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National Deer Association

EIN 57-0941892 · Bogart, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WITH MEMBERS IN ALL 50 STATES, THE NATIONAL DEER ASSOCIATION (NDA) WORKS CLOSELY WITH HUNTERS, LANDOWNERS, WILDLIFE AGENCIES AND OTHER CONSERVATIONISTS TO IMPROVE DEER HERDS AND HUNTER SATISFACTION ON MILLIONS OF ACRES OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LAND. THE GOALS AND ACTIVITIES OF NDA ARE ACCOMPLISHED WITH ITS STAFF AND EXTENSIVE VOLUNTEER NETWORK. GIVEN NDA'S HISTORY OF USING SCIENCE AND HUNTER ETHICS TO GUIDE SOUND DEER MANAGEMENT DECISIONS, IT IS WIDELY CONSIDERED THE MOST RESPECTED AND INFLUENTIAL DEER CONSERVATION AGENCY IN NORTH AMERICA.

Income
$5.8 million
Spending
$6.0 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 41%
Employees
32
Volunteers
675
Highest pay
$277,179, president & ceo

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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% 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

    17 of 17 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 (1)
  1. $5.4 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE ONATIONAL DEER ASSOCIATION ("NDA") HAD 150,000 MEMBERS DURING 2024. FOUNDED IN 1988, NDA IS A WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ENSURING THE FUTURE OF WILD DEER, WILDLIFE HABITAT AND HUNTING. WE DO THIS BY UNITING HUNTERS, MANAGERS, STATE AGENCIES, THE HUNTING INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND NON-HUNTERS TO ENSURE WELFARE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF DEER POPULATIONS AND THEIR HABITAT, ADVOCATING FOR SUSTAINABLE, SCIENCE-BASED CONSERVATION OF WILD DEER; SERVING AS A LEADING PROVIDER OF CREDIBLE, RESPONSIBLE AND TIMELY INFORMATION ON DEER HUNTING AND MANAGEMENT, EDUCATING HUNTERS AND NON-HUNTERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE ROLE THAT DEER HUNTING PLAYS IN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND INCREASING AND DIVERSIFYING PARTICIPATION AND THE SOCIETAL ACCEPTANCE OF HUNTING. SINCE 2006, NDA HAS CONTRIBUTED TO DEER RESEARCH PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE U.S.; CONDUCTED EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, PROVIDED EXPERT OPINIONS ON PROPOSED POLICIES, REGULATIONS AND PLANS, CERTIFIED HUNTERS, LANDOWNERS AND BIOLOGISTS AND MENTORED THOUSANDS OF YOUNG AND FIRST-TIME HUNTERS.FOUNDED IN 1988, NDA ESTABLISHED IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND MOVED TO GEORGIA IN 1997. NDA ENCOURAGES THE PROTECTION OF MOST, OR ALL YEARLING (1 1/2-YEAR-OLD) BUCKS COMBINED WITH AN APPROPRIATE HARVEST OF DOES, WHEN NECESSARY, TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY POPULATION IN BALANCE WITH HABITAT CONDITIONS AND HUNTER DESIRES. THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTING SERVICES ARE INCLUDED IN THE ACCOMPANYING STATEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES. CONSERVATION & HUNTING HERITAGE OPERATIONS: CONSERVATION OPERATIONS INCLUDE NDA'S NETWORK OF ALL HUNTERS WHO SHARE A PASSION FOR THE WILD DEER. THIS DEPARTMENT BLENDS THE ART OF HUNTING WITH THE SCIENCE OF MANAGEMENT TO CREATE BETTER DEER AND BETTER DEER HUNTING. THESE EFFORTS ARE ACCOMPLISHED USING FIVE KEY AREAS: RESEARCH, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, CERTIFICATION, AND HUNTING. THIS DEPARTMENT IS INVOLVED IN ALL AREAS OF THE WILD DEER RESEARCH INCLUDING ECOLOGY, MANAGEMENT, HUNTING, DISEASES, AND HUMAN DIMENSIONS. THIS DEPARTMENT COORDINATES AND FUNDS PRACTICAL RESEARCH PROJECTS THAT INCREASE KNOWLEDGE AND MANAGEMENT. VOLUNTEER OPERATIONS AND CHAPTER SUPPORT: VOLUNTEER OPERATION IS THE DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING THE ACTIVITIES OF CHAPTER OPERATIONS, PROVIDE LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND GUIDANCE TO THE STATE COUNCILS AND IDENTIFYING, ASSESSING AND RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF VARIOUS STATES "VOLUNTEER CONSERVATION EFFORTS. IN 2024, THE GRASSROOTS DEPARTMENT CONTINUED TO GROW AND STRENGTHEN VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE. SIX NEW BRANCHES WERE ESTABLISHED, EXPANDING OUR NETWORK OF LOCAL VOLUNTEERS AND ENHANCING OUR MISSION-DRIVEN IMPACT. FIFTEEN BRANCHES HOSTED MISSION-RELATED EVENTS. THESE EVENTS PROVIDED EDUCATION, COMMUNITY AWARENESS, AND GAVE BACK THROUGH VENISON DONATIONS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.COMMUNICATIONS: THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND DEER HUNTERS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF WILD DEER CONSERVATION. THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM PUBLISHES A WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER, OPERATES NDA'S SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS, HOSTS THE DEER SEASON 365 PODCAST, MAINTAINS THE NDA WEBSITE, AND CREATES NUMEROUS NDA REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS FOR ALL OTHER NDA DEPARTMENTS. NDA'S WEBSITE HOSTED MORE THAN 2 MILLION UNIQUE VISITORS IN 2024. ALSO IN 2024, NDA VIDEOS EARNED 4 MILLION VIEWS ON YOUTUBE, 9 MILLION VIEWS ON TIKTOK AND OVER 12 MILLION VIEWS ON META (FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM). IN 2024, NDA HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON POLICY THAT IMPACTS DEER, HUNTING, AND CONSERVATION BY SENDING 27 ACTION ALERTS, AUTHORING, OR SIGNING 50 LETTERS OF SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION, AND ENCOURAGING MORE THAN 1,800 LETTERS FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS. NDA ADDRESSED LANDSCAPE-LEVEL ACCESS AND FOREST HEALTH ISSUES THROUGH THE PUBLIC LANDS INITIATIVE BY HELPING TO IMPROVE 226,128 ACRES OF PUBLIC LAND IN 20 STATES AT A TOTAL VALUE OF $6,382,021. NDA CONTINUED TO PROVIDE SOME OF THE BEST DEER AND HABITAT EDUCATIONAL CONTENT IN THE WORLD BY PUBLISHING MORE THAN 150 COMBINED ARTICLES AND VIDEOS ACROSS OUR VARIOUS PLATFORMS. MORE THAN 10 MILLION PEOPLE WERE REACHED THROUGH NDA'S SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS ALONE. NDA HELD 54 FIELD TO FORK EVENTS ACROSS 13 STATES TO INTRODUCE 481 NEW PEOPLE TO HUNTING AS PART OF OUR R3 INITIATIVES WHILE ALSO GRADUATING 376 NEW DEER STEWARD PARTICIPANTS AT VARIOUS LEVELS. NDA FINISHED ANOTHER STRONG FINANCIAL YEAR HELPED BY SECURING A RECORD NUMBER OF CORPORATE SPONSORS AND CONDUCTING THE ORGANIZATION'S ANNUAL GIVING DAY.

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 December 2002.

    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.