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Meg and Bert Raynes Wildlife Fund

EIN 27-5089685 · Wilson, WY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INITIATE, AUGMENT OR SIMPLY FUND PROJECTS OR ACTIVITIES TO HELP MAINTAIN VIABLE AND SUSTAINABLE WILDLIFE POPULATIONS INTO THE FUTURE,ESPECIALLY IN WY AND JACKSON HOLE, THROUGH SUPPORT OF RESEARCH, EDUCATION, HABITAT PROTECTION AND RESTORATION.

Income
$203,722
Spending
$104,199
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
86.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
0
Volunteers
11

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. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 86.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 49% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 113% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • 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

    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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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. $99,239 spent. The Meg and Bert Raynes Wildlife Fund gave out 17 grants for a total distribution of just over $99,000 in 2025. Most grants were $5,000 or less. We are proud to provide grants to increase our understanding of species large and small, popular or unknown, in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Grantees continue to study Big Horn Sheep nutrition in Grand Teton National Park; rare plant populations on the shore of Lake Yellowstone; behavior of Loggerhead Shrikes and other songbirds in sagebrush habitats;
  2. and diets of Red Crossbills when not eating cone seeds. Finer studies included zooplankton in alpine lakes and micro-organisms in Yellowstones thermal pools. Public outreach grants helped sponsor the Annual Sandhill Crane Festival in Teton Valley, Idaho; Sporting Lead Free forums for hunters around the state; and plants for pollinator gardens at Astoria Hot Springs. We are pleased that our small grants are pivotal for graduate students and professional biologists researching ways to
  3. understand and steward the wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in NW Wyoming.

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 August 2011.

    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.