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International Wildlife Refuge Alliance

EIN 20-3318708 · Trenton, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE FOUNDATION WAS CREATED IN 2005 TO HELP FOSTER CONSERVATION, INCREASE REFUGE VISIBILITY, ENCOURAGE SUPPORT, AND ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE. IT IS AN ALLIANCE OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT BUILDS THE CAPACITY OF THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TO DELIVER ITS MISSION FOR THE DETROIT RIVER INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE (DWIR). THE ALLIANCE IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES COMMUNITY OUTREACH, ORGANIZES EDUCATIONAL AND INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS, UNDERTAKES HABITAT CONSERVATION AND ADVOCACY FOR THE REFUGE, COORDINATES VOLUNTEERS, ORGANIZES SPECIAL EVENTS, AND HELPS WITH FUNDRAISING.

Income
$527,373
Spending
$464,178
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 78%
Employees
3
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$56,000, executive 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 31% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (4)
  1. $128,462 spent. SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT MAINTAIN, RESTORE, AND MANAGE WILDLIFE AND ECOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT LANDMARKS. PROVIDE SCHOLASTIC SUPPORT TO STUDENTS SEEKING TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE ECOSYSTEM.
  2. $79,054 spent. INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL: ON GOING PROJECT TO MONITOR AND CONTROL THE INVASION OF EXOTIC PLANT SPECIES, SUCH AS PHRAGMITES AUSTRALIS AND RESTORATION PRACTICES TO BALANCE ECOSYSTEMS SERVICE.
  3. $134,952 spent. PROGRAMS INCLUDE: STATE OF THE STRAIT // MEMORIALS // DETROIT RIVER HAWK WATCH // WETLAND RESTORATION // COMMON TERN // REFUGE GATEWAY // FISHING PIER // MARSH MASTER MAINTENANCE // COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT 2. PROJECTS REPRESENT THE MANAGEMENT AND RESTORATION OF ECOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT AREAS.
  4. PROGRAMS INCLUDE: STATE OF THE STRAIT // MEMORIALS // DETROIT RIVER HAWK WATCH // WETLAND RESTORATION // COMMON TERN // REFUGE GATEWAY // FISHING PIER // MARSH MASTER MAINTENANCE // COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT 2. PROJECTS REPRESENT THE MANAGEMENT AND RESTORATION OF ECOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT AREAS.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2006.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.