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Eo Wilson Biodiversity Foundation

EIN 20-4547380 · Hillsborough, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak14 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 148 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE E.O. WILSON BIODIVERSITY FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO FOSTER A KNOWING STEWARDSHIP OF OUR WORLD THROUGH BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE AND INFORM WORLDWIDE PRESERVATION OF OUR BIOLOGICAL HERITAGE. WE BELIEVE THAT BY ENHANCING OUR PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF BIODIVERSITY, WE CAN FOSTER A CULTURE OF STEWARDSHIP IN WHICH PEOPLE ARE INSPIRED TO CONSERVE AND PROTECT THE NATURAL WORLD.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 69%
Employees
8
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$416,597, president & 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

Weak: 14 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover -0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 115% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 148 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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (4)
  1. $837,152 spent. HALF-EARTH PROJECT MAP: PROVIDING CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIP BY MAPPING THE SPECIES OF OUR PLANET AND IDENTIFYING WHERE WE HAVE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT THE MOST SPECIES.
  2. $409,704 spent. HALF-EARTH DAY: CELEBRATING THE GRAND AMBITION OF HALF-EARTH, SHOWCASES PROGRESS, AND ENGAGES PEOPLE IN HOW THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE HALF-EARTH PROJECT. HALF-EARTH DAY BRINGS TOGETHER SCIENTISTS, INDIGENOUS AND LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND GLOBAL CONSERVATION AND MULTINATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SHARE THEIR VOICES AND VISIONS FOR HOW WE CAN BEST CARE FOR OUR PLANET.
  3. $432,306 spent. HALF-EARTH PROJECT EDUCATOR AMBASSADORS: PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR TEACHERS TO ENGAGE EACH OTHER AND THEIR STUDENTS IN THE GRAND AMBITION OF HALF-EARTH, AND TO INSPIRE AND CONNECT STUDENTS WITH THE NATURAL WORLD.
  4. $360,634 spent. HALF-EARTH GENERAL: GENERAL PROMOTION AND SUPPORT OF GLOBAL CONSERVATION AND BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH.

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 October 13, 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 February 2008.

    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 October 21, 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.