Erie Zoo operating funds: A breakdown of the zoo's annual revenues
The Erie Zoo will make securing additional financial support a top priority once again with the season underway for one of the region’s top visitor attractions.
Melissa “Roo” Kojancie, the Erie Zoo’s new CEO, has said as much. During a recent interview with the Erie Times-News, Kojancic said she expects to be heavily involved in the zoo’s fundraising efforts moving forward, especially since the zoo receives just a small portion of its funding from the city of Erie and other local municipalities.
The Erie Zoo generated about $5.8 million in revenues in 2023, according to its own financial figures. Total expenses were roughly $5.7 million.
Here is a breakdown of those revenues, provided by Kate Philips, a member of the zoo’s board of directors, after the Erie Times-News requested the information.
"Relative to another similarly sized zoos we have very little government support," Philips said. "For example, Akron('s) zoo gets 57% of its revenue from local government funding, when (the) Erie Zoo receives about 3%.
"We’ve survived on love and loyalty for 100 years," Philips said. "But to modernize the zoo to current (American Zoological Association) standards and provide visitors are modern zoo experience, while maintaining our deep rooted commitment to exceptional animal care and conservation, we’re going to need a more meaningful, sustained investment."
Visitor fees/events/attractions: $3.4 million (59% of operating revenues)
These funds include admission fees/tickets for the zoo itself; its train and carousel rides; purchases made at the gift shop and concessions; fees for various educational programs and revenues generated at the Flo Fabrizio Ice Center at the Erie Zoo.
That figure also includes general admission charges for the popular Zoo Boo event at Halloween and two annual single-day, adult fundraisers: Mane Event and Lions, Tigers & Beers.
Donations/sponsorships: $1.3 million (23%)
That figure includes various private donations for zoo operations/exhibits, as well as roughly $183,000 in corporate/business sponsorships for Mane Event, Zoo Boo and Lions, Tigers & Beers.
State grants: $830,000 (14%)
The zoo in 2023 received two grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, one for $580,000 for operational expenses and another for $250,000 to support the construction of new family/gender neutral restrooms and related projects, secured with the help of State Rep. Bob Merski, of Erie, D-2nd Dist.
Zoo officials said the grants are one-time revenues.
Local governmental grants: $174,000 (3%)
These grants include $165,000 from the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority, and a total of $9,000 from Summit and North East townships and Mill Village Borough.
Something worth noting: the city of Erie covers the zoo's natural gas bills as part of a years-long agreement with zoo officials, according to Renee Lamis, Mayor Joe Schember's chief of staff.
The city provided $82,000 to cover those bills for the Erie Zoo in 2023 and has budgeted the same amount for 2024, according to city financial figures.
Philips said the city pays those bills directly on the zoo's behalf, which is why that financial contribution is not included in the zoo's revenue breakdown.
Lamis added that the city of Erie pays for the zoo's insurance coverage.
"Since 2017, our insurance carrier has paid out $899,772 in claims for the zoo," she said.
Other revenues: $59,000 (1%)
This revenue includes fees the Glenwood YMCA pays to use zoo-owned parking, as well as rental fees related to the Northwest Pennsylvania Pet Emergency Center, which is located on the zoo’s property at 428 W. 38th St., and rental income from property the zoo owns on nearby Chapin Street.
Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com. Follow him on X at @ETNflowers.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie PA Zoo yearly operating revenues: Breakdown of funding
