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Wildlife Center of Virginia

EIN 54-1215402 · Waynesboro, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF ILL OR INJURED WILD ANIMALS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

Income
$4.4 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
18.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
43
Volunteers
76
Highest pay
$137,297, sr vice pres

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

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

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.5 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 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

    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, 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 (3)
  1. $872,745 spent. THE CENTER HOSTS A ROBUST AND CURRENT WEBSITE THAT INCLUDES SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES ON WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, A USER-FRIENDLY "I NEED RESCUE ADVICE" SECTION, AND FREQUENT UPDATES ON CENTER PATIENTS. THE CENTER'S WEBSITE ALSO PROVIDES A LIVE WEBCAM FEED OF PATIENTS AND EDUCATION ANIMALS, ACCESSIBLE TO VIEWERS WORLDWIDE THROUGH THE INTERNET. IN ADDITION, DURING 2024 THE CENTER OUTREACH STAFF PRESENTED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS REACHING MORE THAN 6,517 CHILDREN AND ADULTS AT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT VIRGINIA; AND TWENTY-ONE ONLINE PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS EMPHASIZE EDUCATION LESSONS FROM THE THOUSANDS OF WILD ANIMALS THAT ARRIVE AT THE WILDLIFE CENTER'S DOORSTEP EVERY YEAR IN NEED OF CARE. THE STORIES OF THESE ANIMALS ILLUSTRATE THE WIDER PROBLEMS WILDLIFE FACE LITTER, PESTICIDES, FREE-ROAMING DOMESTIC ANIMALS, HABITAT LOSS, AND DISEASES AND CHALLENGE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT WILDLIFE. THE CENTER HOSTS A ROBUST AND CURRENT WEBSITE THAT INCLUDES SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES ON WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, A USER-FRIENDLY "I NEED RESCUE ADVICE" SECTION, AND FREQUENT UPDATES ON CENTER PATIENTS. THE CENTER'S WEBSITE ALSO PROVIDES A LIVE WEBCAM FEED OF PATIENTS AND EDUCATION ANIMALS, ACCESSIBLE TO VIEWERS WORLDWIDE THROUGH THE INTERNET. IN ADDITION, DURING 2024 THE CENTER OUTREACH STAFF PRESENTED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS REACHING MORE THAN 6,517 CHILDREN AND ADULTS AT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT VIRGINIA; AND TWENTY-ONE ONLINE PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS EMPHASIZE EDUCATION LESSONS FROM THE THOUSANDS OF WILD ANIMALS THAT ARRIVE AT THE WILDLIFE CENTER'S DOORSTEP EVERY YEAR IN NEED OF CARE. THE STORIES OF THESE ANIMALS ILLUSTRATE THE WIDER PROBLEMS WILDLIFE FACE LITTER, PESTICIDES, FREE-ROAMING DOMESTIC ANIMALS, HABITAT LOSS, AND DISEASES AND CHALLENGE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT WILDLIFE.
  2. $1.2 million spent. THE CENTER PROVIDED VETERINARY TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION FOR 4,604 WILD ANIMALS SUFFERING FROM INJURY OR DISEASE.
  3. $489,278 spent. VETERINARY INTERNS AND STUDENTS FROM VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS RECEIVED ADVANCED TRAINING IN THE TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF ILL OR INJURED WILD ANIMALS.

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 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 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 March 1983.

    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.