Second Chances Wildlife Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO FOSTER COMPASSION AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP THROUGH EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION
- Income
- $369,888
- Spending
- $300,757
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 15.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 50
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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% 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
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $233,317 spent. Second Chances Wildlife Center (SCWC or the Organization) provides hands-on education programs for preschool through adult. Many of these programs will include live animals that accompany the instructor. The organization can travel to your location or you can visit them at their new facility in Mt. Washington, Kentucky. The Organization offers programs to the following groups: Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, church groups, rotary clubs, libraries, camps, parks, and, of course, schools. Kentucky Core Academic Standards are incorporated throughout each program. The programs also meet criteria for scout groups to earn a few badges.LISTED BELOW ARE SOME VARIOUS CLASSES THAT MAY BE PRESENTED.LHA SUMMER EDUCAMP:LEARN ABOUT KENTUCKY WILDLIFE, WHY IT'S IMPORTANT AND HOW WE CARE FOR WILDLIFE BOTH IN OUR ENVIRONMENT AND AT THE CENTER. WE WILL OFFER EDUCATIONAL AND FUN GAMES, HANDS-ON LEARNING ACTIVITIES, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, INDOOR FREE- EXPLORATION TIME, AND SNACKS.PROGRAMS EE SERIES:THE BEST PRACTICE FOR DELIVERING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND FOSTERING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS IS TO SPEND TIME IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. WE OFFER A SERIES OF CLASSES THAT TOUCH BASE ON SEVERAL ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS TO INCLUDE AIR QUALITY, WATER QUALITY AND WATERSHEDS, POLLUTION (POINT AND NONPOINT SOURCES), PESTICIDES, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND OF COURSE BIODIVERSITY.WHILE YOU ARE SLEEPING:THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO TEACH PARTICIPANTS ABOUT NOCTURNAL ANIMALS. WHAT ANIMALS DO COME OUT AT NIGHT? WHAT DO THEY DO? WHERE DO THEY LIVE? ARE THEY SCARY? WHAT DO THEY DO DURING THE DAY?KENTUCKY ANIMALS:LEARN ABOUT NATIVE ANIMALS AND THEIR ROLE IN OUR ENVIRONMENT.AWESOME OPOSSUM:LEARN WHY THESE ANIMALS PLAY SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR ECOSYSTEM.BATS:THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ANIMAL WE REHABILITATE. FIND OUT WHY!CONNECTION PROTECTION:LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW WILD ANIMALS AND PLANTS FIT INTO FOOD CHAINS AND HOW WE ARE ALL CONNECTED IN THE WEB OF LIFE.CO-EXISTING WITH NATIVE WILDLIFE:FIND OUT HOW OUR DECISIONS AFFECT THE WORLD AROUND US.ADAPTATIONS:LEARN HOW ENVIRONMENTS PLAY A ROLE IN ANIMALS' ADAPTATIONS AND SEE LIVE ANIMALS SHOWCASE THEIR OWN UNIQUE ADAPTATIONS!WILDLIFE AND WATERWAYS:LEARN HOW IMPORTANT MAINTAINING OCEANS, WATERSHEDS, AND THE LIFE WITHIN THEM ARE! FIND OUT WHY A HEALTHY AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM IS SO CRUCIAL FOR FISH, PLANTS, AND WILDLIFE. HOW DO HUMANS AFFECT AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS AND HOW WE CAN HELP KEEP OUR WATERS HEALTHY?CLIMATE CHANGE:WHAT IS IT REAL? AND HOW ARE WE AFFECTED? IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT? LEARN CURRENT ISSUES, FACTS AND STUDIESWHITE NOSE SYNDROME:LEARN A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF BATS AND WHAT WHITE NOSE SYNDROME IS. HOWDOES IT AFFECT BATS AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT US?
- Second Chances was founded in 2009 and is located on 23 acres just south of Louisville, in Mt Washington and serves the surrounding counties. The entire state of Kentucky and Southern Indiana utilizes Second Chances for specialized bat rehabilitation.Each year the organization cares for over one hundred injured, displaced, or orphaned wildlife animals. Many of them are babies that need round the clock intensive care. Some neonates come to the organization just days or even hours after birth with umbilical cords still attached. Some native mammal species that the organization takes in include skunks, opossums, flying squirrels, eastern grey and red squirrels, raccoons, mink, and bats, some of which are federally endangered. Staff personnel have special training in the rehabilitation of bats and work closely with Federal Fish and Wildlife bat biologists. The Organization rehabilitates bats from all over Kentucky. Approximately 90% of our patients are with the organization due to human encroachment in some way. The Organization deworms and vaccinates all animals before they are released.The average stay at the center depends on the heath of the animals. Should a healthy baby come in, it could be with the organization for several months! Raccoons stay with the organization an average of six months. Bbeavers stay with rehabilitators for two-three years. When the animals are ready to transition back into the wild, the organization provides them with a safe area. This area contains food and water sources and is in a location with minimal human interference and no hunting.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2010.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.