility in California offering animal encounters and education; partial overlap with Sacramento Zoo's behind-the-scenes tours and educational programming model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SacramentoZoo
• Facebookfacebook.com/SacZoo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sacramento-zoo

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Sacramento Zoo