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Wildlife Research Institute

EIN 33-0750949 · Julian, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WRI IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION BASED IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF WILDLIFE THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, COOPERATIVE WORK WITH GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, AND LAND TRUST MANAGEMENT

Income
$-26,646
Spending
$53,948
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
9.4 months of spending
Employees
0
Volunteers
29

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes -0% of what it owns.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 163% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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.

  • 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, 2024, 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 (2)
  1. $43,158 spent. HAWK WATCH:THESE EVENTS HELP THE CITIZENS AND FAMILIES OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGION UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVING THE REMAINING GRASSLANDS IN CALIFORNIA. FURTHER, IT HELPS INSTRUCT THE CITIZENS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HAWKS AND OWLS IN THIS ECOSYSTEM.POISON FREE SAN DIEGO CAMPAIGN: WRI CONTINUED THIS INITIATIVE THAT HAS EXPANDED TO PROVIDING WILDLIFE-SAFE ALTERNATIVE PEST CONTROL SOLUTIONS AS A PRODUCTS VENDOR. tHE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TOEDUCATE THE PUBLIC, AGRICULTURAL FACILITIES SUCH AS VINEYARDS, RANCHES AND COUNTY AGENCIES OF THE IMPORTANCE TO ADOPT A POISON FREE RESOLUTION.
  2. GOLDEN EAGLE SURVEY PROJECT - 2022 WAS WRI'S 34TH YEAR OF EAGLE SURVEY AND MONITORING. INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF DRONE MONITORING.OUR MISSION STATEMENT:1 - TO DOCUMENT PAST AND PRESENT GOLDEN EAGLE NESTS AND THEIR TERRITORIES,2 - TO DOCUMENT PAST AND PRESENT GOLDEN EAGLE FORAGING AREAS WHICH ARE CRITICAL AREAS FOR THE SUCCESS OF CURRENT AND FUTURE PAIRS OF EAGLES.3 - TO MONITOR AND DOCUMENT THE LONG-TERM DYNAMICS OF GOLDEN EAGLE NESTIN TERRITORIES INCLUDING NATURAL THREATS, THREATS FROM HUMAN DISTURBANCE AND CHANGE OVER TIME.4 - TO MONITOR AND DOCUMENT THE PAIRS, THEIR LIFE HISTORY AND ANY OTHER DATA WHICH MAY HELP EVALUATE THE FUTURE SUCCESS OF THE SPECIES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 1998.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Arc Research Institute (Palo Alto, CA), EIN 87-1920284. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.