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Center for Wildlife Studies

EIN 83-4505201 · Camden, ME

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak34 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND PROMOTE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION THROUGH SCIENCE.

Income
$596,060
Spending
$676,417
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
-1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 73%
Employees
8
Volunteers
2
Highest pay
$108,622, vice president, secretary

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

Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 158% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 5 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $299,369 spent. SCIENCE - CWS SCIENCE CONTINUED TO ADVANCE ITS WORK IN WILDLIFE HEALTH, EPIDEMIOLOGY, AND MARINE MAMMAL CONSERVATION. THE PROGRAM ALSO EXPANDED RESEARCH EFFORTS IN TURTLE ECOLOGY AND FORENSICS, AS WELL AS BLACK BEAR DEMOGRAPHIC STUDIES, PROVIDING VALUABLE INSIGHTS TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THESE SPECIES IN MAINE.
  2. $231,388 spent. EDUCATION - CWS EDUCATION TRAINED HUNDREDS OF RESEARCHERS, RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS, CONSERVATION SPECIALISTS, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATORS, AND GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS THROUGH A VARIETY OF COURSE FORMATS-INCLUDING ONLINE, IN-PERSON, AND HYBRID OFFERINGS. TOPICS COVERED INCLUDED APPLIED QUANTITATIVE ECOLOGY, GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE, CONSERVATION PLANNING, RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT METHODS, AND ECOLOGY. IN ADDITION, WE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE FIRST YEAR OF OUR PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN APPLIED QUANTITATIVE ECOLOGY.

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 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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 March 2020.

    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 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.