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Second Chance Wildlife Center Inc

EIN 52-1927600 · Clarksburg, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDE INJURED, ILL, AND ORPHANED WILD ANIMALS WITH COMPASSIONATE REHABILITATIVE CARE, RELEASE THEM BACK TO NATURE, AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE ANIMALS AND HOW TO HELP AND CO-EXIST WITH THEM.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
14
Volunteers
43
Highest pay
$139,000, staff presid

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 52% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

    10 of 10 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 (4)
  1. $797,726 spent. VETERINARY CARE AND REHABILITATION: SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1995, SCWC HAS PROVIDED CARE AND REHABILITATION TO ILL, INJURED, AND ORPHANED WILDLIFE, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY HUMAN ACTIVITIES, WITH THE GOAL OF RETURNING THEM TO THE WILD. SCWC IS LICENSED TO OPERATE UNDER PERMITS ISSUED BY THE US FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE AND THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. SCWC'S OPERATIONS WERE TRANSFERRED FROM THE PRIOR FACILITY IN GAITHERSBURG, MD TO ITS NEWLY CONSTRUCTED, LARGER FACILITY IN CLARKSBURG, MD IN DECEMBER 2025. IN 2025, SCWC ADMITTED 2,568 WILDLIFE PATIENTS REPRESENTING 138 DIFFERENT SPECIES. (CONTINUED ON SCHUEDLE O)
  2. EDUCATING THE PUBLIC: WORKS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WILDLIFE AND HOW TO LIVE IN CLOSER HARMONY WITH NATURE. SCWC STAFF RESPONDED TO OVER 8,000 TELEPHONE CALLS AND EMAILS FROM THE PUBLIC TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW PROPERLY TO RESPOND TO ENCOUNTERED WILDLIFE. SCWC'S NEWSLETTER, BROCHURES, STAFF PRESENTATIONS TO RESIDENTS AND GROUPS, VIDEOS, SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGING, AND PERSONAL INTERACTIONS AT ITS WILDLIFE REHABILITATION FACILITY PROVIDE EDUCATION AND EXPERT ADVICE ABOUT WILDLIFE CARE AND THE PRESERVATION OF MARYLAND'S WILDLIFE RESOURCES. SCWC'S YEAR- ROUND INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES HANDS-ON TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP TO COLLEGE STUDENTS CONSIDERING CAREERS IN WILDLIFE CARE, WILDLIFE BIOLOGY, VETERINARY CARE, AND MORE.
  3. A SOURCE OF WILDLIFE INFORMATION AND EXPERTISE FOR GOVERNMENT & PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: FUNCTIONS AS A WILDLIFE REFERRAL AND INFORMATIONAL RESOURCE TO LOCAL RESIDENTS, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, STUDENTS, AND EDUCATORS. SCWC'S PRESIDENT PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES AS THE WILDLIFE REHABILITATION REPRESENTATIVE TO THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE. NEW MONTGOMERY COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES CALL CENTER OPERATORS FREQUENTLY TRAIN WITH SCWC'S TELEPHONE HOTLINE STAFF AS PART OF THEIR ONBOARDING PROCESS. SCWC SENIOR STAFF ARE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REHABILITATORS ASSOCIATION AND THE MARYLAND WILDLIFE REHABILITATORS ASSOCIATION. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
  4. LINE 4A - FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENT (CONTINUED) AFTER REHABILITATION, SCWC RETURNED TO THE WILD A WIDE RANGE OF LOCAL AND MIGRATORY SPECIES SUCH AS HAWKS, OWLS, VULTURES, WATERFOWL, SHOREBIRDS, SONGBIRDS, SQUIRRELS, RABBITS, OPOSSUMS, BATS, SNAKES, TURTLES, AND MORE. OUR CLINIC DIRECTOR, WHO HOLDS A MASTER WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR'S PERMIT, AND OUR FULL-TIME WILDLIFE VETERINARIAN, WHO IS LICENSED BY THE STATE OF MARYLAND, SET AND ENFORCE OUR ANIMAL CARE POLICIES AND PROTOCOLS BASED ON STATE AND FEDERAL GUIDELINES AS WELL AS BEST PRACTICES LEARNED FROM YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING AT WILDLIFE CARE FACILITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. LINE 4C - THIRD ACCOMPLISHMENT (CONTINUED) SCWC IS A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE REHABILITATORS COUNCIL. SCWC SENIOR STAFF ATTEND PROFESSIONAL WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CONFERENCES AND SHARE THEIR EXPERTISE WHILE ALSO STAYING ABREAST OF NEW TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS FOR WILDLIFE CARE. ALL CLINIC STAFF PARTICIPATE IN CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING ANNUALLY. SCWC HAS WORKED IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH MARYLAND AND FEDERAL AGENCIES REGARDING RELEVANT PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES, SUCH AS AVIAN FLU AND RABIES, AND MAKES ANNUAL STATISTICAL REPORTS TO AGENCIES AS TO PATIENT CARE AND OUTCOMES.

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 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 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 October 1995.

    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.

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