The news comes after an online crowdfunding appeal to raise £1.6m for Dartmoor Zoo in Devon closed on Monday after raising nearly £340,000.
Director Ben Mee said the gaining of the new status meant the zoo's future was "as secure as it has ever been".
Launching the appeal last month, Mr Mee said becoming a charity that focused on research meant it could apply for grants.
The zoo launched its crowdfunding appeal as part of moves to become a charity and also to avoid job cuts.
It raised £339,930 from 745 backers in its 35-day appeal, which closed on Monday morning.
Crowdfunding backers included people pledging private donations, and Plymouth University also said it would provide £2,000 of match funding.
Launching its appeal, the zoo said: "Two global recessions and five of the wettest English summers on record have shown that this zoo needs to shift its centre of gravity from dependence on seasonal tourists towards becoming a charity focusing on research and education."
Dartmoor Zoo
1968: Opened as Dartmoor Wildlife Park
2006: Bought by Mee family for £1.1m
2011: We Bought a Zoo released starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson
2014: Gains charity status
Employs: 35 people
Animals: Tigers, cheetahs, lions, wolves, raccoons, foxes, bears
Mr Mee's family, from Surrey, bought the zoo in 2006.
The 2011 film We Bought a Zoo, starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson, was based on a book by Mr Mee describing his experiences.
But it had been "running reliably at a loss" for most of the time it had been in his family's possession and three staff faced losing their jobs if its finances did not improve, he previously said.
Although falling short of the crowdfunding target, Mr Mee said enough money had been raised to "ensure a smooth transition" to becoming a charity.
"The sense of relief is only beginning to wash through me," he said.

The team of Fiona Pennie, Lizzie Neave and Kimberley Woods produced a controlled effort to beat Germany into second place by over four seconds.
"The team event was a nice consolation prize after not doing as well as we'd have liked to in the individual event," said Neave.
"We all had a really good run and it's always nice to come away with a medal."
Mallory Franklin won bronze in the women's C1 in Liptovsky on Saturday, while there was also a gold for the women's C1 team and a bronze for their male counterparts.

The match had been set for 24 January at Seaview but now a new venue and date will be arranged by organisers.
Linfield lodged an appeal against the County Antrim FA's decision to play the final at Crusaders' Shore Road venue.
The match gives David Healy the chance of a first trophy since taking over as Linfield manager in October 2015.
Under Northern Ireland's record goalscorer, the Blues have lost in Irish Cup and Shield finals and also finished runners-up in the Irish Premiership last season.
The most likely date for this season's Shield decider is Tuesday, 7 February and the choice of venue appears to be between the Oval in Belfast or the Showgrounds at Ballymena.
Meanwhile, Glenavon have confirmed that they have signed defender/midfielder Aaron Canning from Championship club Loughgall until the end of the season.
A zoo that inspired a Hollywood film has become a charity, its boss says.
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Great Britain women's K1 trio won gold as GB ended the European Championships in Slovakia with four medals.
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The County Antrim Shield final is to be held at a neutral venue after Linfield challenged a decision to stage it at the ground of opponents Crusaders.