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The International Wilderness Leadership Foundation Inc

EIN 23-7389749 · Boulder, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE EQUIP LEADERS, COMMUNITIES, AND NETWORKS TO ACT PURPOSEFULLY AND IMPACTFULLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF WILDERNESS AND PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE A WORLD ABUNDANT IN WILD NATURE AND THE THE WELL-BEING OF ALL LIFE.

Income
$5.9 million
Spending
$6.5 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
5
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$120,041, managing director, policy & campaigns

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.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $4.4 million spent. OUR CONSERVATION COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENTS HELP MAKE SPACE FOR WILD NATURE BY EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO BE BETTER STEWARDS OF NATURE THROUGH FIELDWORK AND EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS WE ARE HELPING TO RESTORE AND REWILD LANDSCAPES, INCLUDING THE REMATRIATION OF SPECIES LIKE THE AMERICAN BISON, ACROSS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES.
  2. $1.6 million spent. THE MALI ELEPHANT PROJECT IS HELPING OVER 50 COMMUNITIES IN THE REMOTE GOURMA REGION OF WEST AFRICA TO RESTORE AND PROTECT LANDSCAPES THAT ARE CRITICAL FOR THE SURVIVAL OF PEOPLE AND THE REGION'S LAST REMAINING HERD OF DESERT ELEPHANTS. ANNUALLY, WE STRENGTHEN PROTECTION FOR 8 MILLION HECTARES OF ELEPHANT HABITAT IN MALI.
  3. $284,876 spent. WE CONVENE THE WORLD'S ONLY PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL CIVIL SOCIETY BODY THE WORLD WILDERNESS CONGRESS TO IDENTIFY GRASSROOTS PRIORITIES FOR THE PROTECTION OF WILDERNESS AND BRING THOSE TO INTERNATIONAL DECISION-MAKING BODIES LIKE THE IUCN. IN 2024, WE CONVENED THE 12TH WORLD WILDERNESS CONGRESS WHICH INCLUDED APPROXIMATELY 700 DELEGATES FROM 40 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

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 1974.

    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.