Passes our checks

Messinger Woods Wildlife Care and Education Center Inc

EIN 16-1514478 · Orchard Park, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

What it says it does

to achieve excellence in the field of wildlife rehabilitation and to promote public awareness and education in order to preserve it

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 79.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 48% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 68% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

Independent board
25 of 25
11 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15
Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8
Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7
Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5
Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10
Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10
Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$64,872 spent. Approx 215 uncompensated volunteers operated our state-of-the-art wildlife hospital in Holland NY under the supervision of veterinarians. This year approx 731 animals were treated at the hospital or home cared for by the volunteers, including rabbits, squirrels, opossum, geese, turkey, song birds, hawks, owls, woodchucks, woodpeckers, turtles, mink, weasels, woodpeckers, heron and more. Numerous birds of prey were rehabilitated in the hospital complexes two large flight cages before release, the larger flight cage being 165 feet long x 35 feet wide x 40 feet high and approved by the US Fish and Wildlife Dept for treatment of bald eagles (1 of 3 in NY State). 5 bald eagles were rehabilitated, exercised, and released this year. These unique flight cages allowed MW to support other wildlife groups, including Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. This year there were numerous seminars or talks. Public assistance via phone logged 1484 calls, although numerous other calls went unlogged because of time.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1997.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.