Wildlife Conservation Network Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CONNECT CONSERVATIONISTS AND SUPPORTERS, DEPLOY RESOURCES TO THE FIELD, PROVIDE CONSERVATIONISTS WITH TOOLS AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.
- Income
- $86.1 million
- Spending
- $54.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 9.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 41
- Volunteers
- 47
- Highest pay
- $273,914, chief executive officer
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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 52% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (3)
- $44.3 million spent. WILDLIFE PROGRAMS - PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PARTNERS, WITH A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO ENDANGERED FLAGSHIP SPECIES IN 69 COUNTRIES. THIS SUPPORT INCLUDES SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM GRANTS TO ENHANCE WCN'S FIELD-BASED CONSERVATION PARTNERS AND ASSOCIATES' ABILITY TO SAVE ENDANGERED SPECIES IN THE WILD THROUGH PROGRAMS AIMED AT REDUCING HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT, IMPROVING WILDLIFE-FRIENDLY LIVESTOCK PRACTICES, LAND AND CROP MANAGEMENT, DEVELOPING ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMS, MONITORING WILDLIFE, ANTI-POACHING, BUILDING CAPACITY IN AND AROUND PROTECTED AREAS, PROVIDING COMMUNITY EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS, AND RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT WILDLIFE.
- $4.4 million spent. PROGRAM SUPPORT SERVICES - PROVIDE A VARIETY OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO FIELD BASED CONSERVATION PARTNERS AND ASSOCIATES TO MAXIMIZE THEIR LONG-TERM IMPACTS BY ENHANCING THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL LEADERSHIP CAPACITY. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE STUDENT INTERNSHIPS, GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT, CROSS-SITE EXCHANGES, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENT, TRAINING WORKSHOPS, AND ACCESS TO EXPERT ADVICE AND SHORT-TERM SUPPORT (E.G. BUILDING CAPACITY TO IMPROVE ACCOUNTING, DONOR OUTREACH AND MANAGEMENT, GRANT WRITING, USE OF TECHNOLOGY, ETC.).
- $1.5 million spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH - INFORM THE PUBLIC OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION CHALLENGES AND COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS IMPLEMENTED BY SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST INNOVATIVE AND SUCCESSFUL WILDLIFE CONSERVATIONISTS THROUGH A SERIES OF ANNUAL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION EVENTS (INCLUDING THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION EXPO), NEWSLETTERS, AND WEBSITE.
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 October 2002.
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.