Donors to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium aren’t just special, they’re the bread and butter of our animal care, education and conservation efforts in our community and beyond.


We’ve created new gift recognition societies, Keepers Club and our premiere leadership giving society, Colo Society, to properly recognize and celebrate these donors for their enormous impact on the animals they love.

Year-long complimentary admission is our favorite way of thanking our gift recognition society donors, who receive admission cards in the mail and are encouraged to visit year-round to see the breadth and depth of positive impact they’re making at the Zoo. Along with free admission, gift recognition society donors receive invitations to special events and a staff contact person to answer questions and help plan visits.

Gifts to Keepers Club and Colo Society are 100% tax deductible and directly fund the Zoo’s mission work: animal care, conservation, and education.

Colo Society

Connect People and Wildlife

Donors of this level, our highest recognition level of individual gifts, fund the Zoo’s signature programs like our western lowland gorilla breeding and care, which is noted worldwide for its contributions to knowledge about the species and stemmed from the world’s first gorilla born in human care and longest-living individual, Colo. Our society bears her name to recognize that donors of this caliber are as transformational to the Zoo as Colo was.

Join Colo Society

Graphic showing Colo the gorilla holding a rope, with a jungle backdrop on a green gradient, with the words, "COLO SOCIETY – Help secure a better world for animals"

Colo Society donors receive special attention in the form of designated staff liaisons to better connect them to programs, animals and special events that inspire them.

Keepers Club $500

Lead and Inspire

Donors at this level impact programs like wildlife conservation through the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership that has saved and returned more than 25 manatees to Florida waters to date.

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Keepers Club $750

Lead and Inspire

Donors at this level fund breakthrough improvements like our new pachyderm building sandpits and feeding haynets that maintain our level of excellence in animal care.

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If you would like more information on being recognized in Keepers Club or Colo Society, please call us at 614-724-3421 or email us at [email protected].