Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Johnny Morris Wonders of Wildlife Foundation

EIN 82-2342237 · Springfield, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BY CELEBRATING THE STEWARDSHIP OF HUNTERS AND ANGLERS AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO CONNECT WITH NATURE THROUGH FISHING, HUNTING AND OUTDOOR RECREATION.

Income
$26.3 million
Spending
$22.5 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
33.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 75%
Employees
434
Volunteers
370
Highest pay
$214,824, senior director of operations

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 33.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    3 of 6 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $19.0 million spent. THE FOUNDATION MANAGES AND OPERATES JOHNNY MORRIS' WONDERS OF WILDLIFE NATIONAL MUSEUM AND AQUARIUM (WOW) LOCATED IN SPRINGFIELD, MO. THE MUSEUM AND AQUARIUM OFFER VISITORS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE TO LEARN ABOUT CONSERVATION THROUGH TOURS, LIVE ANIMAL COLLECTIONS, TAXIDERMIED WILDLIFE GALLERIES AND OTHER EXHIBITS. THE EXPERIENCE CELEBRATES THOSE WHO HUNT, FISH AND ACT AS STEWARDS OF THE LAND AND WATER. THE EDUCATION TEAM CONNECTS PEOPLE TO NATURE THROUGH INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS, OUTREACH AND FIELD PROGRAMS. THE WONDERS OF WILDLIFE HOUSES THE EXHIBIT, NATURE'S BEST PHOTOGRAPHY. THIS EXHIBIT IS HOME TO THE WINDLAND SMITH RICE INTERNATIONAL AWARDS AND ITS ANNUAL NATURE'S BEST PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION, PREVIOUSLY ONLY DISPLAYED AT THE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ESTABLISHED TO RECOGNIZE AND DISPLAY THE CREATIVE TALENTS AND DOCUMENTARY ACHIEVEMENT OF NATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS WORLDWIDE, THE EXHIBITION FEATURES A ROTATING GALLERY OF JAW-DROPPING WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AS A CELEBRATION OF BOTH PEOPLE AND NATURE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 2025.

    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 February 2018.

    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.