COSLEY FOUNDATION INC
EIN 36-3461739 · Arts, Culture & Humanities (A50I)
What they do
THE COSLEY FOUNDATION ENGAGES IN FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES to BENEFIT THE COSLEY ZOO, AN AZA-ACCREDITED SMALL ZOO WHOLLY OWNED and OPERATED BY THE WHEATON PARK DISTRICT IN WHEATON, IL. THE FOUNDATION RAISES FUNDS VIA DONOR DEVELOPMENT of INDIVIDUALS and FOUNDATIONS, and ALSO HOLDS COMMUNITY-CENTRIC EVENTS SUCH AS CHRISTMAS TREE SALES,A 5K/10K RUN for THE ANIMALS, THE MIKE WILLIAMS COSLEY CLASSIC GOLF TOURNAMENT, and FALL PUMPKIN SALES. THE COSLEY FOUNDATION BOARD is COMPRISED of VOLUNTEER BOARD MEMBERS WHO SERVE AS ADVOCATES for THE COSLEY ZOO WITHIN THE DUPAGE COUNTY COMMUNITY (CHICAGO SUBURBS); BOARD MEMBERS ALSO PROVIDE FISCALLY SOUND STRATEGIC COUNSEL PERTAINING to THE ZOOS CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT and OTHER POLICIES and PROGRAMS. THE COSLEY FOUNDATION WHOLLY SUPPORTS THE COSLEY ZOOS MISSION: to CREATE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE and ANIMALS THAT WILL INSPIRE LIFELONG CONSERVATION of THE NATURAL WORLD. THE ZOO PURSUES ITS MISSION VIA WORLD-CLASS ANIMAL WELFARE, SCIENCE-BASED CONSERVATION IN
Should I give to this charity?
Of every $100 spent, about $82.00 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.
Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.
Basic facts we verified
IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.
Money report from 2025The charity has a recent tax report to read.
They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.
They name their leaders12 people are listed in the latest report.
You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.
Money made simple
Ask these three easy questions
- Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
- What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
- Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.
Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $702,769 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.
Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $26,116 for MICHAEL J BENARD (SECRETARY). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.
Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.
Financial picture
A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.
How each $100 of revenue was used
The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.
Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.
Has the pattern changed?
Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.
Money in and money out
Reported spending amounts
Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.
See all reported dollar amounts
Leadership and board
Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.
People reported as paid
Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.
See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (12)
MICHAEL J BENARDSECRETARY
ASHLEY RABATICDIRECTOR
FRANK MOSCARDINI JRDIRECTOR
JENNIFER CLARKPRESIDENT
JULIE MURPHYDIRECTOR
MATT SZAFRANSKIPAST PRESIDE
MIKE GUSTAFSONDIRECTOR
PAUL BECKERTREASURER
PHYLLIS GEYERDIRECTOR
RACHEL ITTNERDIRECTOR
SARAH TRAISMANDIRECTOR
SUSAN VARCAKDIRECTOR
About this charity
- Recognized since
- January 1986
- Location
- 102 E WESLEY ST, WHEATON, IL 60187-5321
- County
- DuPage
- In care of
- MICHAEL J BENARD
- Primary officer
- MICHAEL J BENARD, SECRETARY
How to reach them
Filing and classification
- Latest tax year
- 2025
- Tax period began
- January 1, 2025
- Return type
- 990
- Tax preparer
- LAUTERBACH & AMEN LLP
- NTEE classification
- Arts, Culture & Humanities (A50I)
- IRS tax category
- Other Grantmaking and Giving Services
- Grant-giving organization
- Yes