$32,612 raised by 148 donors
54% complete
$60,000 Goal
About Friends of the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary
The Friends of the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary (FFZS) was incorporated in 1981 as a 501(c)3. Our mission is to preserve and enhance a city treasure by assisting in enriching the lives of the animals living at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary. Our long-term goal is to enable the zoo sanctuary to be self-sustaining for future generations by reducing dependency on City funding.
FFZS, operated by a volunteer Board of Directors, cultivates and manages an endowment fund that benefits the zoo sanctuary (a little over $1 million in the past decade). This financial support includes funding toward annual general expenses as well as contributions including but not limited to animal habitat enhancements, animal enrichments, and animal and zookeeper training. i
In addition to providing significant financial support over the past 43 years, FFZS members, primarily through the docent program, contribute more than 7,000 hours a year in volunteer time to enhance the lives of our animal residents and educate the public.
To learn more about how you can get involved, visit our website at folsomzoofriends.org
About The Folsom Zoo Sanctuary
The Folsom Zoo Sanctuary, established in 1963, houses animals that were orphaned before learning how to provide for themselves in the wild, injured and unable to fend for themselves, or confiscated as illegal pets. The majority of the Zoo residents (approximately 60%) are native North American species, with an emphasis on our local habitat like the American River Parkway where raccoons, hawks, bobcats, and mountain lions live. Approximately 20% of the residents are domesticated, such as our horses, donkeys, and Zebu. Finally, about 20% are exotic, such as our primates, macaws, parrots and serval. Animals living at the Sanctuary are treated with loving kindness and care. Their names and histories are shared with the visitors as teaching stories.
The Sanctuary and its volunteers offer programs designed to help individuals, schools, and families of all ages and abilities learn through experience, involvement, and discovery.
The mission of the Friends of the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary is to enrich and enhance the lives of the animals living at the sanctuary through funding special needs, creating partnerships, supporting educational activities, and sponsoring special events.
Animal well-being is an essential component of zoo sanctuary management. The Friends are committed to helping the zoo sanctuary provide for the habitat and medical needs of our residents. On-site veterinary care has been provided in an old and failing trailer from the 1960s. The Folsom Zoo Friends launched a fundraising campaign to replace it in November 2025. Thanks to generous donations, we have raised enough to purchase and install a small vet building. We are now seeking additional support to fully equip the building with necessary interior finishes and medical tools, to significantly improve the care of our precious residents need. Specific needs are:
*Mobile x-ray generator and software - $46,000
*X-ray table - $4,500
*Veterinary exam and grooming table with appropriate plumbing - $4,000
*Additional shelving, worktable, scrub sink and rolling stools - $2,000
*Computer and work station, and upgraded server for internet connectivity - $2,000
This equipment and other enhancements will greatly reduce costs for veterinary care by keeping procedures on site, and will be less stressful for our residents.
The Friends of the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary celebrates the richness of our community by welcoming all who live and visit the City of Folsom. The Sanctuary is a safe space where discrimination, biases, harassment, or bullying of any kind is not tolerated.
Organization name
Friends of the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary
other names
FFZS, The Friends, Friends of Folsom Zoo, Inc.
1981
Mission Category
Animal Related
Operating Budget
$0-$50,000
Organization Need
Funding: Program, Board Members
Demographics Served
Animals, General population
Local Counties Served
Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado
Address
403 Stafford StFolsom, CA, US
Sacramento, CA, US
El Dorado, CA, US
Elk Grove, CA, US
Roseville, CA, US