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Wildlife Habitat Council Inc

EIN 52-1558579 · Bethesda, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) promotes and certifies habitat conservation and management on corporate lands through partnerships and education.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 51%
Employees
27
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$236,032, president

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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 38% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

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

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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, 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. $1.5 million spent. Wildlife Habitat Strategy and Planning: WHC delivers customized, comprehensive services that help companies align conservation efforts with business needs. WHC works with over 80 members and numerous partners to build strong conservation programs on their lands using a variety of approaches that range from the development of conservation plans, implementation of conservation projects on corporate lands, stakeholder and employee engagement in plan design and implementation, and corporate-wide approaches that leverage conservation to meet a business opportunity. The voluntary conservation programs can be found in 47 U.S. States, the District of Columbia and 19 countries. Comprehensive services focus on property-scale efforts and extend to nature-based solutions to climate change. Under the Climate Action Works Initiative, The Organization helps corporate landowners utilize nature-based climate change solutions that are corporate-driven, community-minded, and biodiversity-based. During a year of challenges related to the pandemic, technical expertise was widely dispensed related to the use of conservation and biodiversity as a tool for health and wellness. Another initiative, across fence lines, seeks to connect corporate lands with urban and community forestry.
  2. $944,271 spent. Conservation Conferences: The WHC conservation conference, hosted in person or virtually, provides attendees with educational opportunities, relationship building, and awards recognition. Over 400 individuals attend this annual meeting open to conservation leaders, community members, students, decision-makers, and employee volunteers from all programs engaged in conservation. The summer meeting includes learning sessions and networking events in which participants share successes, discuss challenges, and inspire one another.
  3. $295,738 spent. WHC Conservation Certification: Conservation certification is a voluntary sustainable standard that recognizes meaningful wildlife habitat management and conservation education programs through an objective, third-party review. With over 600 certified programs worldwide, conservation certification produces an aggregated metric for reporting and disclosure, helping companies demonstrate a long-term
  4. $113,834 spent. Membership Services:WHC helps members connect corporate level sustainability goals to meaningful on-the-ground actions through a series of decision tools and strategic engagements that may be utilized for corporate sustainability key performance indicators. These biodiversity and education actions enhance the meaning of corporate conservation throughout the company and ensures the longevity of both implementation and management, which in turn improves conservation and education outcomes. WHC produces several types of guidance, including 22 WHC project guidances that provide suggestions and instruction on the development and implementation of conservation projects across four categories: habitat, species, education and awareness, and other options. WHC also produces white papers, success stories and blogs highlighting case studies from whc members that demonstrate positive outcomes for biodiversity, the environment, and communities. Toolkits and other publications specifically written to support member efforts are also produced.

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 June 1988.

    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.