Special Pass Membership Eligibility

Special Pass Memberships can be used any day of the week, as long as your membership is active for the 2023 season.

2023 applications are now available! A new application is required to be submitted for new applicants as well as renewing accounts.

Active Special Passes are able to be used through December 31. A renewal is required for the next season. Please see below for renewal information.

Special Pass memberships are provided to non-profit agencies meeting Omaha’s Zoo and Aquarium criteria. To be eligible for a Special Pass Membership, your organization or facility must meet all of the following standards:

• Organization or facility must be located in the state of Nebraska or Iowa.
• Organization or facility must be a non-profit organization with a Federal non-profit tax ID number.
• Organization or facility must provide services specifically for populations that typically cannot afford a personal trip to the Zoo due to physical, financial or other demonstrated restrictions.
  • Programs or services should be provided specifically for one or more of the following populations:
    • Special Needs Adults (over 18 years)
    • Special Needs Children (under 18 years)
    • Healthcare Patients of a Hospital or Other Medical Care Provider
    • Family Housing Group Residents
    • Foster Care Families and Children
    • Poverty-Stricken Families and Children
    • At-Risk Children and Adults
    • Residents of a Non-Profit Elderly Care Facility
    • Or Other Demonstrated Underserved Groups                      
• Organization or facility must promote local community access initiatives to its participants.
• Organization or facility can describe how the Zoo membership will be used with constituents to advance the organization’s service mission and show that visiting the Zoo directly enhances or supports its mission.
• Organization or facility must have a website and mission statement that match the standards above.

Groups that Do Not Qualify for a Special Pass

• For-Profit Organizations
• Politically Affiliated Organizations
• Formal Education Programs (example: 7^th Grade class trip to the Zoo)
• Employee Benefit Programs
• Library Programs
• Day Cares, After-School Clubs, YMCA, Church Youth Groups or similar programs that serve generic youth populations
  • Groups like those listed in the above bullet point or that serve generic youth populations should visit www.omahazoo.com/field-trips to request a discount for school group field trip pricing.
• Special Pass Memberships are NOT offered as donations for local fundraisers or as gifts to individuals.

To apply for or renew a Special Pass Membership for the 2023 season, please click the button below.

2023 Special Pass Application

Please Note: Special Passes are NOT offered as donations to local fundraisers. Please see the Donations section below. 

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is happy to support community organizations. As a non-profit, our mission is to inspire, educate and engage people to serve as lifelong stewards for the conservation of animals and their habitats.

As of April 2018, only requests for fundraisers in Nebraska and Iowa will be accepted. Community donation requests will only be accepted if the donation will be used to directly raise funds for an organization.

Requests that would qualify:

• School fundraisers
• Animal related events and fundraisers
• Community fundraisers for local hospitals, volunteer fire and EMT departments and summer reading programs through local libraries
• Medical expenses fundraisers for individuals who are suffering from cancer, an accident, etc.
• American Cancer Society, Red Cross or America Heart Association fundraisers
• 501C3 non-profit organizations: a staff member from the organization must submit the donation request
• Donation requests must be received at least 3 weeks prior to the fundraiser

Requests that would not qualify:

• Disqualifying Event
  • Music programs
  • Sports programs
  • Monetary donations
  • Field trip fundraisers
  • Construction projects
  • Programs fundraising to attend a competition/conference/camp/pay for travel expenses
  • Political fundraisers
  • Church fundraisers or events
  • Multiple donations to an organization within the same year
  • Events located outside of Nebraska or Iowa
  • Donation request submitted less than 3 weeks prior to the event date
• Disqualifying Use
  • Door prizes
  • Raffle prizes in which attendees do not pay for a raffle ticket
  • Post prom prizes
  • General giveaways without funds being raised
  • Donation requests submitted more than 3 months from event date. 
    • Donated tickets automatically have a one year expiration from the date they are printed. Please submit your request closer to your event date (less than 3 months, but more than 3 weeks prior).

Should you qualify for a community donation, in continuation with our conservation efforts, we ask that you submit your request online via the link below. Emailed, mailed or phone call requests will not be accepted. 

Apply for a Community Donation

Please contact donations@omahazoo.com with any questions.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium has partnered with local wish granting organizations to accommodate individuals of all ages. If you or someone you know would like to request a special Zoo experience, please contact one of the following organizations directly:

Dreamweaver Foundation
Dreamweaver Foundation serves terminally ill seniors by providing them with an incredible experience.

Make-A-Wish Nebraska
Make-A-Wish grants the one true wish of children age 2½-18 diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. The Zoo works through this local chapter on the wishes of kids throughout the US.

Memories for Kids
Memories for Kids focuses on creating a memory for the children of a parent with stage IV or terminal cancer.