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Ohio Wildlife Center

EIN 31-1182372 · Powell, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OHIO WILDLIFE CENTER IS DEDICATED TO FOSTERING AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION OF OHIO'S NATIVE WILDLIFE THROUGH REHABILITATION, EDUCATION, AND WILDLIFE HEALTH STUDIES. THE CENTER IS THE STATE'S LARGEST, DONATION-SUPPORTED WILDLIFE HOSPITAL AND IS A LEADER FOR WILDLIFE RESCUE AND REHABILITATION. NEARLY 8,700 INJURED, ILL, OR ORPHANED WILDLIFE ARE PRESENTED TO OHIO WILDLIFE CENTER FOR REHABILITATION CARE FROM MORE THAN 60 OF THE 88 COUNTIES IN OHIO.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
17.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
35
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$111,473, executive director

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    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.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $1.1 million spent. WILDLIFE REHABILITATION:CARING FOR ILL, INJURED, AND ORPHANED WILDLIFE WITH THE GOAL OF THEIR HEALTHY RELEASE BACK INTO THE WILD IS THE PRIMARY MISSION OF OHIO WILDLIFE CENTER. IN 2025, THE CENTER ADMITTED 8,700 ANIMALS FOR CARE,THE CENTER PARTNERS WITH ITS TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS AND LOCAL CORRECTIONAL \INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE CARE FOR ADMITTED ANIMALS OFFSITE. PATIENTS REQUIRE REGULAR ONGOING FEEDING, QUIET SURROUNDINGS, AND CARE. THE CENTER'S PRE-RELEASE FACILITY REPLICATES NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS FOR ANIMALS ON THE LAST LEG OF THEIR JOURNEY. STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE BASIC NEEDS LIKE FOOD AND MONITOR ANIMALS FOR KEY BEHAVIORS TO ENSURE THEY ARE HEALTHY AND CAPABLE OF BEING RELEASED BACK TO THE WILD.WILDLIFE & CONSERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAMSOHIO WILDLIFE CENTER STRIVES TO INSTILL A GREATER APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF WILD ANIMALS AND CAN HELP PREVENT HARMFUL INTERACTIONS THUS REDUCING THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS ADMITTED TO ITS DONATION-BASED ANIMAL HOSPITAL.OHIO WILDLIFE CENTER OFFERS EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES. PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED BOTH ON AND OFFSITE WITH A FOCUS ON REDUCING COMMUNITY WILDLIFE CONFLICTS THROUGH AN APPRECIATION OF NATIVE SPECIES. IN 2025, OHIO WILDLIFE CENTER LED 321 ON AND OFFSITE PROGRAMS, REACHING APPROXIMATELY 22,409 PEOPLE. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDED 23 SECOND SUNDAY AND WILD STORY TIMES, REACHING APPROXIMATELY 1,392 PEOPLE. OHIO WILDLIFE CENTER ALSO HOSTED SUMMER CAMP FOR 310 CHILDREN AGES 3 THROUGH 16.ALL PROGRAMS ARE SUPPORTED BY OVER 60 ANIMALS AMBASSADORS REPRESENTING MANY OF OHIO'S NATIVE SPECIES. ALL OF THE AMBASSADORS WERE FORMER PATIENTS OF THE WILDLIFE HOSPITAL AND BECAME AMBASSADORS WHEN THEY WERE DIAGNOSED AS NON-RELEASABLE, EITHER DUE TO A PERMANENT INJURY THAT AFFECTS THEIR ABILITY TO HUNT SUCCESSFULLY OR BECAUSE THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN INHABITED TO HUMAN CARE. THESE ANIMALS ARE PERMANENT RESIDENTS OF OHIO WILDLIFE CENTER AND ARE CARED FOR EVERY DAY BY THE EDUCATION STAFF AS WELL AS ROTATING INTERNS FROM OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH OTTERBEIN UNIVERSITY.

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 November 6, 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 January 1987.

    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 November 4, 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.