American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums
ActiveAnimal-Related
About American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums
AZA advances the highest standards of animal care and welfare in zoos and aquariums, supports conservation of wildlife and wild places, and accredits member institutions.
Focus Areas
animal welfareconservationaccreditationresearchstaff training and educationwildlife traffickingspecies recovery
Who They Fund
specific endangered species (sea turtles, coral, whooping crane, African lions, African vultures, radiated tortoise, chimpanzees)conservation organizations and program units (Population Management Center, Reproductive Management Center, rapid response teams)zoos/aquaria and ex-situ breeding/broodstock programs
About American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums
A defining feature of American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums Inc is its use of large, designated grants to help zoos, aquaria, and conservation programs weather species-conservation crises. The largest recent award in the data is $1,002,077 to The Marine Mammal Center for endangered species COVID relief, followed by multiple $1,000,000 grants in 2023 to Los Angeles Zoo, San Diego Zoo, and Endangered Wolf Center for the same relief category. That pattern points to a funder that can move substantial resources quickly, especially when facilities and conservation programs face operating stress tied to endangered species work. Beyond emergency relief, the foundation also supports the infrastructure behind wildlife care and breeding programs. Lincoln Park Zoological Society appears with both COVID-relief support and later Population Management Center funding, while Smithsonian Institution received a 2025 grant tied to whooping crane work and endangered species COVID relief. The organization’s stated purpose centers on wildlife, wild places, and conservation, and its grantmaking reflects that emphasis through species-specific support, zoo and aquarium operations, and conservation capacity building.
What American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums Funds
Emergency relief is a major part of the foundation’s recent activity. It gave $732,301 to Sea Turtle Inc for endangered species COVID relief and $514,053 to Pittsburgh Zoo & Ppg Aquarium for the same purpose, showing support for organizations handling immediate conservation and care costs. The foundation also funds species-focused work. In 2025, it awarded $569,093 to Smithsonian Institution for whooping crane work, and $335,030 to Texas State Aquarium for endangered species COVID relief. Another clear theme is population management and breeding infrastructure: Lincoln Park Zoological Society received $618,598 in 2025 and $536,083 in 2024 for Population Management Center support. Aquarium and zoo institutions also appear in grants connected to marine species and habitat response, including $602,176 to Monterey Bay Aquarium for Ocean Week and endangered species COVID relief.
How American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums Gives
Typical grant sizes are mid-six figures at the top end, with a p25 of $18,773, median of $50,694, and p75 of $167,052. The recent record shows a mix of very large designated awards and smaller operating-scale grants, with repeated support to some recipients across multiple years rather than one-time-only giving. The foundation is a grantmaker, not an individual donor, and it does not make program-related investments. It also accepts unsolicited applications through the AZA Conservation Grants Fund, which supports species management, conservation research, and reproduction-related projects.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$7.1M
Total Assets
$35.2M
Total Revenue
$20.9M
Total Expenses
$18.3M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $19K and $167K, with a median of $51K.
25th Percentile
$19K
Median
$51K
75th Percentile
$167K
Geographic Reach
National38 states funded
About 3% of grants go to recipients in FL.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
PHILIP F WAGNER
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