Passes our checks

Shy Wolf Sanctuary Education and Experience Center Inc

EIN 59-3691867 · Naples, FL

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

What it says it does

TO HEAL HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH RESCUE, SANCTUARY AND EDUCATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
28 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 11.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 41% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15
Income fell 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 15
56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
0 of 25
2 of 2 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15
Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8
Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7
Reports no 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.
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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$444,586 spent. SWS MISSION IS TO HEAL HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH RESCUE, SANCTUARY, AND EDUCATION. THIS IS DONE BY RESCUING CAPTIVE-BRED EXOTIC AND UN-RELEASABLE WILD ANIMALS WITH NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. THEIR STORIES ARE SHARED WITH PARTICIPANTS IN PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE HEALING WITH CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THEIR OWN TRAUMA.THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES FOOD, SHELTER, REHABILITATION, AND MEDICAL CARE FOR ALL ANIMALS AND ARRANGES FOR ADOPTIONS WHEN APPROPRIATE. THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN HOME TO HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS THROUGH THE YEARS AND IN 2024 WAS HOME TO OVER 50 WOLVES/WOLFDOGS AND OTHER EXOTIC ANIMALS. IN 2024, WE ASSISTED WITH THE RESCUE RESCUE OF OVER 10 ANIMALS AND ASSISTED WITH MEDICAL EXPENSES AND NUTRITION FOR AN ADDITIONAL 10 ANIMALS. IN 2024, AN ESTIMATED 4,500 PEOPLE BENEFITED DIRECTLY FROM THE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER INCLUDING COMMUNITY EVENTS, SCHOOL EVENTS, HEALING HEARTS PROGRAM, AND VISITS. INDIRECTLY, SHY WOLF HAS REACHED PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, VIDEOS AND PHOTOS. OUR SOCIAL MEDIA REACH INCLUDES A FOLLOWING OF OVER 225K+ FOLLOWERS ACROSS VARIOUS PLATFORMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 October 2001.
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.