What We Do - Products & Services
Supporting the North Carolina Zoo
The North Carolina Zoo Society is a private, 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization that supports the conservation, education, research, and recreation missions of the North Carolina Zoo. The Society funds Zoo programs that conserve wildlife, protect wild environments, conduct research, and offer recreational experiences that strengthen the bonds between people and animals. The Society also funds Zoo programs that protect the well-being of animals that live in zoos or in the wild.
With a membership that serves more than 31,000 households, the Zoo Society represents a statewide community of people who are committed to wildlife and to the well-being of nature.
What We Do For You
The North Carolina Zoo Society provides a diverse collection of family-friendly recreational and educational activities associated with the wildlife and wildlife viewing made available at the North Carolina Zoo. The Zoo Society also funds national and international conservation programs carried out by biologists, veterinarians, educators, and other staff employed by the North Carolina Zoo. The Zoo Society raises money to support these programs and to support the Zoo's capital development by conducting the following:
- The Zoo Society sells memberships that provide annual or lifelong free admission to the North Carolina Zoo and free or discounted admission to more than 100 reciprocating zoos and aquariums in North America.
- The Society operates several gift shops inside the Zoo that sell animal-themed souvenirs, clothing, and similar items to support the Zoo. All profits are donated to the North Carolina Zoo.
- The Society conducts tours, behind-the-scenes experiences, veterinary camps, and other special events to raise money for Zoo programming.
- The Zoo Society contributes to accessibility at the Zoo by providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all visitors and by renting wheelchair and strollers to visitors.
What We Fund
We support many of the Zoo’s most culturally and educationally relevant programs! Our primary role is to support conservation, education, research and recreational programs that fall outside of the budgetary capacity of the State of North Carolina—for example, funding for unanticipated maintenance, exceptional visitor services, and other operational and capital development needs.
The Zoo Society’s generous donors and loyal members empower the Zoo to do more than exhibit animals well. Gifts from the Zoo Society position the North Carolina Zoo to contribute nationally and internationally to wildlife conservation and research, to advance standards and practices that promote the well-being of animals in zoos and in the wild, and to inspire people everywhere to respect, explore, care about and connect with nature.
For information on supporting the Zoo's programs, please see the Support the Zoo page.