Seneca Zoological Society
Seneca Zoological Society consistently maintains operational surpluses and growing assets with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 160905390 · Rochester, NY · NTEE: D025 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $5.7M |
| Total Expenses | $4.2M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $5 |
| Net Assets | $4.8M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Seneca Zoological Society Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Seneca Zoological Society directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Seneca Zoological Society
Seneca Zoological Society (EIN: 160905390) is a nonprofit organization based in Rochester, NY, classified under NTEE code D025. The organization reported total revenue of $5.7M and total assets of $6.7M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Seneca Zoological Society's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Seneca Zoological Society is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 68 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 1.8%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $4.8M |
| Total Expenses | $4.2M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$603K |
| Total Assets | $5.3M |
| Total Liabilities | $465K |
| Net Assets | $4.8M |
| Operating Margin | 12.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 8.8% |
| Months of Reserves | 15.0 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Seneca Zoological Society reported a surplus of $603K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 15.0 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 8.8% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Seneca Zoological Society's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.8%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +5.1% | +0.6% | +11.5% |
| 2022 | -33.0% | -27.5% | +11.5% |
| 2021 | +43.5% | +20.8% | +31.2% |
| 2020 | -29.6% | -26.6% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | +10.3% | +8.9% | +9.8% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1958 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Seneca Zoological Society with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Seneca Zoological Society allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 10%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $603K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 8.8%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size with revenues often exceeding $5 million. This suggests either a volunteer-led executive team or that executive compensation is reported under different expense categories, warranting further inquiry for complete transparency.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Seneca Zoological Society's IRS 990 filings:
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in provided data makes full efficiency assessment difficult.
- Consistent 0% officer compensation for a multi-million dollar organization is unusual and warrants further investigation into how executive leadership is compensated or structured.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Seneca Zoological Society:
- Consistent operational surpluses, with revenues generally exceeding expenses (e.g., $4,822,023 revenue vs. $4,219,506 expenses in 2023).
- Steady growth in assets over the past decade, from $2,558,073 in 2014 to $5,288,342 in 2023.
- No reported officer compensation across all filings, suggesting efficient use of funds or a volunteer-led executive team.
- Liabilities are well-managed and significantly lower than assets, indicating strong financial solvency (e.g., $464,695 liabilities vs. $5,288,342 assets in 2023).
Frequently Asked Questions about Seneca Zoological Society
Is Seneca Zoological Society a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Seneca Zoological Society (EIN: 160905390) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Seneca Zoological Society spend its money?
Seneca Zoological Society directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Seneca Zoological Society tax-deductible?
Seneca Zoological Society is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 160905390). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Seneca Zoological Society CEO make?
Seneca Zoological Society's highest-compensated officer earns $5 annually. The organization reported $5.7M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Seneca Zoological Society's spending goes to programs?
Seneca Zoological Society directs 80% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Seneca Zoological Society compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Seneca Zoological Society is above average for NTEE category D025 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Seneca Zoological Society located?
Seneca Zoological Society is headquartered in Rochester, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 160905390. It is classified under NTEE code D025.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Seneca Zoological Society have?
Seneca Zoological Society has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $5.7M in total revenue.
Is Seneca Zoological Society a good charity?
Based on the provided data, the Seneca Zoological Society appears to be a financially stable organization with consistent operational surpluses and growing assets. The absence of reported officer compensation is a positive indicator of resource allocation, suggesting a strong focus on its mission. However, a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses would provide a more complete picture of its efficiency.
How has the organization's financial health changed over the past decade?
The organization has shown consistent financial growth and stability over the past decade. Assets have more than doubled from $2,558,073 in 2014 to $5,288,342 in 2023, and revenues have generally exceeded expenses, leading to operational surpluses in most years, such as the $602,517 surplus in 2023.
What is the significance of 0% officer compensation?
Reporting 0% officer compensation across all filings for an organization with multi-million dollar revenues is highly significant. It could indicate that the executive leadership is entirely volunteer-based, or that compensation is categorized differently on the 990 form (e.g., as general salaries rather than specific officer compensation). This practice, if truly volunteer-led, would free up substantial funds for program activities, but if compensation is merely reclassified, it could obscure transparency.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Seneca Zoological Society showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Seneca Zoological Society's revenue has grown by 23.7%, moving from $3.9M to $4.8M. Total assets increased by 291.3% over the same period, from $1.4M to $5.3M. Total functional expenses rose by 7.5%, from $3.9M to $4.2M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Seneca Zoological Society reported a surplus of $603K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $465K in liabilities against $5.3M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 8.8%), resulting in net assets of $4.8M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $4.8M | $4.2M | $5.3M | $465K | — | — |
| 2022 | $4.6M | $4.2M | $4.7M | $522K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $6.8M | $5.8M | $4.3M | $426K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $4.8M | $4.8M | $3.2M | $475K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $6.8M | $6.5M | $3.2M | $365K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $6.2M | $6.0M | $2.9M | $335K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $5.6M | $5.4M | $2.7M | $292K | — | — |
| 2016 | $5.3M | $5.4M | $2.9M | $643K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $6.0M | $5.8M | $3.2M | $812K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $5.0M | $4.9M | $2.6M | $372K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $5.5M | $5.1M | $2.5M | $381K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $5.5M | $4.9M | $2.1M | $475K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $3.9M | $3.9M | $1.4M | $273K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $4.8M, expenses of $4.2M, and assets of $5.3M (revenue +5.1% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $4.6M, expenses of $4.2M, and assets of $4.7M (revenue -33.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $6.8M, expenses of $5.8M, and assets of $4.3M (revenue +43.5% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $4.8M, expenses of $4.8M, and assets of $3.2M (revenue -29.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $6.8M, expenses of $6.5M, and assets of $3.2M (revenue +10.3% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $6.2M, expenses of $6.0M, and assets of $2.9M (revenue +10.1% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $5.6M, expenses of $5.4M, and assets of $2.7M (revenue +5.1% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $5.3M, expenses of $5.4M, and assets of $2.9M (revenue -11.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $6.0M, expenses of $5.8M, and assets of $3.2M (revenue +18.9% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $5.0M, expenses of $4.9M, and assets of $2.6M (revenue -9.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $5.5M, expenses of $5.1M, and assets of $2.5M (revenue +0.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $5.5M, expenses of $4.9M, and assets of $2.1M (revenue +40.7% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $3.9M, expenses of $3.9M, and assets of $1.4M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Seneca Zoological Society:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Seneca Zoological Society is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.