Does Indianapolis Zoo donate to fundraisers?

The Zoo's Community Donation Program supports Indiana nonprofit organizations running fundraising activities that benefit their members or target audience.

Priority goes to organizations that support Indiana families and animal conservation.

The Zoo does not give donations for appreciation awards, door prizes, post-prom gifts or monetary requests.

An organization can receive one donation per calendar year, and submitting a request does not guarantee a donation.

Tips from the program page: The form asks whether you have received a donation from the Zoo in the past 12 months, and has space for a different delivery address if needed.

What Indianapolis Zoo donates

Indianapolis Zoo has typically donated: Ticket.

Who can apply

Indianapolis Zoo donates to organizations with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Indianapolis Zoo does not support events run for profit.

Indianapolis Zoo limits donation requests by area: Indiana (Indiana nonprofit organizations).

How to apply

Indianapolis Zoo asks every request to include the following.

• Your request must be received three months before your fundraising event. Requests submitted after the first of the month before your event cannot be considered.
• Complete the online Community Donation Request Form: your name, 501(c)(3) organization, address, email, phone, an email address for donation delivery, and your event date.
• Upload a one-page letter on your organization's letterhead describing the fundraising event and its potential benefit to the community.

What Indianapolis Zoo will not fund

Indianapolis Zoo states in its own published guidelines that it will not fund the following.

• Appreciation awards
• Door prizes
• Monetary donations
• Post-prom gifts

This covers only what Indianapolis Zoo states. A request can still be turned down for reasons a company does not publish.

When to ask

Indianapolis Zoo states a lead time of 3 months. Count back that far from your event date and send the request no later than then.

Across more than 25,000 fundraising events in our own records over fifteen years, March, April and May are the busiest months for fundraisers, October is the next busiest, and July and December are the quietest.

Work backwards from your event rather than forwards from today, and if your event falls in the spring peak, ask earlier than the stated lead time rather than later.

Common questions

Do I need to be a 501(c)(3) to request a donation from Indianapolis Zoo?

Yes. Indianapolis Zoo's donation program is limited to organizations with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, so you will need your determination letter and Tax ID before you apply.

Can a school, team, or individual apply to Indianapolis Zoo?

Indianapolis Zoo states that it will not fund: Appreciation awards; Door prizes; Monetary donations; Post-prom gifts. Check your organization and your event against that list before you apply — those are the restrictions Indianapolis Zoo publishes itself.

How far ahead should we ask Indianapolis Zoo for a donation?

Indianapolis Zoo's stated lead time is 3 months. Work backwards from your event date: count back that far from the day of the event and send your request before that point.