Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

California Wolf Center

EIN 33-0078906 · Julian, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak18 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • Only 46% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

California Wolf Center is dedicated to the return of wild wolves to their natural habitat and to the people who share the landscape with them. We foster communities coming together to ensure wolves, livestock, and people thrive in todays world.

Income
$952,082
Spending
$963,430
Spent on programs
46%
Reserves
-7.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
20
Volunteers
57
Highest pay
$99,290, former ed

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

Weak: 18 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 47% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    46% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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: 81 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
  1. $239,071 spent. CONSERVATION PROGRAMS: THE CALIFORNIA WOLF CENTER IS THE LARGEST BREEDING AND HOST FACILITY FOR THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED MEXICAN GRAY WOLF IN THE UNITED STATES. CWCS CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN THE AZA SAFE (SAVING ANIMALS FROM EXTINCTION) FOR THE MEXICAN GRAY WOLF HAS HELPED LEAD TO A 50% INCREASE IN THE RETURN OF THE MEXICAN GRAY WOLF TO ITS NATIVE HABITAT IN ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO. CWC HAS PRODUCED TWO LITTERS OF MEXICAN GRAY PUPS FOR SUCESSFUL CROSS-FOSTERING INTO WILD PACKS SINCE 2017. FOR THE SEVEN PACKS LIVING AT OUR FACILITY OUTSIDE JULIAN CA, CWC PROVIDES THE BEST CARE POSSIBLE WITH QUALITY FOOD, STIMULATING ENRICHMENT AND EXCELLENT VETERINARIAN CARE. CWC SUPPORTS CONSERVATION PROGRAMS FOR THE RETURNING POPULATION OF MEXICAN GRAY WOLVES IN THE SOUTHWEST AND THE NORTHWESTERN WOLVES IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
  2. $108,950 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: THE CALIFORNIA WOLF CENTER OFFERS GUIDED TOURS TO THE PUBLIC AT OUR CONSERVATION CENTER AS WELL AS SPECIAL FIELD TRIP PROGRAMS FOR K-12 SSTUDENTS, SCOUT GROUPS AND PRIVATE TOURS. ANNUALLY, OUR PROGRAMS DRAW OVER 12,000 VISITORS TO SEE OUR TWO AMBASSADOR WOLF PACKS IN A NATURAL HABITAT, GAIN KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR BEHAVIOR AND THE IMPORTANT ROLE WOLVES PLAY IN A BALANCED ECOSYSTEM FOR OUR WORLD. CWC MANAGES A VISITOR CENTER & NATURE STORE IN THE POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATION OF DOWNTOWN JULIAN TO ENGAGE WITH VISITORS AND INTRODUCE THEM TO OUR CONSERVATION CENTER THROUGH A CURATED EXHIBITION SPACE WITH HANDS-ON INTERACTIVE ELEMENTS AND SHORT VIDEOS OF OUR WOLVES AND THE WORK WE DO.
  3. $93,369 spent. RESEARCH/VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS: THE CENTER HOSTS ACADEMIC INTERNSHIPS FOR POST-SECONDARY AND PHD LEVEL STUDENTS AT ITS 50-ACRE CONSERVATION CENTER. THESE STUDENTS CONDUCT RESEARCH IN WOLF BIOLOGY, ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR TO GAIN AND SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND FACTS WITH THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY WHICH IN TURN WILL AID IN THE ENDANGERED SPECIES RECOVERY. CWC MAINTAINS AN ACTIVE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION IN EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION. THE TRAINING MODULE FOR VOLUNTEERS IS EXTENSIVE WITH FOCUS ON AREAS TO BECOME LEAD CERTIFIED IN EDUCATION/TOURS, WOLF CARE AND MAINTENANCE/FACILITIES. THE TIME COMMITMENT TO REMAIN ACTIVE IS TEN HOURS PER MONTH; WITH A LIMITED PAID STAFF, CWC RELIES ON VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST IN MANY AREAS AND THIS COMMITMENT HAS AN EXTRAORDINARY IMPACT FOR ALL INVOLVED.

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 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 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 April 1985.

    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.