The Humane Society Wildlife Land Tr
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE HUMANE SOCIETY WILDLIFE LAND TRUST (HSWLT) PROTECTS WILDLIFE BY PRESERVING NATURAL HABITATS AND PERMANENT SANCTUARIES.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- -70.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 76%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $702,371, former vice chair
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
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 66% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $1.1 million spent. PERMANENT WILDLIFE SANCTUARY PROTECTION: HSWLT PROTECTS A PORTFOLIO OF WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES COMPRISING MORE THAN 17,000 ACRES IN THE UNITED STATES. ON EACH SANCTUARY, WILDLIFE HABITAT AND OTHER CONSERVATION VALUES ARE MANAGED AND PROTECTED CONSISTENT WITH HSWLT'S MISSION. IN 2025, HSWLT STAFF AND CONTRACTORS CONDUCTED IN-PERSON, PHYSICAL ANNUAL MONITORING INSPECTIONS OF ALL OF THE TRUST'S EASEMENTS. THOSE PHYSICAL INSPECTIONS WERE COMPLIMENTED BY A CONTINUED USAGE OF REMOTE TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS LOW ELEVATION AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND HIGH-RESOLUTION SATELLITE IMAGERY. (CONTINUED on Schedule O) Continued from Part III, Line 4a WILDLIFE AND HABITAT ENHANCEMENT COLLABORATIONS: HSWLT WORKS IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD TO PROMOTE ITS VALUES OF HABITAT AND WILDLIFE PROTECTION. HSWLT PARTICIPATES IN THESE COLLABORATIONS THROUGH ACTIVE CONSULTATION BY HSWLT STAFF WITH LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS IN THE FORM OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND HABITAT ACQUISITION FUNDING.
- $2,779 spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND CONSCIOUSNESS RAISING: HSWLT BELIEVES THAT EDUCATING THE PUBLIC IS AN IMPORTANT WAY TO CREATE A HUMANE AND SUSTAINABLE WORLD FOR ALL ANIMALS-A WORLD THAT WILL ALSO BENEFIT PEOPLE. MANAGEMENT AND STAFF OF HSWLT DEVOTE SUBSTANTIAL PORTIONS OF THEIR TIME, AS WELL AS OPERATIONAL EXPENSES, TO PROGRAM OVERSIGHT, OPERATIONS, AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS AIMED AT WILDLIFE HABITAT PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT. HSWLT SEEKS TO FORGE A LASTING AND COMPREHENSIVE CHANGE IN HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS OF AND BEHAVIOR TOWARD ALL ANIMALS IN ORDER TO PROTECT WILD HABITATS AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF LIFE. (Continued on Schedule O)
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1993.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.