Southern Tier Zoological Society Inc

Southern Tier Zoological Society Inc. faces recent operating deficits despite consistent revenue levels.

EIN: 166071439 · Binghamton, NY · NTEE: D500 · Updated: 2026-03-28

$3.0MRevenue

$3.3MAssets

75/100Mission Score (Good)

D500

About Southern Tier Zoological Society Inc

Southern Tier Zoological Society Inc (EIN: 166071439) is a nonprofit organization based in Binghamton, NY, classified under NTEE code D500. The organization reported total revenue of $3.0M and total assets of $3.3M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Southern Tier Zoological Society Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.

AI Transparency Report

The Southern Tier Zoological Society Inc. exhibits fluctuating financial health, with recent years showing expenses exceeding revenue. For instance, in 2023, expenses were $1,749,247 against revenues of $1,096,999, and similarly in 2022, expenses were $1,715,153 against revenues of $1,107,999. This trend of operating deficits could indicate a reliance on prior reserves or other funding sources not reflected in annual revenue. The organization's assets have also seen significant fluctuations, from a high of $3,879,190 in 2022 to $2,363,114 in 2023, alongside substantial changes in liabilities, peaking at over $2 million in 2022. 

Regarding spending efficiency, without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, it's challenging to fully assess. However, the consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings suggests a commitment to minimizing executive overhead, which is a positive indicator for efficiency. The organization's transparency is bolstered by its consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, providing a long history of financial data for public review. 

Overall, while the organization demonstrates good transparency through its filings and a lean approach to executive compensation, the recent trend of operating at a deficit warrants closer examination to understand its long-term financial sustainability and how it manages its expenses relative to its mission-related activities.

Mission Effectiveness Score

NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Southern Tier Zoological Society Inc with a Mission Score of 75 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.

Spending Breakdown

admin: 15%
programs: 80%
fundraising: 5%

According to IRS 990 filings, Southern Tier Zoological Society Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.

Executive Compensation Analysis

Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no compensation was paid to officers, directors, trustees, or key employees, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size and suggests either a volunteer leadership model or compensation is reported under other expense categories.

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 Southern Tier Zoological Society Inc's IRS 990 filings:

Consistent operating deficits in recent years (e.g., $652,248 in 2023, $607,154 in 2022).
Significant fluctuations in assets and liabilities without clear explanation in the provided data.
Unusually low or 0% reported officer compensation for an organization of this size, which might obscure true leadership costs.

Strengths

The following positive indicators were identified for Southern Tier Zoological Society Inc:

Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, demonstrating transparency over a long period.
Apparent commitment to minimizing executive overhead with 0% reported officer compensation.
Maintained substantial assets ($2.3M in 2023) despite recent operating deficits, indicating some financial cushion.

Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Tier Zoological Society Inc

Is Southern Tier Zoological Society Inc. financially stable given recent operating deficits?

The organization has reported operating deficits in 2023 ($652,248) and 2022 ($607,154), which raises questions about its long-term financial stability if this trend continues without significant asset drawdowns or new funding sources.

How does the organization sustain operations with 0% officer compensation?

The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation suggests a volunteer-led executive team or that executive salaries are categorized differently, which would require further investigation to understand the true cost of leadership.

What caused the significant fluctuation in assets and liabilities between 2022 and 2023?

Assets decreased from $3,879,190 in 2022 to $2,363,114 in 2023, and liabilities decreased from $2,025,941 to $1,069,756 in the same period. This substantial change warrants a deeper look into capital expenditures, debt repayment, or asset divestment activities.

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for Southern Tier Zoological Society Inc showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:

Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Southern Tier Zoological Society Inc's revenue has grown by 16.9%, moving from $938K to $1.1M. Total assets increased by 136.7% over the same period, from $998K to $2.4M. Total functional expenses rose by 78.8%, from $978K to $1.7M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Southern Tier Zoological Society Inc reported a deficit of $652K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1.1M in liabilities against $2.4M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 45.3%), resulting in net assets of $1.3M.

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Liabilities	Officer Comp.	PDF
2023	$1.1M	$1.7M	$2.4M	$1.1M	—	—
2022	$1.1M	$1.7M	$3.9M	$2.0M	—	View 990
2021	$1.6M	$1.2M	$2.7M	$301K	—	View 990
2020	$1.1M	$1.1M	$2.3M	$338K	—	View 990
2019	$1.1M	$1.2M	$2.2M	$270K	—	View 990
2018	$955K	$1.2M	$2.2M	$268K	—	View 990
2017	$793K	$1.0M	$2.4M	$115K	—	View 990
2016	$1.3M	$1.0M	$2.5M	$63K	—	View 990
2015	$929K	$1.1M	$1.0M	$76K	—	View 990
2014	$1.1M	$1.1M	$1.1M	$73K	—	View 990
2013	$1.1M	$1.0M	$1.1M	$50K	—	View 990
2012	$1.2M	$998K	$1.1M	$44K	—	View 990
2011	$938K	$978K	$998K	$172K	—	View 990

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

2023: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.7M, and assets of $2.4M (revenue -1.0% year-over-year).
2022: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.7M, and assets of $3.9M (revenue -32.5% year-over-year).
2021: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $2.7M (revenue +50.7% year-over-year).
2020: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $2.3M (revenue +1.4% year-over-year).
2019: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $2.2M (revenue +12.5% year-over-year).
2018: Revenue of $955K, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $2.2M (revenue +20.5% year-over-year).
2017: Revenue of $793K, expenses of $1.0M, and assets of $2.4M (revenue -37.8% year-over-year).
2016: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $1.0M, and assets of $2.5M (revenue +37.1% year-over-year).
2015: Revenue of $929K, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $1.0M (revenue -16.1% year-over-year).
2014: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $1.1M (revenue +5.1% year-over-year).
2013: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.0M, and assets of $1.1M (revenue -11.2% year-over-year).
2012: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $998K, and assets of $1.1M (revenue +26.5% year-over-year).
2011: Revenue of $938K, expenses of $978K, and assets of $998K.

Data Sources and Methodology

This transparency report for Southern Tier Zoological Society Inc 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.