Page 36 - Impact Report_2019 PDF

2019 Financial Year in Review

$18,000 CHICAGO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY CAPITAL INVESTMENT ($000) For fiscal 2019, the Chicago Zoological Society (CZS)
16,000 10-Year Cumulative Total realized a General Operating Fund net surplus of $1.57 million
14,000 of $78.5 MM before debt service and capital transfers totaling $2.4 million.
12,000 10-Year Annual Average Our results were driven by a continued focus on creating
10,000 of $7.8 MM revenue opportunities and included: presenting exciting attrac-
8,000 tions such as the Brick Safari exhibit; increasing philanthropic
6,000 ‘10 ‘11 ‘12 ‘13 ‘14 ‘15 ‘16 ‘17 ‘18 2019 contribution levels; enriching the guest experience with carefully
4,000 developed animal interactions; and aggressively pursuing
2,000 available public and private grant opportunities to further our
animal conservation, education, and community engagement
0 activities. These strategic initiatives resulted in nearly 2 million
visitors in 2019.
CHICAGO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY TOTAL ATTENDANCE (000)
The net surplus of funds generated by CZS operating
2,400 2,339 activities is particularly important to the institution. These
2,300 funds are an essential, yet insufficient source of capital needed
2,200 2,283 2,263 for the renovation, replacement, and maintenance of the
2,100 2,223 Brookfield Zoo’s assets. While CZS has invested $78.5 million
2,158 2,173 during the past 10 years in capital projects, previous external
2,183 sources of funding for necessary capital asset investment have
decreased due to the fiscal challenges many local, state, and
2,087 federal agencies are facing.

2,000 1,999 However, the CZS Board of Trustees and management
1,909 are committed to the future growth and enhancement of the
institution as evidenced by the September 2019 completion
1,900 of our newest park improvement, the 1.2-acre Hamill Family
Nature Plaza. Furthermore, in 2019, we moved ahead with the
1,800 first year of our five-year strategic plan, “Our Charge Forward,”
which establishes clear short- and long-term goals, and high-
1,700 lights the need for capital investment. We are also in the process
of completing a comprehensive 20-year Master Site Plan that
1,600 will guide the evolving footprint of the zoo, new exhibits, and
capital projects for the future.
1,500
‘10 ‘11 ‘12 ‘13 ‘14 ’15 ’16 ‘17 ‘18 2019 The Society wishes to extend special thanks and apprecia-
tion to the Forest Preserves of Cook County, our public partner,
as well as our very generous Trustees, Women’s Board members,
Governing Member Ambassadors, and donors. Their support—
as well as the invaluable contributions of our volunteers and
staff—maintain the financial foundation of the Chicago
Zoological Society

Michael P. Emmert
Treasurer, Board of Trustees of the
Chicago Zoological Society

34 CHICAGO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY | 2019 IMPACT REPORT