Tennessee Wildlife Federation Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LEADING THE CONSERVATION, SOUND MANAGEMENT, AND WISE USE OF TENNESSEE'S WILDLIFE AND GREAT OUTDOORS, TENNESSEE WILDLIFE FEDERATION ADVOCATES SOUND NATURAL RESOURCE POLICIES AND PROVIDES VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE THE UNDERSTANDING OF TENNESSEE'S ENVIRONMENT AND ENCOURAGES NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND COMMUNITY PLANNING THAT BALANCES CONSERVATION NEEDS WITH SOUND ECONOMIC GROWTH.
- Income
- $6.6 million
- Spending
- $6.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 5.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 39%
- Employees
- 35
- Volunteers
- 931
- Highest pay
- $274,229, 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: 64 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 40% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $3.6 million spent. LAND MANAGEMENT & RESORATION - STEWARDSHIP THE FEDERATION'S HABITAT CONSERVATION PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2012 AND HAS COMPLETED NUMEROUS RESTORATION PROJECTS STATEWIDE. EIGHTEEN WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECTS TOTALING MORE THAN 1,300 ACRES ARE COMPLETE AND FOUR OTHERS ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF PERMITTING. SIX STREAM RESTORATION PROJECTS TOTALING NEARLY ELEVEN MILES OF STREAM ARE NOW COMPLETE, AND THREE ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF PERMITTING. THERE ARE 28 ACTIVE FOREST RESTORATION PROJECTS TOTALING MORE THAN 15,000 ACRES, AND TWO GRASSLAND RESTORATION PROJECTS TOTALING MORE THAN 400 ACRES. COLLECTIVELY, THESE PROJECTS WILL IMPROVE HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE AND INCREASE PUBLIC ACCESS FOR RECREATION. - CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O
- $1.3 million spent. YOUTH ENGAGEMENT - EDUCATION THE SCHOLASTIC CLAY TARGET PROGRAM (SCTP) PROVIDES AN INTRODUCTION TO THE OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE FOR AGES 9 THROUGH COLLEGE YOUTH PARTICIPANTS NATIONWIDE. EACH YEAR, THE PROGRAM ENGAGES THOUSANDS OF STUDENT-ATHLETES WHO COMPETE IN LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL EVENTS, EARNING RECOGNITION FOR THEIR SKILL AND SPORTSMANSHIP. THE SCTP SEASON TYPICALLY RUNS FROM LATE WINTER THROUGH EARLY SUMMER, WITH TEAMS SUPPORTED BY SCHOOLS, 4-H CLUBS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THROUGH THE PROGRAM, YOUNG SHOOTERS GAIN VALUABLE EXPERIENCE IN TEAMWORK, SAFETY, AND COMPETITIVE SHOOTING WHILE DEVELOPING A LIFELONG APPRECIATION FOR THE OUTDOORS. - CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O
- $626,718 spent. CONSERVATION POLICY & ADVOCACY SINCE 1946, WILDLIFE AND NATURAL RESOURCE-FOCUSED POLICY WORK HAS BEEN CENTRAL TO TENNESSEE WILDLIFE FEDERATION'S MISSION. THE FEDERATION IS A STRONG CONSERVATION POLICY LEADER IN THE STATE-WORKING WITH DECISION MAKERS AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND STATE AND FEDERAL NATURAL RESOURCE AGENCIES TO DEVELOP AND IMPROVE LEGISLATION THAT BENEFITS CONSERVATION IN TENNESSEE, THE SOUTHEAST, AND AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. IT ALSO PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN STATEWIDE ADVOCACY-CONNECTING SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN, OUTDOOR BUSINESSES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND OTHER LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS TO SPEAK UP AS A UNIFIED VOICE FOR CONSERVATION. - CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O
- FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENT LAND MANAGEMENT & RESTORATION - STEWARDSHIP THE FEDERATION'S HABITAT CONSERVATION PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2012 AND HAS COMPLETED NUMEROUS RESTORATION PROJECTS STATEWIDE. EIGHTEEN WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECTS TOTALING MORE THAN 1,300 ACRES ARE COMPLETE AND FOUR OTHERS ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF PERMITTING. SIX STREAM RESTORATION PROJECTS TOTALING NEARLY ELEVEN MILES OF STREAM ARE NOW COMPLETE, AND THREE ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF PERMITTING. THERE ARE 28 ACTIVE FOREST RESTORATION PROJECTS TOTALING MORE THAN 15,000 ACRES, AND TWO GRASSLAND RESTORATION PROJECTS TOTALING MORE THAN 400 ACRES. COLLECTIVELY, THESE PROJECTS WILL IMPROVE HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE AND INCREASE PUBLIC ACCESS FOR RECREATION. HUNTERS FOR THE HUNGRY FEEDS TENNESSEANS IN NEED BY PROVIDING HUNGER RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS WITH VENISON DONATED BY GENEROUS HUNTERS. HUNTERS MAY DONATE A DEER, IN PART OR IN WHOLE, AT A PARTICIPATING PROCESSOR. THE DONATION IS PROCESSED AT NO COST TO THE HUNTER AND DELIVERED TO LOCAL HUNGER RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS, PROVIDING NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THE PROGRAM PAYS FOR THE PROCESSING, SO THERE IS NO COST FOR THE RELIEF ORGANIZATION OR THE NEIGHBOR EXPERIENCING HUNGER. SINCE 1998, THE PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED OVER 10.5 MILLION SERVINGS OF LEAN, HIGH-PROTEIN VENISON TO TENNESSEE FAMILIES IN NEED. SECOND ACCOMPLISHMENT YOUTH ENGAGEMENT - EDUCATION THE SCHOLASTIC CLAY TARGET PROGRAM (SCTP) PROVIDES AN INTRODUCTION TO THE OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE FOR AGES 9 THROUGH COLLEGE YOUTH PARTICIPANTS NATIONWIDE. EACH YEAR, THE PROGRAM ENGAGES THOUSANDS OF STUDENT-ATHLETES WHO COMPETE IN LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL EVENTS, EARNING RECOGNITION FOR THEIR SKILL AND SPORTSMANSHIP. THE SCTP SEASON TYPICALLY RUNS FROM LATE WINTER THROUGH EARLY SUMMER, WITH TEAMS SUPPORTED BY SCHOOLS, 4-H CLUBS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THROUGH THE PROGRAM, YOUNG SHOOTERS GAIN VALUABLE EXPERIENCE IN TEAMWORK, SAFETY, AND COMPETITIVE SHOOTING WHILE DEVELOPING A LIFELONG APPRECIATION FOR THE OUTDOORS. THE FEDERATION'S HUNTING AND FISHING ACADEMY PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE, IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES IN TENNESSEE TO TEACH AND HONE THE OUTDOOR SKILLS NEEDED TO GO AND ENJOY HUNTING AND FISHING FOR A LIFETIME. MORE THAN SIMPLE HUNTING OR FISHING EVENTS, THE ACADEMY PROVIDES ENGAGING, HANDS-ON INSTRUCTION AND VIRTUAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN THE ART OF BEING AN OUTDOORSMAN IN ORDER TO MENTOR FIRST-TIME AND NOVICE HUNTERS AND ANGLERS OF ALL AGES. TRAINED STAFF AND VOLUNTEER MENTORS FACILITATE WORKSHOPS AND IN FIELD EXPERIENCES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. UTILIZING PRE AND POST EVENTS SURVEYS, THE ACADEMY IS WELL EQUIPPED TO TRACK THE GROWTH OF PARTICIPANTS AFTER EACH EVENT. ACCORDING TO SURVEY RESULTS, PARTICIPANTS CONSISTENTLY REPORT AN INCREASE IN THEIR CONFIDENCE AND SKILLS REGARDING HUNTING AND FISHING, WHILE ALSO STRONGLY INDICATING THE INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF CONTINUING TO HUNT OR FISH AFTER ATTENDING AN EVENT. THIRD ACCOMPLISHMENT CONSERVATION POLICY & ADVOCACY SINCE 1946, WILDLIFE AND NATURAL RESOURCE-FOCUSED POLICY WORK HAS BEEN CENTRAL TO TENNESSEE WILDLIFE FEDERATION'S MISSION. THE FEDERATION IS A STRONG CONSERVATION POLICY LEADER IN THE STATE-WORKING WITH DECISION MAKERS AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND STATE AND FEDERAL NATURAL RESOURCE AGENCIES TO DEVELOP AND IMPROVE LEGISLATION THAT BENEFITS CONSERVATION IN TENNESSEE, THE SOUTHEAST, AND AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. IT ALSO PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN STATEWIDE ADVOCACY-CONNECTING SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN, OUTDOOR BUSINESSES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND OTHER LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS TO SPEAK UP AS A UNIFIED VOICE FOR CONSERVATION. HISTORICALLY, THIS HAS INCLUDED SUCH SUCCESSES AS FORMING THE TENNESSEE WILDLIFE RESOURCES AGENCY (1949); SECURING THE PASSAGE OF THE TENNESSEE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ACT (1972), THE U.A. MOORE WETLANDS ACQUISITION FUND (1986), AND THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT (1991); LEADING THE PASSAGE OF THE RIGHT TO HUNT AND FISH CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT (2010); PLAYING AN IMPORTANT ADVOCACY AND GRASSROOTS ROLE IN THE REINTRODUCING ELK; AND PROTECTING NATIVE WILDLIFE, SUCH AS DEER, FROM CAPTIVE DEER FARMING PRACTICES. MORE RECENTLY, THE FEDERATION'S WORK HAS BEEN INTEGRAL TO SECURING CRITICALLY-NEEDED FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR INVASIVE CARP CONTROL; ENGAGING THE SPORTING COMMUNITY ON ISSUES IMPACTING RECREATION AND LAND USE; INFLUENCING POLICY TO PROMOTE THE BALANCED RECREATIONAL USE OF TENNESSEE RIVERS; HELPING PASS LANDMARK FEDERAL LEGISLATION FOR HABITAT AND PUBLIC LANDS, LIKE THE GREAT AMERICAN OUTDOORS ACT; AND ELEVATING AWARENESS ABOUT THREATS TO THE STATE'S HEALTHY AND ABUNDANT WATERS FOR FISH, WILDLIFE AND PEOPLE.
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
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 November 6, 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 June 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 August 1951.
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 November 4, 2026.
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