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Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation

EIN 83-0302830 · Jackson, WY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JACKSON HOLE WILDLIFE FOUNDATION ADVANCES WILDLIFE CONSERVATION DRIVEN BY SCIENCE, COLLABORATION, AND A COMMUNITY OF VOLUNTEERS.

Income
$735,537
Spending
$653,081
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
8.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
12
Volunteers
270
Highest pay
$103,523, executive director

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.8 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 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $186,365 spent. NATURE MAPPING JACKSON HOLE PROGRAM: A CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAM WITH THE GOALS OF: 1) KEEPING COMMON SPECIES COMMON; 2) INCREASING CITIZENS' KNOWLEDGE OF AND APPRECIATION FOR WILDLIFE IN TETON COUNTY, WYOMING; 3) ENGAGING CITIZENS IN LONG-TERM WILDLIFE DATA COLLECTION; 4) INFORMING MANAGEMENT DECISIONS THAT FAVOR WILDLIFE SUSTAINABILITY; AND 5) CONTRIBUTING DATA TO THE WYOMING GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT'S WILDLIFE OBSERVATION SYSTEM TO AUGMENT STATE DATA. THROUGH 2024, WE HAVE RECORDED MORE THAN 103,000 WILDLIFE OBSERVATIONS WITH MORE THAN 1,300 TRAINED CITIZEN SCIENTISTS SINCE THE PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2009. IN 2024, CITIZEN SCIENTISTS RECORDED MORE THAN 300 VERIFIED WILDLIFE OBSERVATIONS DURING THE SUMMER SEASON ALONE. WE BANDED 726 INDIVIDUAL BIRDS AT OUR MONITORING AVIAN PRODUCTIVITY AND SURVIVORSHIP (MAPS) BIRD BANDING STATIONS. THE MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD NESTBOX MONITORING PROJECT SAW A 30% INCREASE IN FLEDGLINGS BANDED COMPARED TO 2023, GROWING FROM 60 TO 78 BANDED YOUNG. MOOSE DAY WAS HEAVILY IMPACTED BY A MAJOR SNOWSTORM, RESULTING IN ONLY 33 DATA POINTS COLLECTED.
  2. $156,102 spent. WILDLIFE FRIENDLIER FENCING PROGRAM: IMPROVING LANDSCAPE PERMEABILITY FOR MIGRATING WILDLIFE THROUGH MODIFICATION AND REMOVAL OF FENCES. THROUGH 2024, WE HAVE IMPROVED MORE THAN 267 MILES OF FENCES TO BENEFIT WILDLIFE. IN 2024, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 82 HOURS ACROSS 12 PROJECTS, WITH 85 VOLUNTEERS REMOVING OR MODIFYING 23.11 MILES OF DERELICT FENCING IN WYOMING AND IDAHO. THIS INCLUDED 13.8 MILES OF SEASONAL FENCE DROPS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT TO SUPPORT MIGRATION AND HABITAT HEALTH.
  3. $49,467 spent. GIVE WILDLIFE A BRAKE: UTILIZING VARIOUS MITIGATION TOOLS, WE AIM TO REDUCE WILDLIFE-VEHICLE COLLISIONS ON OUR ROADWAYS AND INCREASE LANDSCAPE PERMEABILITY FOR WILDLIFE NEEDING TO MOVE ACROSS ROADS. THESE TOOLS INCLUDE DIGITAL MESSAGE BOARDS, FIXED RADAR SPEED FEEDBACK SIGNS, SPEED LIMIT REDUCTIONS, AND WILDLIFE CROSSING STRUCTURE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION. WE ALSO COMPILE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE WILDLIFE-VEHICLE COLLISION REPORT IN THE COUNTY TO INFORM TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION EFFORTS. BETWEEN MAY 2022 AND APRIL 2023, 156 MULE DEER, 38 ELK, 8 MOOSE, AND 3 BIGHORN SHEEP WERE KILLED ON TETON COUNTY ROADS. IN 2024, JHWF ADVOCATED FOR AND SUPPORTED WILDLIFE CROSSING EFFORTS ON THE WYOMING 22 CORRIDOR PROJECT, MONITORED DEVELOPMENT AT THE STILSON LOT TO INCREASE CROSSING SUCCESS, AND PROVIDED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CROSSINGS ON NORTH HIGHWAY 89.
  4. $54,125 spent. BEAR WISE JACKSON HOLE: A DECADES-LONG PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN WYOMING GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT, BRIDGER-TETON NATIONAL FOREST, GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, AND JACKSON HOLE WILDLIFE FOUNDATION. WE ARE A SUBSIDIARY OF THE BEARWISE WYOMING PROGRAM. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE RESOURCES, OUTREACH, AND COORDINATION INTENDED TO KEEP BEARS WILD AND PEOPLE SAFE. IN 2024, JHWF AND PARTNERS LAUNCHED A NEW BEAR WISE JACKSON HOLE WEBSITE AND DISTRIBUTED THE "JACKSON HOLE IS BEAR COUNTRY" BOOKLET TO THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS. THE PROGRAM FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING NEW COUNTY AND TOWN REGULATIONS, ASSISTING WITH BEAR-RESISTANT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND CONDUCTING OUTREACH PRESENTATIONS TO REDUCE CONFLICTS AND PROMOTE COEXISTENCE.

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 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 December 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 April 1993.

    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.

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