Working Dogs for Conservation Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Partner with detection dogs to further conservation initiatives around the world. Working Dogs for Conservation Foundation (WD4C) integrates scientific-detection dog teams with established management and conservation efforts to address invasive species proliferation, wildlife trafficking, habitat fragmentation, human/wildlife conflict, and support the preservation and restoration of threatened and endangered species.
- Income
- $2.4 million
- Spending
- $2.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 0.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 85%
- Employees
- 24
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $148,107, president & ed
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
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 57% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 51% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 252 of 4 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 (1)
- $1.8 million spent. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, WD4C HAS COLLABORATED WITH MANAGERS, RESEARCHERS, AND CONSERVATIONISTS TO DETECT NEARLY 40 SPECIES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND WORLD. MANY OF THESE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN GROUND-BREAKING WITHIN THE REALM OF CONSERVATION BIOLOGY. WD4C PARTICIPATION AND CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE PROPELLED THE DISCIPLINE OF DETECTION DOGS FORWARD: FROM FINDING DIFFICULT AND NOVEL TARGETS LIKE A SUITE OF WIDE-RANGING CARNIVORES, ILLEGAL WIRE SNARES, INVASIVE PLANTS AND INSECTS, SUBTERRANEAN ANIMALS, AND EVIDENCE OF INVASIVE FISH IN FRESHWATER STREAMS, TO WD4C'S GROUND-BREAKING WORK USING DOGS TO DETECT ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS IN FRESHWATER ECOSTYSTEMS.WD4C ALSO SAVES DOGS. WE RECOGNIZE THAT MANY OF THE TRAITS THAT PREVENT DOGS BEING SUITABLE PETS SUCH AS HIGH ENERGY AND TOY OBSESSION, CAN SIGNAL SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL TO BE A HIGHLY SKILLED DETECTION DOG. RECENT WD4C ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE:-- Sloths are in need of protection but are incredibly hard to find in the wild theyre slow-moving and blend in with the forest so well, that just spotting them is difficult - not to mention collecting any other data or genetic samples. We partnered with the Sloth Conservation Foundation to train a dog and handler team in Costa Rica to find sloth scat to enable a DNA-based populationassessment the first and most important step in protecting these animals. -- We continue to grow one of our vital biosecurity projects which is to combat the spread and movement of invasive zebra and quagga mussels on boats and trailers. These non-native mussels outcompete native species and destroy aquatic food webs, causing both ecological and economic damage to ecosystems. Their devastating effects when introduced into water systems, cause millions of dollars in damages. Since 2014 weve been training and deploying dogs to protect bodies of water in MT, WY, CA, TX and even Alberta, Canada. Dogs are orders of magnitude faster at checking vehicles than humans, and people enjoy watching them work, so the dogs transform wait times at critical boat checkpoints into a highlight of the day. Boaters love the speed with which dogs get them on the water, and inspectors appreciate the increase in compliance and local support.--The illegal wildlife trade is, unfortunately, still going strong. Elephants, rhinos, and literally hundreds of other species are killed, captured, and trafficked around the world, with devastating effects on natural populations. Poachers and traffickers are getting more sophisticated in their methods, and we work hard to stay a step ahead of them. Thats why were integrating new cutting-edge technology like AI Cameras, geo-aware radios, and SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tools) into our Canine Reaction Units. Through our work, weve been able to helpNamibia respond to the worst epidemic of rhino poaching since that countrys independence. Namibia is one of eight countries where were continuing to support over 60 Law Enforcement Dogs that weve placed throughout Africa.--We completed our first three-year project in partnership with Indigenous Vision and the Amskapi Pikuni (Southern Blackfeet) on the first ever non- invasive study of mink and otter to look for long-lasting environmental contaminants. Utilizing Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) to identify culturally significant hunting areas, our trained dogs were able to locate mink and otter scats that can tell us whether the food webs traditional hunters rely upon are contaminated. Thanks to an innovative lab technique pioneered by our collaborators, were now able to evaluate contamination from heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, and PFAs, or forever chemicals. Especially for Native communities, who use wild products over a longer portion of the year, have fewer alternative food sources, and less access to health care, the safety of wild foods is a big part of food sovereignty and maintaining healthy traditional livelihoods. Our results are critical in helping identify the safest areas for hunting and gathering wild products, and where contaminants remain, to prioritize areas for remediation. LOOKING INTO NEXT YEAR, WEVE GOT EXCITING THINGS ON THE HORIZON, FROM DEEPENING OUR ROOTS IN MISSOULA, MT WITH VOLUNTEER DAYS, NEW CULTURAL CONNECTIONS, AND LOCALLY IMPORTANT WORK ON GRIZZLY BEARS, WOLVES AND BIGHORN SHEEP; TO BEING PART OF MONTANAS FIGHT AGAINST DISEASES SUCH COVID-19 AND CWD. WE ARE PROUD TO BE A FORCE FOR GOOD AND TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE, WILDLIFE, AND WILD PLACES THAT CONTINUALLY HAVE GIVEN US HOPE AND INSPIRATION.
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 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 2024.
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 2007.
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.