Zoological Association Of America

What Zoological Association Of America does

The Zoological Association of America (ZAA) is a non-profit, membership-based accrediting organization founded in 2005 and headquartered in Reston, Virginia. ZAA provides zoo accreditation, membership services, professional development, and conservation programming to a member base of more than 950 public and private zoological facilities, wildlife educators, rescues and rehabs, wildlife preserves, aquariums, and conservation organizations, of which 75+ have achieved ZAA accreditation by meeting its animal care, welfare, and enrichment standards. Its operational technology is built on Novi AMS, an off-the-shelf association management platform handling member portals, event registration, product sales, and communications.

ZAA's core product suite spans accreditation services, a quarterly magazine, recurring webinars, an online job board, conservation grants (including the Conservation Initiative Grant program), an annual conference (the 2026 edition scheduled for New Orleans, November 9-13), and a multi-category awards program recognizing achievements in breeding, conservation, education, and exhibit design. The organization also administers government affairs and advocacy initiatives supporting member facilities in regulatory matters.

ZAA's revenue mechanics combine recurring membership dues (from 950+ members), one-time accreditation application fees ($515) and inspection deposits ($1,030), advertising in its journal ($100-$300 per placement), event and workshop promotion fees ($20-$50), and donations (one-time, monthly, or annual recurring). It also offers discounted advertising and promotion rates to commercial members, creating a secondary B2B channel. As a 501(c)(6) non-profit governed by a Board of Directors (Betsey Brewer as Board Chair as of 2025), ZAA operates without external equity ownership, with a leadership transition underway as Executive Director Dr. Kelly George departs on August 31, 2026.

Name

Zoological Association Of America

Legal name

Zoological Association of America

Website

https://zooassociation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ZAA is a non-profit, membership-based accrediting organization that provides zoo accreditation, professional development, and conservation programming to 950+ members and 75+ accredited zoological facilities across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoological Association and Accreditation Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Business Associations (813910)

akta.pro primary industry

Accreditation Evaluation, Peer Review & Site-Visit Organizations (EDADACAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

Keywords

• Zoo accreditation services
• Wildlife conservation association
• Membership association services
• Professional development training
• Animal welfare standards

Headquarters

HQ city

Reston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: ZAA operates as a membership-based organization with over 950 members including public and private facilities, wildlife educators, rescues and rehabs, wildlife preserves, aquariums, and conservation organizations. Members pay dues to join and access resources.
2. Donations: One-time, monthly recurring, and annual recurring donation options are available through the member portal. Donations support ZAA's conservation mission.
3. Accreditation Fees: Accreditation application fee of $515 and inspection deposit of $1,030. These fees support the organization's accreditation standards and inspection processes.
4. Magazine/Journal Advertising: Journal ad placements in various sizes: full page ($225-$300), half page ($150-$200), quarter page ($100). Commercial member discounts are available.
5. Event and Workshop Promotion: Event and workshop promotion fees for individual members and accredited facilities ($20-$50) and commercial members ($35).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ZAA is a non-profit, membership-based accrediting organization that provides zoo accreditation, membership services, professional development resources, conservation grants, and advocacy for the zoological and wildlife industry. It evaluates animal care, welfare, and enrichment standards for facilities, supports 950+ members and 75+ accredited facilities, and facilitates an annual conference, magazine, webinars, job board, awards program, and conservation grant funding.

Product overview

The Zoological Association of America (ZAA) is a non-profit, membership-based organization that operates a portfolio of services centered on accreditation, professional development, and conservation. The core offerings include the ZAA Accreditation Program (rigorous evaluation of animal care and welfare standards for zoological facilities), membership access to a network of 950+ professionals, ZAA Magazine (industry publication), ZAA Webinars (professional development content), a Job Board (career portal), Conservation Grants (funding for wildlife conservation projects), the Annual Conference (education and networking event), and an Awards Program (recognition for industry achievements). The organization also sells related services including journal advertising, event promotion, and donation options. ZAA does not offer a software product platform but rather serves as an accrediting and professional association for the zoological industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ZAA Accreditation Program Rigorous accrediting program for zoological facilities that evaluates animal care, welfare, and enrichment standards. Over 75 accredited facilities have met ZAA's standards.
• ZAA Membership Membership organization offering access to a network of zoological professionals, resources, training programs, and industry insights for public and private facilities, wildlife educators, rescues, preserves, and aquariums.
• ZAA Magazine Professional digital publication providing industry news, educational content, and updates on member organizations and conservation efforts.
• ZAA Webinars Professional development webinars covering topics such as animal care, habitat design, and species welfare. Past webinars are available to members.
• ZAA Job Board Online career portal featuring job opportunities, volunteer openings, paid positions, and internships across ZAA member organizations.
• ZAA Conservation Grants Program Financial support for conservation initiatives worldwide, including the Conservation Initiative Grant (CIG) program that funds habitat protection and species recovery projects.
• ZAA Annual Conference Annual professional conference bringing together zoological professionals for education, networking, and association meetings. The 2026 conference will be held in New Orleans, LA.
• ZAA Awards Program Annual recognition program honoring outstanding achievements in animal care, conservation, education, and exhibit design across member organizations.
• Accreditation Application Fee Initial fee for facilities seeking ZAA accreditation, including credit card processing fees. Base amount is $500 (check) or $515 (card).
• Accreditation Inspection Deposit Deposit applied toward total inspection costs for accreditation visits. Base amount is $1,000 (check) or $1,030 (card).
• Journal Ad - Full Page Full page advertisement in the ZAA Journal. Member price: $225, Non-member price: $300. Commercial member discount available.
• Journal Ad - Half Page Half page advertisement in the ZAA Journal. Member price: $150, Non-member price: $200. Commercial member discount available.
• Journal Ad - Quarter Page Quarter page advertisement in the ZAA Journal. Member price: $100.
• Event and Workshop Promotion Promotion service for events and workshops. Individual member/accredited facility price: $20-$50. Commercial member price: $35.
• ZAA Donations One-time, monthly recurring, and annual recurring donation options to support ZAA's mission of wildlife management, conservation, and education.

Quantifiable outcome

• $4+ million contributed yearly to conservation efforts worldwide by ZAA and its members
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 core.

• Khamai FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2025The Khamai Foundation received a 2025 ZAA Conservation Initiative Grant (CIG) to support rapid-response conservation for the critically endangered Mindo Harlequin Toad. The $5,000 grant funded habitat monitoring and land acquisition to expand the Arlequin Reserve by 28 hectares in Ecuador.
• Red Wolf SAFE ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Montgomery Zoo partnered with the Red Wolf SAFE Program to acquire Pearl and Sentinel, two critically endangered American red wolves. SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) is a species survival program focused on conservation of critically endangered species.
• Conservation PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZAA maintains a network of Conservation Partners that collaborate on conservation grant initiatives. These partnerships support in-situ and ex-situ conservation efforts worldwide.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA): The dominant zoo and aquarium accreditor in the United States, providing accreditation, member services, and conservation programs to zoos and aquariums. AZA is the principal direct competitor to ZAA's accreditation and membership offerings.
• Canadian Association of Zoos, Aquariums and Aquariums (CAZA): Canada's national zoo and aquarium membership and accreditation body, with similar member services, animal welfare standards, and conservation focus. Comparable as a national trade association with accreditation.
• British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA): A regional zoo and aquarium association for the UK and Ireland that accredits member institutions and coordinates conservation and education initiatives. Directly comparable as a national accrediting trade association.
• Zoo and Aquarium Association (Australasia): The peak body for zoos and aquariums in Australasia, offering accreditation, member services, and conservation programs. Notably shares the 'ZAA' acronym with the Zoological Association of America and serves the same member-accreditor function regionally.
• European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA): The principal zoo and aquarium accrediting and membership body for Europe, with comparable accreditation standards, conservation programs, and member services. EAZA is a functional peer operating in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): The global authority on species conservation and biodiversity, including zoo-relevant programs like the Species Survival Commission. Operates broadly in the conservation space that ZAA's grants and accreditation touch.
• World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA): The global umbrella organization for the world's zoos and aquariums, coordinating international conservation, animal welfare, and education strategy. A broader incumbent whose membership overlaps with regional accreditors like ZAA.

Emerging players

• Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums: An industry association for marine mammal parks and aquariums with standards and accreditation-adjacent programs. Comparable as a niche accreditation/membership body serving a subset of the zoo/aquarium industry.

Regional players

• Pan-African Association of Zoological Gardens, Aquariums and Botanic Gardens (PAAZAB): The regional association representing zoos, aquariums, and botanic gardens across Africa, providing accreditation and member services. Operates the same trade/accreditation model as ZAA in a different geography.
• Asian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AAZA): The regional association of Asian zoos and aquariums, promoting animal welfare, conservation, and professional standards. Comparable trade/accreditation association focused on a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FanZAA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zoological-association-of-america-incorporated

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Zoological Association Of America