Primate Forest
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Thoughtful Leadership Through Major Transformation at the Zoo
Posted on Monday, April 27th, 2026
Zoo Society CEO Sarah Crupi was recently featured in Currents' “Women Making a Difference” issue – read the article below!
Philanthropy catalyzes excellence at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, and the non-profit Cleveland Zoological Society is currently fundraising for the largest-ever capital improvement project in Zoo history. Primate Forest will reimagine the Zoo experience in ways yet to be seen in North America and bolster the Zoo and the communities it serves for decades to come. Raising the needed philanthropic dollars is a monumental undertaking that requires a tenacious staff, a dedicated Board of Directors, and a forward-thinking leader, and CEO Sarah Crupi is guiding the Zoo Society through this historic campaign with joy and shrewd focus – and breaking fundraising records along the way.
Crupi’s journalistic curiosity and out-of-the-box thinking has yielded new relationships in the donor community and shaped fresh approaches to supporting Primate Forest. She has built a philanthropy team with a range of expertise in seeking grant money, foundational support, corporate contributions, and individual gifts, and in 2025 they raised more than $20 million in support of the Zoo’s projects and programs. This represents the highest dollar amount raised by the Zoo Society in its history, and there is still more to accomplish.
Despite these ambitious goals, Crupi prioritizes work-life balance for her team and works to ensure that the Zoo Society provides robust benefits to support their well-being. Positive workplace culture is also non-negotiable, with regular opportunities to connect with colleagues and pursue professional development.
Under Crupi’s leadership, the Zoo Society Board of Directors has achieved 100% annual giving, significantly increased annual philanthropic revenue, and deepened trustee engagement through new standing committees and an annual Board orientation, retreat, and mentorship program.
“Sarah is the kind of leader every non-profit hopes for at a transformational moment,” said Zoo Society Board of Directors Chair Lawrence Hatch. “She pairs bold vision with disciplined execution, and her ability to inspire donors, engage our Board, and build a high-performing team has positioned this organization, and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, for generational impact.”
As the opening of the first phase of Primate Forest approaches, the Zoo Society is celebrating the generosity of its donors while also actively fundraising to complete the vision of the project. Amid the rigors of this massive campaign – along with the annual fundraising the Zoo Society does to support Zoo operations and programs – Crupi remains people-focused and unified with donors, Board, and staff as well as her collaborators at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. With this ability to balance keen strategic thinking and genuine relationship building, Crupi is deftly guiding the Zoo Society into a new era.
Originally published in Currents, March 2026