Frequently Asked Questions

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The ZSWV is West Virginia's first and only current nonprofit incorporated private Zoological Society dedicated to the overall conservational efforts of all Zoological wildlife and their environmental conservation. The Society is currently planning several initiatives focused on furthering Zoological, conservation, and educational efforts within the state of WV, regionally, nationally, and even globally; these projects being developed include, but are not limited to, providing scholarships to students pursing fields of science aligned with the ZSWV mission, environmental cleanup missions locally and beyond, educational opportunities for all ages focusing on wildlife and environmental conservation, benefit events to further the protection of our local flora and fauna, and so much more! It is the mission of the ZSWV to cultivate relationships with our local educational institutions to provide all ages with an opportunity to learn about animals and how they interact with the environment. This is only a snapshot of what the Zoological Society of West Virginia plans to do. We welcome suggestions from our community to make sure that our private organization is recognized as truly a community program!  

YES! The Zoological Society of West Virginia is classified as a tax-exempt charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code

No.

The Zoological Society of West Virginia has no "owner". Andy McKee is the CEO of the Huntington Zoo & Aquarium and only the Incorporator of the Zoological Society of West Virginia. Mr. McKee created the Zoological Society of West Virginia for the sole purpose of not being in any sort of governing power, which is why our Board of Directors now exists. Mr. McKee does not sit on the Board of Directors, he does not have a voting right to which projects are greenlit, how much and where funds raised are dispersed, and does not have access to any of the financial accounts that are completely separate from the Huntington Zoo & Aquarium. In fact, Mr. McKee, with the future Huntington Zoo & Aquarium, has pledged a generous percentage of the revenue generated back into the Zoological Society with instructions that his donations are not to be used towards the Zoo & Aquarium, but to fund other projects within the Society such as scholarship opportunities, program financial aid, conservation projects, playgrounds, wetlands conservation efforts, etc. 

The ZSWV is, however, a strategic partner with the future Huntington Zoo & Aquarium and will continue to raise money to contribute to this fantastic project in the name of inspiring wildlife and environmental conservation through education among our other initiatives.  In addition to assisting the future Zoo & Aquarium, the ZSWV will continue to flesh out multiple other community-driven initiatives to better our region and our state. The Board of Directors ensures that not one person or entity profits from the generous contributions of our community, which again, is the sole reason Mr. McKee created the Zoological Society of West Virginia - to ensure that there would never be any hints of impropriety and/or bias. 

No. Not at all.

While a portion of our fundraising efforts have been earmarked to support the future Huntington Zoo & Aquarium, the ZSWV's contributions are not meant to be the sole funding source for the project. The Zoological Society has the ability to search and apply for grants that will further Zoological and conservational research that may align with the future Zoo & Aquarium, but dispersal of any and all capital raised is voted on by our Board of Directors to ensure there is no bias and there is a level of transparency with our donors. 

The vast majority of all major Zoos & Aquariums in the US all have non-profit Zoological Societies as strategic partners, regardless if they are for-profit or non-profit Zoological facilities. Each of these Zoological Societies rely on fundraising, grants, and other generous donations from local, State, and Federal funding sources to further their mission and to fund their respective Zoo's projects - this is no different than what the Zoological Society of West Virginia is trying to accomplish. Where we ARE much different is in the fact that we are so new! Some may look as this as a problem, we view this as an opportunity to do things right from the very beginning!

The Cincinnati Zoo opened in 1875; the National Zoo in 1891; the Columbus Zoo in 1927 - very few Zoological Parks and Aquariums have been built from the ground up as a grassroots campaign within the last 75+ years.  To the Zoological Society of West Virginia, we view this as an exciting opportunity to utilize new science, new technology, new infrastructure, and current data to bring new areas of industry to our region, but most importantly, doing it the right way from the start!