Zoos & Aquariums
Strategic Planning that Honors Your Mission—and Fuels Your Future
At Monumental Strides, we love working with zoos and aquariums because you inspire wonder, foster conservation, and connect communities to the natural world. Whether you're a small community gem or a large destination zoo, we build planning processes that reflect your values and unlock your potential.
From master plan alignment to stakeholder buy-in to funding-ready strategies, we help you clarify where you're going and how to get there—with confidence and impact.
Our Services
Smaller Zoos and Aquariums
Ideal for: Institutions with <150,000 annual attendance and budgets under $2M
We help you:
✔ Define a bold, inspiring 10-year vision
✔ Build a 3–5-year strategic plan that supports growth across operations, programs, facilities, and fundraising
✔ Align your strategic and master plans for accreditation success
✔ Make the case for donor and community investment
Estimated Investment:
$30K–$50K (Year 1)
$5K–$10K/year for Annual Support
Larger Zoos and Aquariums
Ideal for: Institutions with 500,000+ annual attendance and budgets over $50M
We help you:
✔ Facilitate deep stakeholder engagement across departments and leadership
✔ Set a shared vision and strategic roadmap that aligns your team and master plan
✔ Build data-informed priorities and business plans for implementation
✔ Support fundraising, capital campaign strategy, and board development
Estimated Investment:
$65K–$90K (Year 1)
$25K–$40K/year for Ongoing Support
Why Work With Us?
We understand the unique balance zoos and aquariums manage every day—animal care, guest experience, education, conservation, team culture, and financial sustainability. We tailor every plan to your reality, whether you’re city-owned, nonprofit-supported, or somewhere in between.
Our process helps you focus, rally support, and take meaningful, measurable steps forward.
Define a Bold, Clear Vision
Your team must understand what long-term success looks like and how to achieve it.
Create an Actionable Plan
Like constructing a new exhibit, your vision requires a detailed plan, the right team to execute it, and the necessary resources to bring it to life.
Align All Planning Efforts
Your strategic plan should guide every planning initiative—master planning, business planning, marketing, conservation, and development—so they all work together to achieve your vision.
Stay Focused & On Track
Prioritizing and regularly assessing progress are critical to ensure you're headed in the right direction and achieving impactful results.
Tackling Strategic Planning and Master Planning?
We’ve got you covered! Monumental Strides partners with Felis Consulting, a design firm specializing in zoos and aquariums, to ensure your plans for growth align seamlessly and drive your organization toward lasting success.
Who Do We Work With?
