Overview
What is Como Friends?
Como Friends is a Saint Paul, Minnesota-based nonprofit organization that collects donations and generates retail revenues to invest in the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory. Their investments support new capital projects, including Como Harbor and the Ordway Gardens, annual improvements to animal exhibits and gardens, conservation partnerships, progressive education programs, and free and equitable access for all visitors. The organization's mission is to inspire community generosity to ensure the zoo and conservatory flourishes for future generations. With a team of 34 employees, Como Friends has championed transformative improvements, enabling Como to meet and exceed best practice standards for animal care, grow world-class horticultural collections, and provide free admission for all visitors.
Official website here: www.comofriends.org
What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?
Charity Navigator Rating: 97% (Four-Star out of Four Stars)
Como Friends has achieved an impressive Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator, reflecting its strong performance in accountability and finance. The overall score is particularly notable for its focus on financial management, with an exemplary accountability score of 97%. This rating indicates that the organization has a solid financial foundation and operates with a high degree of transparency and integrity.
The organization excels in governance, boasting a fully independent board of directors, which enhances its credibility and decision-making processes. Additionally, Como Friends has well-established policies in place, including a conflict of interest policy and a whistleblower policy, further demonstrating its commitment to ethical management. Furthermore, the organization maintains a healthy financial standing with a low liabilities-to-assets ratio and efficient fundraising practices.
However, there is room for improvement in the program expense ratio, which stands at 65.77%. While this is a good figure, increasing the percentage of funds directed towards programs and services could enhance its impact further. Overall, Como Friends appears to be a well-managed nonprofit that prioritizes accountability and effective stewardship of resources.
This AI summary has been generated from information found on Charity Navigator.
Is Como Friends legitimate?
Como Friends is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. Como Friends submitted a form 990, which is a tax form used by tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., indicating its operational transparency and adherence to regulatory requirements. Donations to this organization are tax deductible.
Heare are some key statistics you may want to consider:
Executive Compensation: $179,588
Professional Fundraising Fees: $0
Other Salaries and Wages: $1,094,933
For more financial information, click here
Official website here: www.comofriends.org
What is the mission statement of Como Friends?
Como Friends inspire community generosity to support the thriving of a zoo and conservatory for future generations. They secure donations and generate retail revenues, investing in various projects such as new capital works, improvements to animal exhibits and gardens, conservation partnerships, educational programs, and free access for all visitors. Through these investments, Como Park Zoo & Conservatory has met and exceeded best practice standards for animal care, grown world-class horticultural collections, and provided free admission for all visitors.
Official website here: www.comofriends.org
Who is the CEO of Como Friends?
Jackie Sticha is the Board Secret of Como Friends.
Official website here: www.comofriends.org
What is the revenue of Como Friends?
Como Friends's revenue in 2022 was $4,864,821.
Official website here: www.comofriends.org
Who are the executives of Como Friends and what are their salaries?
The average compensation at Como Friends during 2022 was $37,486. There are 34 employees and 146 volunteers at Como Friends.
Here are 29 key members and their salaries:
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Official website here: www.comofriends.org
Where can I find the form 990 for Como Friends?
Como Friends's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2022 and can be accessed here.
Official website here: www.comofriends.org
Learn more at the official website: www.comofriends.org
Mission Statement of Como Friends
Como Friends, a dedicated organization, inspires community generosity to ensure the long-term success of Como Park Zoo & Conservatory. Through securing donations and generating retail revenues, Como Friends invests in the zoo and conservatory, funding new capital projects, annual improvements to animal exhibits and gardens, conservation partnerships around the world, progressive education programs, and free and equitable access for all visitors.
Over the past decade, Como Friends' transformative improvements have enabled Como Park Zoo & Conservatory to meet and exceed best practice standards for animal care. The organization's efforts have also facilitated the growth and curation of world-class horticultural collections. Moreover, Como Friends provides free admission for all visitors, making the zoo and conservatory accessible to everyone in the community.
Investments from Como Friends support various initiatives that enrich the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory experience. These funds have led to the development of projects like Como Harbor and the Ordway Gardens, as well as ongoing enhancements to animal exhibits and gardens. Additionally, Como Friends' support extends to conservation partnerships around the globe and innovative educational programs. By inspiring community generosity, Como Friends plays a vital role in the continued success and growth of Como Park Zoo & Conservatory for generations to come.
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Impact
October, 2024
Como Friends significantly enhances the vitality and sustainability of Como Park Zoo & Conservatory through a robust strategy of community engagement and financial support. By securing donations and generating retail revenues, Como Friends invests in essential capital projects like Como Harbor and the Ordway Gardens, ensuring that these facilities continue to thrive and evolve.
The organization prioritizes annual improvements to animal exhibits and gardens, which directly elevates the visitor experience and promotes wildlife conservation. Their efforts extend globally with conservation partnerships, fostering a commitment to environmental stewardship that resonates beyond the local community.
Moreover, Como Friends champions progressive education programs that cultivate an appreciation for wildlife and botany among visitors of all ages. The commitment to free and equitable access ensures that everyone in the community can enjoy and learn from these resources, promoting inclusivity and shared experiences.
Over the past decade, Como Friends has facilitated transformative improvements that align with best practices for animal care and horticulture, creating a world-class destination in Saint Paul, MN. Their contributions foster not only a thriving ecosystem within the zoo and conservatory but also inspire a culture of generosity and community support that ensures these treasures can be enjoyed for generations to come.
This information is meant to be a general summary of Como Friends. Please take the time to review official sources before making any decisions based upon the content provided here.
Financials
This financial information is from Propublica.
Other financial information:
This information is from the most recently submitted tax form from this organization, which was in 2022.
- Investment Income: $1,349
- Gross Receipts: $6,037,254
Assets and Liabilities:
- Total Assets: $15,847,385
- Total Liabilities: $280,253
- Net Assets: $15,567,132
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Organization Details
Founding Year
1999
Phone
(651) 487-8229Principal Officer
Jackie Sticha
Main Address
1225 ESTABROOK DRIVE, SAINT PAUL, MN, 55103
Website
www.comofriends.orgNTEE Category
Code: D110 - Animals
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