Como Friends
- Assets
- $15.9m
- Revenue
- $4.0m
- Investments
- $0.0
- Employees
- 34
- Location
- Saint Paul, MN
- Founding
- 08/1999
- Data as of
- 12/2021
- EIN
- 41-1943928
Organization Overview
Como Friends is located in Saint Paul, MN. The organization was established in 1999. According to its NTEE Classification (D11) the organization is classified as: Single Organization Support, under the broad grouping of Animal-Related and related organizations. As of 12/2021, Como Friends employed 34 individuals. This organization is an independent organization and not affiliated with a larger national or regional group of organizations. Como Friends is a 501(c)(3) and as such, is described as a "Charitable or Religous organization or a private foundation" by the IRS.
For the year ending 12/2021, Como Friends generated $4.0m in total revenue. This represents relatively stable growth, over the past 7 years the organization has increased revenue by an average of 3.4% each year. All expenses for the organization totaled $3.4m during the year ending 12/2021. While expenses have increased by 3.6% per year over the past 7 years. They've been increasing with an increasing level of total revenue. You can explore the organizations financials more deeply in the financial statements section below.
Form
990
Mission & Program ActivityExcerpts From the 990 Filing
TAX YEAR
2021
Describe the Organization's Mission:
Part 3 - Line 1
WE INSPIRE COMMUNITY GENEROSITY IN SUPPORT OF COMO PARK ZOO & CONSERVATORY SO IT THRIVES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
Describe the Organization's Program Activity:
Part 3 - Line 4a
COMO FRIENDS SECURES DONATIONS AND GENERATES RETAIL REVENUES TO INVEST IN COMO PARK ZOO & CONSERVATORY. INVESTMENTS SUPPORT NEW CAPITAL PROJECTS SUCH AS COMO HARBOR AND THE ORDWAY GARDENS, ANNUAL IMPROVEMENTS TO ANIMAL EXHIBITS AND GARDENS, CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS AROUND THE WORLD, PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND FREE AND EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR ALL VISITORS. THE PAST DECADE OF TRANSFORMATIVE IMPROVEMENTS CHAMPIONED BY COMO FRIENDS HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR COMO TO MEET AND EXCEED BEST PRACTICE STANDARDS FOR ANIMAL CARE, GROW AND CURATE WORLD-CLASS HORTICULTURAL COLLECTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FREE ADMISSION FOR ALL.
COMO FRIENDS OPERATES GARDEN SAFARI GIFTS IN THE VISITOR CENTER. THREE SATELLITE LOCATIONS ARE OPEN DURING THE SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL MONTHS. PROCEEDS ARE INVESTED AT COMO PARK ZOO & CONSERVATORY TO HELP COMO THRIVE TODAY AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
COMO HARBOR, A NEW WORLD-CLASS HABITAT FOR SEALS AND SEA LIONS, OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN JUNE 2021 AT COMO ZOO. THE SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN COMO FRIENDS AND THE CITY OF SAINT PAUL SECURED THE 20.3 MILLION FOR THE PROJECT THROUGH ADVOCACY WORK AT THE MN STATE LEGISLATURE IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECTS' BONDING REQUEST AND A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN THAT SECURED FUNDS FROM INDIVIDUALS, FOUNDATIONS AND CORPORATIONS. COMO HARBOR PROVIDES A NEW YEAR-ROUND HOME FOR THE SEALS AND SEA LIONS AND AN UPGRADED AMPHITHEATER FOR COMO'S LONG-STANDING "SPARKY THE SEA LION" SHOW. THE CHANGE IN NET ASSETS WILL VARY FROM YEAR TO YEAR BASED ON THE TIMING OF THE RELATED CAPITAL CAMPAIGN REVENUES AND EXPENSES.
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Board, Officers & Key Employees
| Name (title) | Role | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
Jackie Sticha Board Secret | Officer | 45 | $174,148 |
Patrick Mcintyre Board Chair | OfficerTrustee | 4 | $0 |
Wendy Harden Board Treasu | OfficerTrustee | 4 | $0 |
Liz Smith Board Vice C | OfficerTrustee | 4 | $0 |
Stephen Foss Director | Trustee | 1 | $0 |
Lynette Palmgren Director | Trustee | 1 | $0 |
Financial Statements
| Statement of Revenue | |
|---|---|
| Federated campaigns | $0 |
| Membership dues | $382,678 |
| Fundraising events | $273,654 |
| Related organizations | $0 |
| Government grants | $213,000 |
| All other contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts not included above | $2,043,148 |
| Noncash contributions included in lines 1a–1f | $95,843 |
| Total Revenue from Contributions, Gifts, Grants & Similar | $2,912,480 |
| Total Program Service Revenue | $0 |
| Investment income | $7,619 |
| Tax Exempt Bond Proceeds | $0 |
| Royalties | $0 |
| Net Rental Income | $0 |
| Net Gain/Loss on Asset Sales | $0 |
| Net Income from Fundraising Events | -$129,716 |
| Net Income from Gaming Activities | $0 |
| Net Income from Sales of Inventory | $1,172,859 |
| Miscellaneous Revenue | $0 |
| Total Revenue | $4,049,100 |
| Statement of Expenses | |
|---|---|
| Grants and other assistance to domestic organizations and domestic governments. | $1,464,893 |
| Grants and other assistance to domestic individuals. | $0 |
| Grants and other assistance to Foreign Orgs/Individuals | $0 |
| Benefits paid to or for members | $0 |
| Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $182,855 |
| Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $78,244 |
| Compensation to disqualified persons | $0 |
| Other salaries and wages | $844,779 |
| Pension plan accruals and contributions | $46,438 |
| Other employee benefits | $120,722 |
| Payroll taxes | $90,491 |
| Fees for services: Management | $0 |
| Fees for services: Legal | $0 |
| Fees for services: Accounting | $27,666 |
| Fees for services: Lobbying | $51,000 |
| Fees for services: Fundraising | $0 |
| Fees for services: Investment Management | $0 |
| Fees for services: Other | $76,324 |
| Advertising and promotion | $0 |
| Office expenses | $207,612 |
| Information technology | $0 |
| Royalties | $0 |
| Occupancy | $58,536 |
| Travel | $0 |
| Payments of travel or entertainment expenses for any federal, state, or local public officials | $0 |
| Conferences, conventions, and meetings | $0 |
| Interest | $0 |
| Payments to affiliates | $0 |
| Depreciation, depletion, and amortization | $16,457 |
| Insurance | $0 |
| All other expenses | $0 |
| Total functional expenses | $3,423,886 |
| Balance Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Cash—non-interest-bearing | $2,890 |
| Savings and temporary cash investments | $3,960,286 |
| Pledges and grants receivable | $548,243 |
| Accounts receivable, net | $14,000 |
| Loans from Officers, Directors, or Controlling Persons | $0 |
| Loans from Disqualified Persons | $0 |
| Notes and loans receivable | $0 |
| Inventories for sale or use | $233,000 |
| Prepaid expenses and deferred charges | $50,522 |
| Net Land, buildings, and equipment | $101,634 |
| Investments—publicly traded securities | $0 |
| Investments—other securities | $0 |
| Investments—program-related | $0 |
| Intangible assets | $0 |
| Other assets | $11,020,416 |
| Total assets | $15,930,991 |
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $264,292 |
| Grants payable | $0 |
| Deferred revenue | $0 |
| Tax-exempt bond liabilities | $0 |
| Escrow or custodial account liability | $0 |
| Loans and other payables to any current Officer, Director, or Controlling Person | $0 |
| Secured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
| Unsecured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
| Other liabilities | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $264,292 |
| Net assets without donor restrictions | $3,620,241 |
| Net assets with donor restrictions | $12,046,458 |
| Capital stock or trust principal, or current funds | $0 |
| Paid-in or capital surplus, or land, building, or equipment fund | $0 |
| Retained earnings, endowment, accumulated income, or other funds | $0 |
| Total liabilities and net assets/fund balances | $15,930,991 |
Grants Awarded
Over the last fiscal year, Como Friends has awarded $1,838,191 in support to 2 organizations.
| Grant Recipient | Amount |
|---|---|
CITY OF SAINT PAUL PURPOSE: COMO PARK ZOO AND CONSERVATORY PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS | $1,691,763 |
CITY OF SAINT PAUL - CAPITAL PURPOSE: COMO PARK ZOO AND CONSERVATORY CAPITAL PROJECTS AND SUPPORT GRANTS | $146,428 |
Grants Recieved
Over the last fiscal year, we have identified 16 grants that Como Friends has recieved totaling $1,793,495.
| Awarding Organization | Amount |
|---|---|
Schwab Charitable Fund San Francisco, CA PURPOSE: ENVIRONMENTAL AND ANIMALS | $639,830 |
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation Saint Paul, MN PURPOSE: MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES | $501,830 |
Woodland Park Zoological Society Seattle, WA PURPOSE: ADVANCING EMPATHY PROGRAM | $239,936 |
Minneapolis Foundation Minneapolis, MN PURPOSE: DONOR-RECOMMENDED, ENVIRONMENT | $98,973 |
The Blackbaud Giving Fund Charleston, SC PURPOSE: GENERAL SUPPORT | $85,351 |
The Blackbaud Giving Fund Charleston, SC PURPOSE: GENERAL SUPPORT | $85,351 |
Endowment Analysis
| Beg. Balance | $9,315,085 |
| Earnings | $1,879,777 |
| Admin Expense | $76,180 |
| Net Contributions | $283,687 |
| Grants | $381,958 |
| Ending Balance | $11,020,416 |
Peer Organizations
| Organization Name | Assets | Revenue |
|---|---|---|
Zoological Society Of Milwaukee County Milwaukee, WI | $14,195,858 | $13,548,879 |
Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc Des Moines, IA | $22,987,936 | $8,756,051 |
Minnesota Zoo Foundation Apple Valley, MN | $17,754,103 | $7,959,459 |
Como Friends Saint Paul, MN | $15,930,991 | $4,049,100 |
Oshkosh Area Humane Society Inc Oshkosh, WI | $5,917,791 | $3,072,966 |
Blank Park Endowment Corporation Des Moines, IA | $9,855,398 | $487,434 |
Friends Of Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary Inc Sarona, WI | $7,641,616 | $683,534 |
Lake Area Zoological Society Watertown, SD | $1,493,238 | $503,623 |
Friends Of The Animal Center Foundation Iowa City, IA | $1,151,815 | $518,410 |
Zoological Society Of Milwaukee County Endowment Tr Milwaukee, WI | $9,276,918 | $1,014,814 |
Wild Bird Feeding Institute Rapid City, SD | $165,058 | $234,535 |
Dakota Zoological Society Endowment Fund Inc Bismarck, ND | $2,611,215 | $437,559 |