Hawaii Wildlife Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CARE AND CONSERVATION OF NATIVE WINGED WILDLIFE TO REVERSE THE EXTINCTION TREND IN HAWAII.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 11.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 49%
- Employees
- 30
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $77,955, president/di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
- $298,554 spent. PROVIDED CARE AND PROFESSIONAL REHABILITATION TO OVER 1,000 SICK AND INJURED NATIVE BIRDS AND BATS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF HAWAII, INCLUDING FEDERALLY THREATENED OR ENDANGERED SPECIES. PROVIDED TREATMENT FOR A VARIETY OF INJURIES, ILLNESS, MALNUTRITION, EMACIATION, AND MORE. EXPANDED HOSPITAL SERVICES TO INCLUDE MORE INTENSIVE MEDICAL PROCEDURES AND SURGERIES. THE CENTER CARES FOR HUNDREDS OF NATIVE BIRD AND BAT PATIENTS ANNUALLY FROM THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF HAWAII, WITH A MAJORITY OF PATIENTS ORIGINATING FROM OAHU, MAUI NUI, AND HAWAII ISLAND. CENTER STAFF ALSO ASSIST WITH KAUAI PATIENTS FROM SAVE OUR SHEARWATERS WHEN REQUESTED. TO MAKE A STATEWIDE PROGRAM POSSIBLE, HWC MANAGED A STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK OF VOLUNTEER PILOTS AND DRIVERS, AS WELL AS COORDINATED VOLUNTEERS TO WORK IN WILDLIFE HOSPITAL AND PUBLIC AREAS. STAFF ALSO MANAGED THE OAHU SEABIRD AID PROGRAM, WHICH RESCUED OVER 600 BIRDS IN A FOUR-WEEK TIMEFRAME. HWC CONTINUED TO SERVE AS A WILDLIFE RESCUE HELP DISPATCH AND ANSWERED OVER 1,000 CALLS FROM THE PUBLIC THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. PROVIDED CARE AND PROFESSIONAL REHABILITATION TO OVER 1,000 SICK AND INJURED NATIVE BIRDS AND BATS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF HAWAII, INCLUDING FEDERALLY THREATENED OR ENDANGERED SPECIES. PROVIDED TREATMENT FOR A VARIETY OF INJURIES, ILLNESS, MALNUTRITION, EMACIATION, AND MORE. EXPANDED HOSPITAL SERVICES TO INCLUDE MORE INTENSIVE MEDICAL PROCEDURES AND SURGERIES. THE CENTER CARES FOR HUNDREDS OF NATIVE BIRD AND BAT PATIENTS ANNUALLY FROM THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF HAWAII, WITH A MAJORITY OF PATIENTS ORIGINATING FROM OAHU, MAUI NUI, AND HAWAII ISLAND. CENTER STAFF ALSO ASSIST WITH KAUAI PATIENTS FROM SAVE OUR SHEARWATERS WHEN REQUESTED. TO MAKE A STATEWIDE PROGRAM POSSIBLE, HWC MANAGED A STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK OF VOLUNTEER PILOTS AND DRIVERS, AS WELL AS COORDINATED VOLUNTEERS TO WORK IN WILDLIFE HOSPITAL AND PUBLIC AREAS. STAFF ALSO MANAGED THE OAHU SEABIRD AID PROGRAM, WHICH RESCUED OVER 600 BIRDS IN A FOUR-WEEK TIMEFRAME. HWC CONTINUED TO SERVE AS A WILDLIFE RESCUE HELP DISPATCH AND ANSWERED OVER 1,000 CALLS FROM THE PUBLIC THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
- $528,333 spent. THE HAWAII WILDLIFE CENTER IS THE FISCAL SPONSOR OF THE SAVE OUR SHEARWATERS (SOS) PROGRAM. SOS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL REHABILITATION TO SICK AND INJURED NATIVE BIRDS AND BATS ON KAUAI. THE SOS PROGRAM WAS CREATED IN 1979 AND HELPS HUNDREDS OF SEABIRDS AS WELL AS OTHER NATIVE WINGED WILDLIFE SPECIES ANNUALLY ON KAUAI. IN ADDITION TO MANAGING THE FISCAL OPERATIONS OF THE SOS PROGRAM, HWC ALSO PROVIDED ADDITIONAL VETERINARY SUPPORT TO THE SOS TEAM TO ENSURE THAT THE PROGRAM HAD ALL THE NECESSARY MEDICATIONS FOR PATIENTS IN THEIR CARE AND PROVIDED ACCESS TO SPECIALIZED MEDICAL PROCEDURES WHEN NEEDED THROUGH HWC PARTNERS.
- $74,638 spent. HWC CONTINUED TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES TO LOCAL STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. 16 GROUPS VISITED THE CENTER, A TOTAL OF 250 STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. HWC ALSO PARTICIPATED IN 14 COMMUNITY EVENTS ON HAWAII ISLAND AND OAHU, ESTIMATING OVER 6,000 INTERACTIONS WITH THE PUBLIC FROM THOSE EVENTS. STAFF UTILIZED SOCIAL MEDIA TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY ENGAGED IN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND TO SHARE UPLIFTING AND EDUCATIONAL CONTENT, PARTNERED WITH CONSERVATION COUNCIL OF HAWAII TO PUT ON ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL HAWAII ISLAND FESTIVAL OF BIRDS, A FULL-DAY FAMILY- FRIENDLY EVENT SPOTLIGHTING CRITICAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND BUILDING JOY AND ENTHUSIASM AROUND NATIVE BIRD SPECIES. HWC WILDLIFE TEAM ALSO CONTINUED INTERNSHIP AND EXTERNSHIP PROGRAMS AT THE FACILITY. WILDLIFE REHABILITATION INTERNSHIPS PROVIDED AN INTRODUCTION TO NATIVE HAWAIIAN WILDLIFE REHABILITATION AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN ANIMAL CARE, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND SOME ASPECTS OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. TWO-WEEK EXTERNSHIPS WERE ALSO AVAILABLE TO CURRENT VETERINARY SCHOOL STUDENTS TO BUILD CLINICAL SKILLS ALONG WITH THEIR ANIMAL CARE EXPERIENCE. THE EXTERNSHIPS PROVIDE VETERINARY STUDENTS EXPOSURE TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ISSUES AS WELL. INTERNS AND EXTERNS BOTH WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR VETERINARIAN AND WILDLIFE STAFF. HWC CONTINUED TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES TO LOCAL STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. 16 GROUPS VISITED THE CENTER, A TOTAL OF 250 STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. HWC ALSO PARTICIPATED IN 14 COMMUNITY EVENTS ON HAWAII ISLAND AND OAHU, ESTIMATING OVER 6,000 INTERACTIONS WITH THE PUBLIC FROM THOSE EVENTS. STAFF UTILIZED SOCIAL MEDIA TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY ENGAGED IN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND TO SHARE UPLIFTING AND EDUCATIONAL CONTENT, PARTNERED WITH CONSERVATION COUNCIL OF HAWAII TO PUT ON ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL HAWAII ISLAND FESTIVAL OF BIRDS, A FULL-DAY FAMILY- FRIENDLY EVENT SPOTLIGHTING CRITICAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND BUILDING JOY AND ENTHUSIASM AROUND NATIVE BIRD SPECIES. HWC WILDLIFE TEAM ALSO CONTINUED INTERNSHIP AND EXTERNSHIP PROGRAMS AT THE FACILITY. WILDLIFE REHABILITATION INTERNSHIPS PROVIDED AN INTRODUCTION TO NATIVE HAWAIIAN WILDLIFE REHABILITATION AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN ANIMAL CARE, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND SOME ASPECTS OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. TWO-WEEK EXTERNSHIPS WERE ALSO AVAILABLE TO CURRENT VETERINARY SCHOOL STUDENTS TO BUILD CLINICAL SKILLS ALONG WITH THEIR ANIMAL CARE EXPERIENCE. THE EXTERNSHIPS PROVIDE VETERINARY STUDENTS EXPOSURE TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ISSUES AS WELL. INTERNS AND EXTERNS BOTH WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR VETERINARIAN AND WILDLIFE STAFF.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2006.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 2026.
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