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Wilderness Medical Society Inc

EIN 20-0382329 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE WMS IS TO ENCOURAGE, FOSTER, SUPPORT, OR CONDUCT ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE MEMBERSHIP AND GENERAL PUBLIC IN HUMAN HEALTH ACTIVITIES IN A WILDERNESS ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
9.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%
Employees
9
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$158,902, ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% 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

Governance

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • 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

Impact evidence

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

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $359,614 spent. MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS & SERVICES: THE WMS ACHIEVES ITS MISSION TO IMPROVE THE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE MEMBERSHIP AND GENERAL PUBLIC VIA THE FOLLOWING: 1. ITS PEER-REVIEWED SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL, THE WILDERNESS & ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE JOURNAL (WEMJ) WHICH IS THE LEADING PUBLICATION FOR CUTTING EDGE ADVANCES IN THE SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF WILDERNESS MEDICINE (WM). WM CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES ARE PUBLISHED TO PROVIDE CLINICIANS AND OTHER PRACTITIONERS WITH EVIDENCE-BASED GUIDANCE FOR THE PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND MANAGEMENT OF WILDERNESS-RELATED INJURIES AND ILLNESSES, WHILE ADVANCING THE SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION OF WILDERNESS MEDICINE. 2. RESEARCH GRANTS: IN ORDER TO FOSTER AND PROMOTE RESEARCH IN HEALTH AND MEDICINE IN EXTREME OR AUSTERE ENVIRONMENTS, THE WMS OFFERED $30,700 IN GRANTS IN 2025. 3. THE ONLINE MAGAZINE DISSEMINATES TIMELY SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION, CLINICAL UPDATES, AND BEST PRACTICES IN WILDERNESS MEDICINE TO HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, OUTDOOR LEADERS, RESCUERS, EDUCATORS, AND THE BROADER PUBLIC. 4. $50K PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR MEMBERS FOR PRE-HOSPITAL CARE PROVIDED.
  2. $397,651 spent. CONFERENCES: WMS EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES ADVANCE THE PRACTICE OF WILDERNESS MEDICINE BY PROVIDING EVIDENCE-BASED CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION, INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION, AND DISSEMINATION OF CURRENT RESEARCH TO HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS WORKING IN REMOTE AND AUSTERE ENVIRONMENTS. GROUP SESSIONS. 1. THE WINTER CONFERENCE PROVIDED 19 HOURS OF CME CREDITS VIA TOPICS INCLUDING AVALANCHE PRACTICE GUIDELINES, MEDICAL EVAC, SUBACUTE TREATMENT OF MSK INJURIES, ISLAND MEDICINE, SURFERS MYELOPATHY, MARINE TOXINS, SWIMMING INDUCED PULMONARY EDEMA, SNAKEBITES, AND PHYSIOLOGICAL AMPUTATION 2. THE SUMMER CONFERENCE PROVIDED 29 HOURS OF CME CREDITS VIA TOPICS INCLUDING DIVE INJURIES, WILDLAND FIRE, CANCER PATIENTS AND WILDERNESS MEDICINE, CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION, EVENT MEDICINE, ANTIMICROBIAL PROPHYLAXIS, MANAGING FERTILITY/INFERTILITY IN THE WILD, COLLAPSE AT THE FINISH LINE AND ANKLE INSTABILITY 3. THE DESERT CONFERENCE PROVIDED 15.5 HOURS OF CME CREDITS VIA TOPICS INCLUDING DESERT RESCUE, DESERT SURVIVAL, REPTILES DYSFUNCTION, BEE ENVENOMATION, RISK MITIGATION OF DROWNING DURING FLASH FLOODS, HYPONATREMIA, HEAT EXERTSION / HEAT STROKE, SKIN PROBLEMS IN THE DESERT AND SURVIVING THE SONORAN DESERT.
  3. $240,615 spent. DIPLOMA IN MOUNTAIN MEDICINE (DIMM): THE DIPLOMA IN MOUNTAIN MEDICINE (DIMM) ADVANCES PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCY IN WILDERNESS MEDICINE BY PROVIDING SPECIALIZED EDUCATION AND PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR CLINICIANS AND RESCUE PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN TECHNICAL MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENTS.
  4. $283,291 spent. THE OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES THAT THE WMS PROVIDES TO MEMBERS AS PART OF ACCOMPLISHING OUR MISSION INCLUDE ADVENTURE CME TRIPS, STUDENT ELECTIVES, TWO ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING A DIPLOMA IN DIVE & MARINE MEDICINE (DIDMM), AND THE FELLOWSHIP IN THE ACADEMY OF WILDERNESS MEDICINE (FAWM).
  5. THE OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES THAT THE WMS PROVIDES TO MEMBERS AS 283291. 0. 456169.

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

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.