California › Arts, entertainment and recreation › 1,000 to 4,999 participants
Form 5500 statement · plan year 1 Jan 2024 to 31 Dec 2024
Zoological Society of San Diego Restated Pension Plan for Non-Union Employees
Sponsored by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, San Diego, CA
Form 5500 information is as filed by the plan administrator with the Department of Labor and may be amended. Figures reflect the plan year shown, not current balances. Form 5500 contains no individual account balances. Look up the original filing at EFAST2.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance of San Diego, California sponsors Zoological Society of San Diego Restated Pension Plan for Non-Union Employees, a cash balance pension plan. Its Form 5500 for the plan year ending 31 Dec 2024 shows 1,051 participants (495 active) and $108M in net assets.
Net assets came to $102,826 per participant, above the $87,935 median for defined benefit plans with 1,000 to 4,999 participants and close to the $98,070 median for defined benefit plans in arts, entertainment and recreation. The figure is an average across everyone in the plan, including former employees with small balances; Form 5500 holds no individual account data.
Employer contributions were $900K for the year ($1,818 per active participant) and benefits paid were $11.2M. In a defined benefit plan the employer's contribution follows funding rules rather than a match formula, so it can swing widely from year to year.
Schedule C lists 4 service provider organisations paid $5,000 or more, with reported compensation of $490K: $466 per participant, well above the same-size median of $325. Administrative expenses charged to the plan were $1.4M. Schedule C does not capture every cost: fees netted from fund returns and fees the employer pays directly are outside it.
Across the filings on record, net assets went from $41.3M in 2009 to $108M in 2024 (up 162%), and participants from 1,066 to 1,051 (down 1%).
The independent accountant's opinion on the financial statements was unmodified (unqualified), from an audit whose scope was limited under ERISA section 103(a)(3)(C) to exclude investment information certified by a bank or insurer.
Compared with similar plans
| Measure | This plan | Same size | Same industry | All US DB plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $102,826 | $87,935 | $98,070 | $86,221 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,818 | $10,593 | $8,284 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $466 | $325 | $440 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.45% | 0.41% | 0.49% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $1,329 | $513 | $715 | $527 |
Peer columns are medians for plan year 2024 across defined benefit plans with 100 or more participants: 1,000 to 4,999 participants (1,540 plans), arts, entertainment and recreation (119) and all US plans (5,308). Fee medians cover plans that report an amount.
Trend by plan year
| Plan year | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer contributions | Participant contributions | Schedule C compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,051 | $108M | $102,826 | $900K | $0 | $490K |
| 2023 | 1,153 | $113M | $97,817 | $0 | $0 | $319K |
| 2022 | 1,186 | $113M | $95,483 | — | — | $122K |
| 2021 | 1,238 | $142M | $114,628 | $8.0M | $0 | $199K |
| 2020 | 1,292 | $142M | $109,860 | $4.0M | — | $336K |
| 2019 | 1,251 | $133M | $106,352 | $12.4M | — | $341K |
| 2018 | 1,137 | $102M | $89,623 | $6.5M | — | $341K |
| 2017 | 1,232 | $115M | $93,186 | $4.9M | — | $309K |
| 2016 | 1,176 | $96.6M | $82,145 | $8.0M | — | $257K |
| 2015 | 1,146 | $82.0M | $71,537 | $5.0M | — | $272K |
| 2014 | 1,260 | $86.6M | $68,714 | $2.9M | — | $391K |
| 2013 | 1,221 | $81.1M | $66,446 | $7.9M | — | $437K |
| 2012 | 1,185 | $63.1M | $53,223 | $900K | — | $356K |
| 2011 | 1,144 | $55.4M | $48,412 | $10.0M | — | $317K |
| 2010 | 1,109 | $48.1M | $43,410 | $3.0M | — | $231K |
| 2009 | 1,066 | $41.3M | $38,710 | $7.1M | — | $208K |
Years in which the plan filed the full Form 5500 with 100 or more participants, from 2009. Plan year is the year in which the plan year began.
Statement for the year
- Net assets, beginning of year$112,782,896
- Employer contributions$900,000
- Participant contributions$0
- Rollovers and other contributions$0
- Total contributions$900,000
- Total income, including investment results$7,896,656
- Benefits paid$11,212,016
- Administrative expenses$1,397,044
- Total expenses$12,609,060
- Net income−$4,712,404
- Net transfers$0
- Net assets, end of year$108,070,492
Participants
- Active participants495
- Retired or separated, receiving benefits225
- Retired or separated, entitled to future benefits317
- Total participants, end of year1,051
Fees and service providers
| Organisation | Services reported | Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|---|---|
| McGriff, a Marsh & McLennan Compnay | Actuarial | $256,574 | $0 |
| U.S. Bank National Association | Trustee (bank, trust company, or similar financial institution); Trustee (directed); Investment management; Investment advisory (plan) | $119,328 | $0 |
| MetLife Investment Management | Investment advisory (plan) | $93,890 | $0 |
| BlackRock Institutional Trust Co. | Trustee (bank, trust company, or similar financial institution); Trustee (discretionary); Investment management | $19,840 | $0 |
Schedule C, Part I line 2: providers that received $5,000 or more, with the form's own service codes. Individuals named on Schedule C (plan employees, individual trustees) are never shown and their compensation is excluded. Eligible indirect compensation disclosed by formula carries no dollar amount. See how to read Schedule C fees.
Administrative expenses on Schedule H
- Other administrative expenses$907,411
- Actuarial fees$256,574
- Investment advisory and management fees$151,231
- Trustee and custodial fees$81,828
- Total administrative expenses$1,397,044
Investment structure
Assets at year end by Schedule H category. The form shows the kind of vehicle holding the money, not the funds on the menu.
- Common/collective trusts$54.1M · 50.1%
- Corporate debt instruments$38.1M · 35.3%
- U.S. Government securities$11.2M · 10.4%
- Cash (interest and non-interest bearing)$2.6M · 2.4%
- Receivables$1.7M · 1.5%
- Other investments$335K · 0.3%
- Partnership/joint venture interests$58K · 0.1%
Audit and compliance answers, as filed
- Accountant's opinionUnmodified (unqualified)
- Audit scope limited under ERISA section 103(a)(3)(C)Yes
- Accounting firmCohnreznick
- Participant contributions reported as transmitted lateNo
- Covered by a fidelity bondYes, $500,000
- Blackout period during the year—
These are the plan administrator's own answers on Schedule H, Part IV. A reported late transmittal is the filer's disclosure of a timing lapse, usually corrected through the Department of Labor's voluntary program; the amount is the total involved, not a loss.
Plan characteristics
1ABenefits are primarily pay related1CCash balance or similar plan1IFrozen plan
Codes entered on Form 5500 line 8a, with the labels from the official instructions. Business code 712100: Museums, Historical Sites, & Similar Institutions.
Other plans of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
| Plan | Participants | Net assets |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance 403(b) Plan | 3,539 | $186M |
| Zoological Society of San Diego Restated Pension Plan for Union Employees | 1,590 | $97.8M |
Similar plans in California
| Plan | Sponsor | Participants | Net assets | Per participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego County Theatrical Pension Plan | Board of Trustees, San Diego County Theatrical | 1,074 | $63.1M | $58,718 |
| Major League Baseball Pension Plan for Non-Uniformed Personnel | Los Angeles Dodgers LLC | 853 | $80.4M | $94,281 |
| Zoological Society of San Diego Restated Pension Plan for Union Employees | San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance | 1,590 | $97.8M | $61,492 |
| Major League Baseball Pension Plan for Non-Uniformed Personnel | San Francisco Baseball Associates LLC | 832 | $104M | $124,865 |
| I.A.T.S.E. Local No. 33 Pension Trust Fund | Board of Trustees, I.A.T.S.E. Local No. 33 Pension | 2,270 | $231M | $101,763 |
| Major League Baseball Pension Plan for Non-Uniformed Personnel | Padres, LP | 628 | $41.2M | $65,539 |
Defined benefit plans in arts, entertainment and recreation closest in size.
Questions and answers
How big is Zoological Society of San Diego Restated Pension Plan for Non-Union Employees?
1,051 participants at the end of the plan year ending 31 Dec 2024, of whom 495 were active employees, with net assets of $108,070,492. Among defined benefit plans that places it in the 1,000 to 4,999 participants band, which held 1,540 plans in plan year 2024.
What does San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance contribute per participant?
The filing reports $900,000 in employer contributions for the year, which is $1,818 per active participant; the median for plans of the same type and size was $10,593 in plan year 2024. Form 5500 reports the total only. It does not state the match formula, and the per-participant figure is an average, not any one person's contribution.
What fees does the plan pay and how do they compare?
Schedule C reports $489,632 in compensation to service provider organisations, $466 per participant or 0.45% of net assets. The same-size median among plans reporting any Schedule C compensation was $325 per participant. Administrative expenses on Schedule H were $1,397,044. Investment costs deducted inside mutual funds and other pooled vehicles are not itemised on Form 5500, so these figures are a floor rather than a full cost.
Who runs the plan?
The sponsor is San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Investment advisory or management: U.S. Bank National Association, MetLife Investment Management and BlackRock Institutional Trust Co.. Trustee or custodian: U.S. Bank National Association and BlackRock Institutional Trust Co.. The financial statements were audited by Cohnreznick. Form 5500 also names the plan administrator's signer and other individuals; this site publishes organisations only.
Was the audit opinion unqualified?
The filing reports an unmodified (unqualified) opinion from a limited-scope audit, in which the accountant did not audit investment information certified by a bank or insurance company. Unmodified (formerly "unqualified") is the standard clean opinion.
How current is this, and does it show my balance?
This is the Form 5500 for the plan year 1 Jan 2024 to 31 Dec 2024, received by the Department of Labor on 8 Oct 2025. Filings are due seven months after the plan year ends, or nine and a half with an extension, so the public record always runs a year or more behind. It contains plan-level totals only: no individual balances, contributions or names of participants exist in the data.
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Form 5500 research files (Form 5500, Schedule H, Schedule C) for plan years 2009 to 2025, public domain, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. This page shows the latest filing on record for EIN 95-1648219, plan 001, received 8 Oct 2025; an amended filing replaces it at the next build. Medians and percentiles are computed by this site; see the methodology. Report an error through corrections.