From Survival to Sustainability: A case study of the Rotterdam Zoo

How do you ensure that your nonprofit organization (NPO)’s dependency on funding does not get in the way of its mission? How do you predict what will happen to the NPO’s financial position with reasonable certainty? How can you create a resilient and sustainable funding portfolio for the short and longer run? How do you identify potential areas for fundraising? And how to ensure that your NPO stays relatively independent from its different sponsors? This case presents the challenges the Rotterdam Zoo faced in relation to the questions posed above. The Rotterdam Zoo enjoyed a stable income stream from visitors and the municipality for about 20 years. However, to have only one substantial additional source of income next to fees for service made the zoo vulnerable. When the Rotterdam municipality decided to drastically cut subsidies to the zoo, the zoo had no alternative funders to turn to. Apart from that, the zoo had limited experience and contacts for attracting donors, foundation money, or corporate sponsorship. If the zoo wanted to maintain its nonprofit mission, additional income above the fees for service, would be needed now and in the future.