60 Morgan Road

Binghamton, NY 13903

(607) 724-5461 x 300

Gift Shop Phone

10 AM - 4 PM

7 Days a Week *Last Admission 3pm

Ways to Give

December is Porcupine Month!

During December, we are highlighting our Coendou, prehensile-tailed porcupines, Zoey and Basil.  In the wild you can find these porcupines in the rainforests of South America.  Here at the Ross Park Zoo you can visit them in our New World Tropics building where their habitat is sponsored by our friends at Summit Chase Apartment Homes. 

In the wild, they feast largely on buds, fruits, roots, stems, leaves, blossoms and unripened seeds.  At the zoo, Zoey and Basil enjoy yams, carrots, apples, pears, greens, and leaf-eater biscuits.

Your contribution to our Animal Care Fund is crucial. It will directly help cover the expenses for providing enrichment, food, and veterinary care for the animals who call the Ross Park Zoo home, like Zoey and Basil our Prehensile-Tailed Porcupines.

Create your own fundraiser for your favorite Ross Park Zoo animal!

Create your own peer-to-peer fundraiser today and support your favorite Ross Park Zoo animal! Your fundraiser will directly contribute to the well-being of your chosen animal at Ross Park Zoo by providing essential resources, medical care, and engaging enrichment activities. Click the link below to start your fundraiser and help us create a nurturing environment where our animals thrive and inspire visitors. (Please note: You will create an account or login if you already have an account to create your fundraiser). 

Pay it Forward

We are affording the opportunity for more families to visit the zoo with our new “Pay it Forward” admission wall located in the Zoovenirs Gift Shop.

Here’s how you can help: Your donation of $9 provides zoo admission to a neighbor who otherwise would not be able to afford a day filled with inspiration and happy memories.

You can make your donation by filling out the form linked below, during your visit to the Zoovenirs Gift shop, or mail your contribution, marked “Pay It Forward” to:

Ross Park Zoo
185 Park Avenue
Binghamton, NY 13903

Wish Lists

The Ross Park Zoo’s wish lists are our shopping lists of items needed to keep our animals happy and healthy. Choose from our general lists, or pick out a special enrichment item for the animals! We’ve set up our list through Amazon to make your shopping easier.

Give Online

Support the Ross Park Zoo’s daily operating costs by making an online donation today! Donations go into our general fund, and go a long way to helping us provide an educational and recreational facility for all to enjoy.

To become a member of our 1875 club, simply click “Donate Now” below and then select donate monthly from the option. Thank you for your support!


Facebook Fundraisers

Whether you have an upcoming birthday or it’s Giving Tuesday, Facebook Fundraisers are an easy way to support the Ross Park Zoo! Start fundraising today and 100% of donations collected for the zoo on Facebook come back to support our mission.


Give While You Sell

Donate 10% or more of your eBay listing and your item will feature an attention-grabbing charity ribbon! Support the zoo by selecting “Southern Tier Zoological Society” as your eBay charity of choice and reduce your seller fees and enjoy tax savings on your eBay listings!

Red Panda Society

The Red Panda Society, our premier membership, was created to foster an appreciation and dedication within our community for the Ross Park Zoo. Through annual giving, members of the Red Panda Society will be supporting the animal care, conservation, and education programs that our zoological facility offers to our surrounding communities.

The Red Panda Society will play a critical role in the future of the Ross Park Zoo. These members, the zoo’s most dedicated and visionary supporters, will have a role in the vitality and progression of the zoo to make sure it is successful for future generations. We thank you for sharing your love of conservation and wildlife education with us!

Red Panda Society Membership Benefits

• Free admission to the Ross Park Zoo for (2) named adults
• Free admission for children or grandchildren under 18 in the household
• Opportunity to add (1) named caregiver to the membership (non-reciprocal)
• Invitation to hospitality area during member appreciation events
• Invitation to Ross Park Zoo Annual Meeting
• 10% discount on all merchandise in our Zoovenir’s Gift Shop
• Monthly Ross Park Zoo email updates
• Bridge connection: Admission to Discovery Center, Roberson Museum, Kopernik Observatory & Phelps Mansion Museum for a reduced rate
• Free or reduced admission to participating reciprocal zoos, aquariums & gardens in the United States

Membership Levels

(2) additional guests each visit, (8) tickets to special events of your choice, (4) complimentary Ross Park Zoo one-day passes to bring a friend

Giving Level
$500.00 – $999.00

(4) additional guests each visit, (8) tickets to special events of your choice, (8) complimentary Ross Park Zoo one-day passes to bring a friend, behind the scenes Wild Encounter for up to (3) people

Giving Level
$1,000.00 – $2,499.00

(4) additional guests each visit, (12) tickets to special events of your choice, (12) complimentary Ross Park Zoo one-day passes to bring a friend, behind the scenes Wild Encounter for up to (3) people

Giving Level
$2,500.00 – $4,999.00

(4) additional guests each visit, (12) tickets to special events of your choice, (16) complimentary Ross Park Zoo one-day passes to bring a friend, behind the scenes Wild Encounter for up to (3) people

Giving Level
$5,000.00 – $9,999.00

(4) additional guests each visit, (12) tickets to special events of your choice, (20) complimentary Ross Park Zoo one-day passes to bring a friend, behind the scenes Wild Encounter for up to (3) people, complimentary use of the Ross Park pavilions and/or the Ross Park Amphitheater for (1) private function

Giving Level
$10,000.00+

Membership Form

Join our leadership giving program by making a contribution online, or download the Red Panda Society membership form and mail to:

Ross Park Zoo
Attn: Membership
185 Park Ave
Binghamton, NY 13903

Planned Giving

Leave a gift through your will or estate to make the Ross Park Zoo part of your legacy. Wills, trusts, and estate plans are all excellent ways to make a lasting gift and help the future of America’s fifth Zoo. A planned gift demonstrates your support for our institution and helps provide stability and security as we move toward a brighter future.

Start Planning Today

• Create a legacy gift through your will
• Set up a trust that benefits the Ross Park Zoo
• Provide gifts of real estate or other assets
• Name the Ross Park Zoo in a new or existing life insurance policy
• Transfer retirement accounts, IRAs, and 401(k) plans

We strongly advise anyone considering a gift to the Ross Park Zoo to consult their own legal or financial advisors when selecting the giving opportunity that best expresses their generosity.

When name the Ross Park Zoo in your planned gift, please note our legal name is the Southern Tier Zoological Society, Inc. and our federal EIN is 16-6071439.

For more information on creating your legacy gift please contact Phillip Ginter, Executive Director at (607) 724-5461 x.150.