WILD AT HEART
We are stronger together
Join our annual giving society and invest in the future of wildlife
JOIN TODAY
Become Wild at Heart
Wild at Heart donors are essential partners in fulfilling the zoo’s mission to save wildlife
Since 2010, donors of the Wild at Heart annual giving society have played a vital role in advancing the mission of Woodland Park Zoo by providing consistent, substantial and transformative financial support.
Generous annual gifts of $1,000 or more have a profound impact on the well-being of our animals and the success of our species-saving programs. Your generosity powers excellent animal care, critical conservation initiatives, and community programs to protect and foster our planet’s biodiversity.
We are deeply thankful to Wild at Heart donors for their commitment to our community zoo and for helping us to safeguard the natural world for generations to come.
Join Our Pack
When you join the Wild at Heart donor pack you will enjoy perks such as zoo family membership benefits, invitations to exclusive events, specialized communications and personal tours. Furthermore, your contributions make an even bigger difference caring for animals at Woodland Park Zoo, providing educational opportunities and protecting wildlife and wild places in our community and around the world.
With your Wild at Heart status, you will receive zoo membership benefits* that include:
- Unlimited access for one year for two adults and their children or grandchildren plus one flexible guest
- Half-price admission for up to four guests per visit
- Four one-time-use guest passes per named adult
- Four complimentary animal feeding/experience passes
- Five complimentary carousel rides
...and other perks, like:
- A yearly zoo calendar
- Pre-sale opportunities for ZooTunes concerts and summer camps
- Special Wild at Heart gifts
- Invitations to exclusive events and personal zoo tours
- Recognition on our website in our Annual Report
*Membership benefits have a fair market value of $360. You may choose to waive your membership and affiliated benefits by contacting us at 206.548.2491. If donating through the website, you can also select "yes” when asked if you would like to waive your benefits for a full tax deduction. Donors who give through a private foundation, donor-advised fund, United Way, Benevity and other similar organizations cannot receive any goods or services from Woodland Park Zoo because the initial contribution is eligible for a tax deduction. Event tickets, table sponsorships and zoo memberships do not count towards Wild at Heart status because they contain benefits that are not tax deductible.
Please be aware that membership usually takes about two weeks to process. If you would like to use your membership before this, please contact us at 206.548.2491 or at donations@zoo.org.
Plant Your Name
Help protect forests and have your generosity recognized in our new Forest Trailhead exhibit with your gift of $2,500 or more to the Forests for All fund. Honor a loved one or reflect your love of nature for generations to come with a beautiful leaf in the new exhibit.
Learn more and donate
Benefits
Goldfinch Group
$1,000-$4,999
All of the above, plus:
- Invitation to special Wild at Heart events, including a sneak peek of our newest exhibit
- Two Early Morning events at the zoo each summer
- Wild at Heart exclusive perks to enhance special zoo days (like Pumpkin Bash)
- Discounts and pre-sale access to zoo events (like ZooTunes)
- Collectible enamel pin
- Exclusive animal stories and updates in our monthly donor newsletter
Western Hemlock Group
$5,000-$9,999
All of the above, plus:
- VIP animal experience
- Group or personal tour by invitation
- 10% venue discount for a private event
Grizzly Group
$10,000+
All of the above, plus:
- Free parking all year
- Invitation to a special event with zoo leadership
ZooKeepers Society
$100,000+ (cumulative giving)
The vision and lifetime contributions of members of our ZooKeepers Society sustain our zoo's world-class programs and its leadership in education and conservation – today, tomorrow and well into the future.
Donors will receive recognition on our permanent Lifetime Supporter Wall at the zoo’s West Plaza.
If you are interested in making a gift of $25,000 or more, please call Chief Development Officer, Sarah Valentine, at 206.548.2624.
We would love to discuss the many ways in which a gift of this magnitude can benefit both you and the zoo.
Explore What Your Support Can Do
Gifts of $1,000 can provide two children with camp scholarships to attend a full week of summer camp at the zoo.
Gifts of $2,500 can provide care to our reticulated bull giraffe, Dave, one of the tallest animals on the planet, for an entire month.
Gifts of $5,500 can feed Woodland Park Zoo’s endangered Humboldt penguin population with fresh fish for more than a month.
Gifts of $10,500 can supply more than two months' worth of salaries, food and transport for five Malaysian wilderness patrollers as they protect tigers from poaching.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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How can I renew or join the Wild at Heart annual giving society for the first time?
Gifts can be made using the “Choose an amount” button above. Checks can be mailed to Woodland Park Zoo, Attention Donations, 5500 Phinney Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98103.
If you are making a gift through a donor advised fund, our tax identification number is 91-6070005. Feel free to reach out to our offices at 206.548.2491 for more information!
Can I receive a tax deduction for my Wild at Heart gift?
Our Washington state non-profit tax ID number is 91-6070005. In 2024, a Wild at Heart membership will have a fair market value of at least $360. The tax-deductible amount of a Wild at Heart donation is the amount donated less the fair market value of membership benefits.
If you would like to waive your Wild at Heart benefits, please contact our team at donations@zoo.org or 206.548.2491, or select “yes” when asked if you would like to waive your benefits for a tax deduction on our online donation form.
If I’ve opted not to waive my Wild at Heart benefits, when can I begin to use my membership to the zoo?
A Wild at Heart membership generally takes about one to two weeks to process. You will receive an email with your digital membership card information once your membership has been processed and is ready for use.
When can I expect a tax receipt for my Wild at Heart level gift?
Donation receipts and Wild at Heart extras are typically sent within two weeks of your gift being processed*.
*If you require your donation receipt right away, please reach out to us at donations@zoo.org or 206.548.2491.
Who can I speak to about utilizing my Wild at Heart benefits?
Please feel free to reach out to us at donations@zoo.org or 206.548.2491. We are available to answer questions Monday through Friday.
How is Wild at Heart different from a Conservation Partner membership?
As a Wild at Heart donor, you not only get all the benefits included in the Conservation Partner membership, but also enjoy exclusive benefits such as invitations to special events, private tours and access to donor customer service support. You also gain the satisfaction of knowing your gift will go further to support Woodland Park Zoo’s mission of saving wildlife and inspiring everyone to make conservation a priority in their lives.
What types of gifts qualify towards becoming Wild at Heart?
Cash donations, payments on pledges, and auction item or event table purchases made above the fair market value of the item or tickets all count toward qualifying for Wild at Heart. Matching gifts do not count toward reaching the initial $1,000 threshold for Wild at Heart, but once that level is reached through eligible giving, matching gifts may help increase your Wild at Heart recognition level. Please note that we may not be able to offer Wild at Heart benefits with a fair market value to donors who give through a third party or charitable foundation.
How do I receive early access to ZooTunes event pre-sale tickets and summer camp registration?
To receive information on summer camp registration and ZooTunes pre-sale tickets when they become available, you must be a current Wild at Heart donor and have a valid email address on file. You can update your email address on file by contacting us at donations@zoo.org or 206.548.2491.
Additionally, you must be subscribed to Woodland Park Zoo's emails. If you unsubscribe at any point, you will not receive emails from the zoo until you re-subscribe by contacting us at donations@zoo.org or 206.548.2491.