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National Wildlife Refuge Association

EIN 23-7447365 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CONSERVE AMERICA'S WILDLIFE HERITAGE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS THROUGH STRATEGIC PROGRAMS THAT PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM AND THE LANDSCAPES BEYOND ITS BOUNDARIES. BY COMBINING POLICY, LANDSCAPE-SCALE CONSERVATION EFFORTS, GRASSROOTS DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, THE REFUGE ASSOCIATION WORKS TO STRENGTHEN THE ECOLOGOCIAL INTEGRITY OF OUR NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES, MAINTAINING THE DIVERSITY OF AMERICAN WILDLIFE AND PLANTS FOR THE FUTURE

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
-2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
11
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$143,952, former presi

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    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

    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 June 30, 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 (5)
  1. $329,600 spent. CONSERVATION CONSTITUENCY- BUILDING- THE REFUGE ASSOCAITION PLAYS A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN BRINGING A SPECTRUM OF INTERESTS TOGETHER TO SUPPORT CONSERVATION ACTION, AND SPECIFICALLY THE SUCCESS OF THE REFUGE SYSTEM. THE REFUGE ASSOCIATION TRAINS, EDUCATES, MENTORS AND ORGANIZES REFUGE FRIENDS GROUPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ENGAGES PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, RANCHERS AND SPORTSMEN, AND WORKS WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS SURROUNDING URBAN WILDLIFE REFUGES. TOGETHER THESE CONSTITUENT GROUPS FORM A DIVERSE CHORUS OF VOICES, WHICH THE REFUGE ASSOCIATION BRINGS TOGETHER TO TAKE ACTION IN SUPPORT OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION NEEDS.
  2. $220,357 spent. CONSERVATION PROGRAMS- THE REFUGE ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS LANDSCAPE-SCALE CONSERVATION INITIATIVES THAT SECURE THE ECOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES AND THEIR SURROUNDING NATURAL SYSTEMS. THE REFUGE ASSOCIATION CONVENES PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNER AGENCIES, NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, IDENTIFIES KEY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION AND HELPS SET COMMON GOALS, AND THEN WORKS WITH PARTNERS TO BUILD COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND SECURE FUNDING FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES TO ACCOMPLISH WILDLIFE CONSERVATION GOALS ON THE GROUND.
  3. $61,214 spent. COMMUNICATION THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE ASSOCIATIONS COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING AND EXECUTING BRANDING AND MARKETING STRATEGIES TO A) COMMUNICATE PROGRAMS OF THE REFUGE ASSOCIATION EFFECTIVELY, B) GROW AND CULTIVATE THE CONSTITUENCY OF THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM OF THE UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, AND C) ENHANCE THE REFUGE ASSOCIATIONS OFFLINE AND ONLINE PRESENCE.
  4. $42,341 spent. CONSERVATION POLICY AND EDUCATION- THE REFUGE ASSOCIATION MOBILIZES HUNDREDS OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL PARTNERS TO ADDRESS URGENT CONSERVATION NEEDS, INCLUDING FUNDING FOR THE REFUGE SYSTEM, LOSS OF VITAL HABITAT AND NATURAL SYSTEMS THAT SUSTAIN WILDLIFE REFUGES, INVASIVE SPECIES, AND DAMAGING CHANGES IN LAND USE. THE REFUGE ASSOCIATION CHAIRS A COALITION OF NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND SPORTING GROUPS WITH A COMBINED MEMBERSHIP OF MORE THAN 15 MILLION PEOPLE, WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF RAISING AWARENESS OF THE NEEDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES.
  5. CONSERVATION POLICY AND EDUCATION- THE REFUGE ASSOCIATION MOBILIZES HUNDREDS OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL PARTNERS TO ADDRESS URGENT CONSERVATION NEEDS, INCLUDING FUNDING FOR THE REFUGE SYSTEM, LOSS OF VITAL HABITAT AND NATURAL SYSTEMS THAT SUSTAIN WILDLIFE REFUGES, INVASIVE SPECIES, AND DAMAGING CHANGES IN LAND USE. THE REFUGE ASSOCIATION CHAIRS A COALITION OF NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND SPORTING GROUPS WITH A COMBINED MEMBERSHIP OF MORE THAN 15 MILLION PEOPLE, WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF RAISING AWARENESS OF THE NEEDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 April 1975.

    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.