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Wilderness Center Inc

EIN 34-0943581 · Wilmot, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood89 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CONNECT OUR COMMUNITY WITH NATURE, EDUCATE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, CONSERVE NATURAL RESOURCES AND PRACTICE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
58.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 42%
Employees
23
Volunteers
151
Highest pay
$132,667, executive director

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 58.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    9 of 15

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

  • 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 (3)
  1. $645,483 spent. THE WILDERNESS CENTER'S CONSERVATION PROGRAM CURRENTLY PROTECTS MORE THAN 3,500 ACRES OF FOREST, WETLANDS, GRASSLANDS & FARMLANDS & MORE THAN 13 MILES OF STREAMS IN A 7-COUNTY AREA. TWC CURRENTLY OWNS (IN FEE) 2,177 ACRES & HOLDS CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON 1,328 ACRES. TWC HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROTECTION & ENHANCEMENT OF 96 ACRES OF HABITAT VIA THE COMMUNITY WATERSHED CONSERVAON PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES LANDOWNERS WITH A PLAN TO ENHANCE OR RESTORE WILDLIFE HABITAT ON THEIR PROPERTY THROUGH THE USE OF NON-BINDING AGREEMENTS. TWC ALSO BEGAN LARGE-SCALE RESTORATION ON 3 PROPERTIES TOTALING 54 ACRES OF INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT, WETLAND CREATION & RESTORATION, & HARDWOOD FOREST MANAGEMENT.
  2. $392,911 spent. THE WILDERNESS CENTER'S EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS DEDICATED TO FOSTERING A DEEP CONNECTION BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS & THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. THROUGH A DIVERSE ARRAY OF INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS, WE AIM TO INSPIRE CURIOSITY, INSTILL ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, AND PROMOTE LIFELONG LEARNING. TWC OFFERS A VARIETY OF FORMAL (SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, ETC.) AND NON-FORMAL (INTERPRETIVE HIKES, CITIZEN SCIENCE, ETC.) EDUCATIONAL CLASSES TO MEMBERS & THE PUBLIC THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. TWC SERVED OVER 6,000 MEMBERS AND GUESTS IN TOTAL FOR THE 2025 FISCAL YEAR. OVER 2,500 OF THOSE WERE SCHOOL-BASED AND OTHER YOUTH-BASED PROGRAMMING OFFERED ON AND OFF-SITE. OVER 3,000 OF THOSE PARTICIPANTS WERE THOSE ATTENDING FAMILY FRIENDLY PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS OVER 300 ADULT PARTICIPANTS TO VARIOUS EDUCATIONALPROGRAMS.
  3. $290,245 spent. THE WILDERNESS CENTER'S FACILITIES INCLUDE AN INTERPRETIVE BUILDING CONTAINING CLASSROOMS, MEETING ROOMS, EXHIBITS, A WILDLIFE OBSERVATION ROOM AND A BOOKSTORE/GIFT SHOP. TWC'S ASTRONOMY EDUCATION BUILDING HOUSES AN OBSERVATORY AND THE FRED F. SILK PLANETARIUM. TWC OFFERS 10 MILES OF HIKING TRAILS, PICNIC SHELTERS AND AN OBSERVATION TOWER FOR THE PUBLIC'S ENJOYMENT AND ENRICHMENT. TWC IS ALSO HOME TO A NATURE PLAYSCAPE AND A NATIVE PLANT NURSERY.

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 October 1964.

    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.