Connecting people with wildlife and saving wildlife through animal care, veterinary services, education, rehabilitation, and global conservation efforts.
The largest recent grant on file is $7,735,298 to Memphis Zoological Foundation for program support, a clear signal that Memphis Zoological Society funds core institutional work rather than small, isolated awards. That single 2024 grant also mirrors the organization’s broader mission: connecting people with wildlife through animal care, veterinary services, education, rehabilitation, and global conservation efforts. The foundation’s grantmaking is organized around named programs, including the Memphis Zoo Conservation Fund and the PAWS Fund. Those programs point to a mix of wildlife conservation, animal care, and education support, with conservation funding tied to species protection, habitat restoration, and field research. The recipient list also shows that Memphis Zoological Society supports entities connected to its own zoo operations, as seen in the Memphis Zoological Foundation award. Its public profile emphasizes direct service and capacity-building for care and rehabilitation, alongside public engagement and outreach. The overall pattern is local in distribution, with grants directed to Tennessee recipients.
Conservation is a central theme in Memphis Zoological Society’s giving. Through the Memphis Zoo Conservation Fund, the foundation supports wildlife conservation projects aligned with zoo priorities, including species protection, habitat restoration, and field research. Education is another visible thread. The PAWS Fund is described as a named fund under education and support sections, and it is used for animal care, education, and program support in Memphis, Tennessee. Animal welfare and clinical care also appear in the foundation’s stated focus areas, which include veterinary services, wildlife rehabilitation, and animal welfare. Those themes are reflected in its broader mission to support animal care and rehabilitation. Visitor engagement is part of the taxonomy as well, linking the foundation’s grantmaking to public-facing interpretation and outreach rather than conservation alone.
Memphis Zoological Society’s typical grant size is concentrated at a single level: p25, median, and p75 are all $7,735,298. That matches the 2024 grant record, which shows one award of the same amount. The available record points to an institutional funding pattern rather than a spread of smaller grants. The foundation’s grant programs are administered internally, including the Memphis Zoo Conservation Fund and the PAWS Fund. Both are listed as not accepting unsolicited requests. The recipient pattern shown here is also localized, with all grants going to Tennessee recipients.
$7.7M
$13.6M
$30.6M
$27.5M
Most grants fall between $7.7M and $7.7M, with a median of $7.7M.
25th Percentile
$7.7M
Median
$7.7M
75th Percentile
$7.7M
MATTHEW THOMPSON
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Memphis Zoological Society gives locally. In the available grant record, 100% of grants went to recipients in Tennessee, and the top state by grant count is also Tennessee. The recent recipient list places Memphis Zoological Foundation in Memphis, TN. Program geography is broader in description than in the grant record: the Memphis Zoo Conservation Fund is set up for Tennessee, the United States, and international work, while the PAWS Fund is listed for Tennessee and Memphis. The actual recipient data shown here, however, is entirely in-state.
The foundation’s stated focus areas include conservation, wildlife rehabilitation, animal welfare, education, veterinary services, and visitor engagement. Its topic taxonomy also adds wildlife conservation, wildlife rehabilitation and rescue, wildlife veterinary services and clinical care, environmental and wildlife education, and global conservation partnerships.
The grant-size distribution is a single point in the available data: p25, median, and p75 are all $7,735,298. The most recent grant listed is also $7,735,298, which was awarded in 2024 for program support.
Two active programs are listed: the Memphis Zoo Conservation Fund and the PAWS Fund. The conservation fund supports wildlife conservation projects, while the PAWS Fund is tied to animal care, education, and program support.
No. Both active programs shown in the data, the Memphis Zoo Conservation Fund and the PAWS Fund, are listed as not accepting unsolicited requests.
The grant record shown is entirely local and entirely in Tennessee. Tennessee is the top state by grant count, and 100% of grants in the available data went to recipients in the HQ state.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Memphis Zoological Society that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Applicants must be underserved, low-income, and/or Title I schools or groups within the community seeking to enhance learning through an educational field trip to the Memphis Zoo. Schools are encouraged to apply for support covering program costs and admission fees.
Deadline: No deadline specified.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEMPHIS ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION | MEMPHIS, TN | $7,735,298In-kind: investments, farm equipment & related improvements, pledges receivable | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
MEMPHIS ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION
$7,735,298In-kind: investments, farm equipment & related improvements, pledges receivablePROGRAM SUPPORT
