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Wildlife Science Center

EIN 41-1678264 · Stacy, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SERVE AS AN EDUCATONAL RESOURCE FOR ALL AGES; BY: PROVIDING EXPOSURE TO WILD ANIMALS AND THE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE GENERATED FOR THEIR CONVERSATION; TO ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING OF WILD ANIMAL BIOLOGY THROUGH LONG-TERM, HUMANE SCIENTIFIC STUDIES ON CAPTIVE POPULATIONS, THUS

Income
$310,284
Spending
$468,602
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
-1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 57%
Employees
10
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$60,000, executive director

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

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 51% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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

    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 (1)
  1. $403,661 spent. EDUCATION: THE WILDLIFE SCIENCE CENTER PROVIDED PROGRAMS FOR OVER 15,000 VISITORS. PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, NON-SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOL GROUPS AGES PRE-K THROUGH 12 AND POST SECONDARY. EVERY WILDLIFE SCIENCE CENTER EDUCATION PROGRAM IS ALIGNED WITH NATIONAL AND STATE SCIENCE STANDARDS, BUT THE FOCUS OF PRESENTATION DOES NOT INVOLVE SCIENCE. THE SUBJECT OF WOLVES AND WILDLIFE LENDS ITSELF TO DISCUSSIONS OF HISTORY, CULTURE, MATHMATICS, LITERATURE, ART, AND OTHER TOPICS. CLOSE-UP OBSERVATION OF OUR WILDLIFE AFFORDS UNIQUE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FROM COLOR AND SIZE VARIATION TO A MORE IN-DEPTH LOOK AT ADAPTATIONS, BEHAVIORS, MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION. TRAINING: WILDLIFE SCIENCE CENTER CONTINUED A LONG TRADITION OF PROVIDING HANDS-ON TRAINING TO WILD LIFE PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS USING OUR REAL WOLVES AND BEARS. RESEARCH: BIOLOGISTS HAVE SPENT TIME RESEARCHING ANIMALS IN NATURAL HABITAT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN HEALTHY WOLF AND BEAR POPULATIONS.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 May 1995.

    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.