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Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida Inc

EIN 59-3277808 · Tallahassee, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FISH & WILDLIFE FOUNDATION OF FLORIDA IS A NONPROFIT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION THAT SEEKS TO PROTECT OUR OUTSTANDING ANIMALS AND PLANTS AND THE LANDS AND WATERS THEY NEED TO SURVIVE. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION (FWC) AND MANY OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS. SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 1994, WE HAVE RAISED AND DONATED NEARLY $100 MILLION FOR CONSERVATION AND OUTDOOR RECREATION, INCLUDING YOUTH OUTDOOR EDUCATION.

Income
$25.8 million
Spending
$17.8 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 71%
Employees
14
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$251,026, president/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 22 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 June 30, 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. $2.8 million spent. IN FLORIDA, THE GOPHER TORTOISE IS LISTED AS THREATENED. BOTH THETORTOISE AND ITS BURROW ARE PROTECTED UNDER STATE LAW. GOPHER TORTOISESMUST BE RELOCATED BEFORE ANY LAND CLEARING OR DEVELOPMENT TAKES PLACE,AND PROPERTY OWNERS MUST OBTAIN PERMITS FROM THE FLORIDA FISH &WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION (FWC) BEFORE CAPTURING AND RELOCATINGTORTOISES. THE FISH & WILDLIFE FOUNDATION OF FLORIDA IS THE RECIPIENTORGANIZATION FOR THESE MITIGATION PERMIT FEES AND DISTRIBUTES THEM BACKTO FWC UPON REQUEST.
  2. $4.5 million spent. THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION (FWC) DIVISION OFHUNTING AND GAME MANAGEMENT'S HUNTER SAFETY AND PUBLIC SHOOTING RANGESECTION HAS SUCH POWERS, DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND FUNCTIONS AS ARENECESSARY TO PROVIDE HUNTER SAFETY TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION WHICHNECESSITATES THE DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC SHOOTING RANGESINCLUDING THE ONE AT TENOROC FISH MANAGEMENT AREA, TRIPLE N WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA, PALM BEACH COUNTY AND IN BAY COUNTY. THE FISH & WILDLIFE FOUNDATION OF FLORIDA MANAGES THE FUNDS FOR THOSE RANGES.
  3. $506,543 spent. IN FLORIDA, THERE ARE 37 STATE-DESIGNATED THREATENED SPECIES INCLUDED IN THE IMPERILED SPECIES MANAGEMENT PLAN (ISMP). THE PERMITTING STANDARD FOR THE INCIDENTAL TAKE OF THESE SPECIES REQUIRES THAT APPLICANTS ACHIEVE A CONSERVATION BENEFIT FOR THE SPECIES. ONE OPTION FOR ACHIEVING A CONSERVATION BENEFIT IS THE CONTRIBUTION OF FUNDS USED TO ENHANCE SPECIES SURVIVAL. THE FISH & WILDLIFE FOUNDATION OF FLORIDA IS THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION FOR THESE MITIGATION PERMIT FEES AND DISTRIBUTES THEM BACK TO FWC UPON REQUEST.
  4. $8.3 million spent. SUPPORT TO THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION AND OTHER FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION GROUPS AND ASSOCIATED PROJECTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1995.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.