Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

International Wolf Center

EIN 41-1543539 · Brooklyn Park, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER USES SCIENCE-BASED EDUCATION TO TEACH AND INSPIRE THE WORLD ABOUT WOLVES, THEIR ECOLOGY, AND THE WOLF-HUMAN RELATIONSHIP.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
26.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
31
Volunteers
98
Highest pay
$179,349, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 26.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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. $1.7 million spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMS/EXHIBITS:THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER WELCOMED NEARLY 39,000 VISITORS TO ITS INTERPRETIVE CENTER IN ELY, MN IN 2025. ADMITTANCE TO THE VISITOR CENTER ALLOWS VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE DAILY PROGRAMS LED BY EDUCATION STAFF, THE DISCOVER WOLVES! EXHIBIT, ALONG WITH EXHIBITS ABOUT WOLVES IN THE ARCTIC AND MOOSE AND WOLVES AND A SPECIAL EXHIBIT DESIGNED FOR YOUNG LEARNERS.
  2. $8,356 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMMING:1,907 PARTICIPANTS LEARNED ABOUT WOLVES DURING THEIR CUSTOMIZED GROUP VISIT TO THE VISITOR CENTER. 104 PARTICIPANTS JOINED A LEARNING ADVENTURE AND EXPLORED THE WORLD OF WOLVES THROUGH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, PRESENTATIONS, AND GAMES AS WELL AS OFF-SITE HIKES AND HOWLING ADVENTURES IN THE SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST. IWC EDUCATION STAFF ALSO PRESENTED WOLF EDUCATION OUTREACH TO NON-SCHOOL AND OFF-SITE GROUPS FOR 2,944 ADULTS, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
  3. $2,600 spent. ONLINE PROGRAMMING:THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER REACHES AUDIENCES BEYOND OUR INTERPRETIVE CENTER THROUGH ONLINE PROGRAMS INCLUDING 16 WEBINARS WITH 3,527 ATTENDEES. WEBINARS TEACH ABOUT WOLF BEHAVIOR, PACK DYNAMICS AND WOLF RESEARCH AROUND THE WORLD. 4,825 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN A WOLFLINK VIRTUAL LEARNING FIELD TRIP. WOLFLINK PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED TO SCHOOL CLASSROOMS AND PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT AND OBSERVE OUR AMBASSADOR WOLVES LIVE VIA WEBCAMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 November 6, 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 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 January 1987.

    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 November 4, 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.