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Wildlife Research Institute

EIN 23-7320150 · Ely, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceWeak26 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CONDUCT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON BEARS, OTHER WILDLIFE, AND THEIR HABITAT, AND PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO DECISION-MAKERS, THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY, STUDENTS,AND THE PUBLIC.

Income
$612,835
Spending
$276,561
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
42.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
4
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$30,000, chairman

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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 42.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 55% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Weak: 26 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 7 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    6 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 (3)
  1. $107,512 spent. WRI CONTINUES TO CONDUCT THE LONGEST & MOST IN-DEPTH BEAR STUDY EVER DONE. SUCH RESEARCH HAS PRODUCED OVER 100 SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS. THIS RESEARCH ALSO CREATED AND CONTINUES TO UPDATE THE CONTENT FOR THE NORTH AMERICAN BEAR CENTER'S VISITOR CENTER AS WELL AS THEIR AWARD WINNING WEBSITE AT bear.org.
  2. $92,311 spent. PROVIDED EDUCATION ON BLACK BEARS THROUGH WORKSHOPS ATTENDED BY 54 PARTICIPANTS, DAILY RESEARCH UPDATES READ BY OVER 3000 FOLLOWERS, PRODUCTION OF THREE HOUR LONG BBC DOCUMENTARIES WATCHED BY OVER 7.8 MILLION VIEWERS IN THEIR FIRST AIRINGS, AND MAINTAINING TWO WEBSITES (bear.org and bearstudy.org) VISITED BY OVER 1.8 MILLION VISITORS.THERE ARE 168,612 FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS OF WRI'S PAGE "LILY THE BLACK BEAR."
  3. $57,428 spent. A FILM DOCUMENTING LYNN ROGERS AND THE BEARS BEING STUDIED AT THE WILDLIFE RESEARCH INSTITUTE IS IN PRODUCTION TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC.

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 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 2025.

    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 October 1973.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Arc Research Institute (Palo Alto, CA), EIN 87-1920284. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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