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Michigan Wildlife Habitat Foundation

EIN 38-2303728 · Bath, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 42% 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

TO RESTORE AND CONSERVE FISH, WILDLIFE, AND HABITAT THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND TEACH MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC TO DO THE SAME.

Income
$467,646
Spending
$284,620
Spent on programs
42%
Reserves
47.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 53%
Employees
8

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 47.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 39% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 79% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    42% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 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 (3)
  1. $81,264 spent. THE CONSERVANCY HAS CONTINUED ITS INVOLVEMENT IN SEVERAL STATEWIDE PROJECTS AND HAS BEEN MAKING INROADS WITH COLLABORATORS TO BETTER SERVE WILDLIFE. OUR "INSTITUTE FOR RARE MAMMALS STUDIES" (IRMS) HAS BEEN FOCUSING ON TRACKING PINE MARTENS AND FISHERS IN THE LOWER PENINSULA, TWO WEASEL SPECIES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY ELIMINATED THROUGH HUNTING AND HABITAT LOSS BUT HAVE BEEN MAKING A COMEBACK. WE ARE MONITORING GAME CAMERAS STATEWIDE, INCLUDING AT CAMP GRAYLING, WHERE WE HAVE DETECTED MULTIPLE MARTENS WITH THE GOAL OF BETTER UNDERSTANDING THEIR HABITAT NEEDS. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN EXPANDING OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM: "BECOMING OUTDOOR SMART IN SUMMER" BY OFFERING MULTIPLE CAMP SESSIONS PER SUMMER FOR YOUNG AND UPCOMING WILDERNESS EXPERTS. BY HOSTING FIELD TRIPS, CLASSES, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND WORKSHOPS COVERING TOPICS INCLUDING WETLAND CONSERVATION, VERNAL POOLS, FROG DIVERSITY, MUSHROOM AND FUNGI IDENTIFICATION, FORAGING, AND INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT USING FIRE, GOATS, AND OTHER TOOLS AT THE BENGEL WILDLIFE CENTER, WE HAVE BECOME AN EDUCATIONAL LEADER FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT. RECENTLY, OUR DIRECTOR ATTENDED A MULTI-DAY WORKSHOP TO GAIN THE TITLE OF "CERTIFIED PRESCRIBED BURN MANAGER- AND WILL USE THESE CREDENTIALS TO APPLY FIRES TO IMPROVE PLANT DIVERSITY AND HABITAT VALUE NOT ONLY AT THE BWC BUT STATEWIDE. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO RESTORING WILDLIFE HABITAT AND TEACHING OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. THE CONSERVANCY HAS CONTINUED ITS INVOLVEMENT IN SEVERAL STATEWIDE PROJECTS AND HAS BEEN MAKING INROADS WITH COLLABORATORS TO BETTER SERVE WILDLIFE. OUR "INSTITUTE FOR RARE MAMMALS STUDIES" (IRMS) HAS BEEN FOCUSING ON TRACKING PINE MARTENS AND FISHERS IN THE LOWER PENINSULA, TWO WEASEL SPECIES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY ELIMINATED THROUGH HUNTING AND HABITAT LOSS BUT HAVE BEEN MAKING A COMEBACK. WE ARE MONITORING GAME CAMERAS STATEWIDE, INCLUDING AT CAMP GRAYLING, WHERE WE HAVE DETECTED MULTIPLE MARTENS WITH THE GOAL OF BETTER UNDERSTANDING THEIR HABITAT NEEDS. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN EXPANDING OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM: "BECOMING OUTDOOR SMART IN SUMMER" BY OFFERING MULTIPLE CAMP SESSIONS PER SUMMER FOR YOUNG AND UPCOMING WILDERNESS EXPERTS. BY HOSTING FIELD TRIPS, CLASSES, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND WORKSHOPS COVERING TOPICS INCLUDING WETLAND CONSERVATION, VERNAL POOLS, FROG DIVERSITY, MUSHROOM AND FUNGI IDENTIFICATION, FORAGING, AND INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT USING FIRE, GOATS, AND OTHER TOOLS AT THE BENGEL WILDLIFE CENTER, WE HAVE BECOME AN EDUCATIONAL LEADER FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT. RECENTLY, OUR DIRECTOR ATTENDED A MULTI-DAY WORKSHOP TO GAIN THE TITLE OF "CERTIFIED PRESCRIBED BURN MANAGER- AND WILL USE THESE CREDENTIALS TO APPLY FIRES TO IMPROVE PLANT DIVERSITY AND HABITAT VALUE NOT ONLY AT THE BWC BUT STATEWIDE. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO RESTORING WILDLIFE HABITAT AND TEACHING OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.
  2. $3,722 spent. PRODUCE NEWSLETTERS FOR MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC TO INFORM ABOUT PROJECTS AND VARIOUS INTERESTING WILDLIFE IN MICHIGAN AND THE UNITED STATES. PROMOTE MEMBERSHIP SOCIAL TIME TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTERISM WITH VARIOUS PROGRAMS.
  3. $33,236 spent. OTHER

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 May 1980.

    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.