Does Columbus Zoo and Aquarium donate to fundraisers?

Organizations may request donated admission for 20 or more people to the Columbus Zoo, Zoombezi Bay or The Wilds to support their programs or groups when aligned with the Zoo's mission, Empowering People. Saving Wildlife.

In-kind donation requests (other than individual admission) are welcome and may include gift baskets, Wild Encounters community outreach, behind-the-scenes tours and sponsorship opportunities.

Requests are evaluated on mission alignment, availability, financial impact to the Zoo and overall community benefit. Submitting a request does not guarantee approval, and the Zoo does not give individual status updates.

Not eligible: individual, family or team fundraisers; religious, political or labor organizations; choirs, bands, athletic teams, PTOs, sororities or fraternities; organizations seeking admission for door prizes, contests, incentives or group admission; and schools requesting bulk admission, which the Zoo handles through a separate scholarship program for schools.

Donated admission must be used for the purpose stated on the request, cannot be resold or used for raffles or auctions, is void after its expiration date, and does not include parking.

Tips from the program page: If you need something for a raffle or auction, ask about the in-kind options such as gift baskets or a behind-the-scenes tour; donated admission itself cannot be raffled or auctioned. · Make sure you can print what you receive: donated admission arrives by email confirmation. · Schools wanting bulk admission should look at the Zoo's scholarship program for schools instead.

Who can apply

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium limits donation requests by area: Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Guernsey, Licking, Madison, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Pickaway, or Union counties, Ohio; preference to Franklin County (Zoo/Zoombezi Bay) and Muskingum County (Wilds).

How to apply

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium asks every request to include the following.

• Be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit or a government agency with tax-exempt status, and include a copy of your IRS tax determination letter.
• Be based in one of these Ohio counties: Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Guernsey, Licking, Madison, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Pickaway or Union.
• Request on your own behalf; third-party requests made for another organization are not approved.
• Submit online at least four weeks before your event; mail-in and email requests are not considered.
• One request per organization per year.