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National Whitetail Deer Education

EIN 34-1821699 · Cambridge, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceGood77 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE NATIONAL WHITETAIL DEER EDUCATION FOUNDATION IS TO RECONNECT YOUTH AND FAMILIES WITH OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND RECREATION BY HELPING TO FOSTER AND DEVELOP A LIFE-LONG APPRECIATION FOR THE OUTDOORS AND NATURE. OUR COMMITMENT TO THIS MISSION IS BEST DEMONSTRATED THROUGH OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF THE DEERASSIC PARK EDUCATION CENTER. DEERASSIC PARK IS HOME TO NATURE TRAILS, PONDS, SHOOTING AND ARCHERY RANGES, AND MANY OTHER EDUCATIONAL AREAS AS WELL AS DEER PENS WHICH HOUSE A LIVE DEER HERD NUMBERING APPROXIMATELY 24 HEAD. THESE AREAS PROVIDE THE PERFECT FRAMEWORK FOR TEACHING RESPECT AND APPRECIATION OF NATURE AT THE MANY FIELD TRIPS, CAMPS, COMMUNITY EVENTS AND OTHER OUTDOOR EDUCATION EVENTS HELD EACH YEAR.

Income
$4.3 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 67%
Employees
44
Volunteers
83
Highest pay
$136,740, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    5 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 September 30, 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 (4)
  1. $255,940 spent. IN AN AVERAGE YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION WILL HOST OVER 80 SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, CAMPS AND OTHER EVENTS, WITH OVER 5,800 YOUTH AND 1,300 ADULTS ATTENDING. THE FOCUS OF THESE EVENTS IS TO TEACH STUDENTS TO EXPLORE AND ENJOY THE OUTDOORS. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS SUCH AS ARCHERY, FISHING, RIFLERY, TOURING OUR ONSITE NATURE CENTER, CANOEING, KAYAKING, AND MANY OTHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDING DISSECTING OWL PELLETS AS WELL AS VIEWING, FEEDING, AND LEARNING ABOUT OUR LIVE DEER HERD.
  2. $298,873 spent. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES EDUCATIONAL AREAS THAT ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON A SEASONAL BASIS FREE OF CHARGE. THESE AREAS INCLUDE AN EDUCATIONAL WELCOME CENTER WITH HANDS ON DISPLAYS RELATED TO OHIO NATIVE WILDLIFE AND PLANTS AS WELL AS A DISPLAY OF OVER 70 OF THE LARGEST WHITETAIL DEER EVER HARVESTED IN THE STATE OF OHIO KNOWN AS THE OHIO WHITETAIL HALL OF FAME AT DEERASSIC PARK. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION HOSTS SEVERAL OTHER FAMILY AND COMMUNITY EVENTS DESIGNED FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS ALIKE. THESE EVENTS ARE GENERALLY FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND ALLOW FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GET OUT AND ENJOY THE OUTDOORS AT OUR 160 PLUS ACRE DEERASSIC PARK EDUCATION CENTER. THESE EVENTS WILL NORMALLY SEE ATTENDANCE OF OVER 7,500 INDIVIDUALS TO ENJOY ACTIVITIES FROM FISHING DERBIES AND AN OVERNIGHT ARCHERY CAMP TO OUR MONTHLY WILD WEDNESDAY EDUCATIONAL SERIES FEATURING TOPICS SUCH AS GINSENG HUNTING AND BUILDING BLUE BIRD BOXES.
  3. $1.6 million spent. EACH YEAR, THE NATIONAL WHITETAIL DEER EDUCATION FOUNDATION HOSTS THE DEERASSIC CLASSIC OUTDOOR EXPO. THIS EVENT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST OUTDOOR EVENTS FOR HUNTING, FISHING, AND NATURE CONSERVATION ENTHUSIASTS IN THE COUNTRY. WITH OVER 15,000 ATTENDEES AND OVER 100 EXHIBITORS, THE TWO-DAY EVENT SERVES AS AN ANNUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR HUNTERS, FISHERMEN AND NATURE CONSERVATIONIST TO RECHARGE THEIR PASSION AND LEARN ABOUT NEW PRODUCTS, TECHNIQUES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
  4. $17,481 spent. OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1997.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.