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Southeastern Wildlife Exposition Inc

EIN 31-1491910 · Charleston, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood87 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, OUR MISSION IS TO...1) SHOWCASE THE NATION'S FINEST WILDLIFE ART2) CREATE AWARENESS FOR THE CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT3) POSITIVELY INFLUENCE WILDLIFE AND NATURE EDUCATION4) IMPACT THE LOCAL AND STATEWIDE ECONOMIES THROUGH INCREASED TOURISMTHE CULMINATION OF OUR WORK HAPPENS EVERY FEBRUARY IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA. THE LARGEST EVENT OF ITS KIND IN THE U.S., SEWE PROMISES ATTENDEES UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES AS WE GATHER TO SHARE OUR COLLECTIVE LOVE FOR WILDLIFE AND NATURE AND RECOGNIZE OUR ROLE IN PROTECTING THEM FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.OUR MISSION TO PRESERVE THE WILD INSPIRES EVERYTHING WE DO AT SEWE. IT IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR EVENT, THE INTEGRITY OF OUR CONSERVATION PROMISE AND THE CREATIVITY BEHIND OUR WILDLIFE ART.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
17 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 47%
Employees
17
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$242,730, president, ceo

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (environment, $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

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    10 of 10

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

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $3.8 million spent. OUR STORY - SINCE THE INAUGURAL SEWE WAS HELD IN FEBRUARY 1983, WE HAVE BECOME AN IMPORTANT AND HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED EVENT IN CHARLESTON, KICKING OFF THE CITY'S TOURISM SEASON AND BECOMING SYNONYMOUS WITH PRESIDENTS' DAY WEEKEND CELEBRATIONS. THE ORIGINAL SHOW HOSTED 100 ARTIST AND EXHIBITORS AND 5,000 ATTENDEES. NOW SEWE WELCOMES APPROXIMATELY 500 ARTISTS, EXHIBITORS AND WILDLIFE EXPERTS AND 40,000 ATTENDEES ANNUALLY, GENERATING AN ESTIMATED $33 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT EVERY YEAR.WE ARE PROUD OF THE LEGACY WE HAVE BUILT IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE CONSERVATION WORLD, AND WE ARE THANKFUL TO THOSE WHO MAKE SEWE A TRADITION EVERY FEBRUARY.WHILE WE CONTINUE TO GROW, EVOLVE OUR VISION AND DIVERSIFY OUR SHOW TO ENTERTAIN OUR LOYAL ATTENDEES, ONE THING HAS NOT CHANGED -- WE HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL REMAIN A CELEBRATION OF WILDLIFE ART AND THE SPORTING LIFESTYLE.SEWE IS AS IMPORTANT TODAY AS IT HAS EVER BEEN. OUR ORGANIZATION'S MULTIFACETED MISSION IS IMPERATIVE ON MANY FRONTS. EACH EVENT BRINGS US CLOSER TO REACHING THE GOALS WE SET WHEN SEWE WAS FOUNDED IN 1983 -- TO MAKE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS, THROUGH ENTERTAINMENT, TO THE GENRE OF WILDLIFE ART, CONSERVATION, EDUCATION AND THE LOCAL, REGIONAL AND STATE ECONOMIES.OUR IMPACT - EACH YEAR, SEWE AIMS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOCAL, REGIONAL AND STATE ECONOMIES WHILE PROMOTING WILDLIFE ART AND NATURE CONSERVATION. SEWE'S IMPACT ON CHARLESTON AND THE STATE CONTINUES TO GROW, AS DOES ITS POPULARITY. EACH YEAR, OUR EVENT GENERATES AN ESTIMATED $33 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT; IT PROVIDES THE PUBLIC WITH EASY AND AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO WILDLIFE AND NATURE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS; IT INCREASES AWARENESS ABOUT THE NEED TO PROTECT OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT; AND, IT CELEBRATES OUR COLLECTIVE LOVE FOR WILDLIFE AND NATURE.

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 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 June 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 November 2003.

    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.