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Wildlife Conservation International

EIN 84-1899559 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood77 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF ALL ORANGUTAN SPECIES IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT AND PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF ALL ORANGUTANS.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
3

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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, 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. $1.9 million spent. WILDLIFE CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL (THE "CHARITY") IS AN INCORPORATED U.S. NONPROFIT "FRIENDS OF" ORGANIZATION ORGANIZED TO FUNDRAISE AND SUPPORT WCI ("WCI") A GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED TAX-EXEMPT NGO REGISTERED AND BASED IN AUSTRALIA, COMMITTED TO ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF ALL ORANGUTAN SPECIES IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT AND PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF ALL ORANGUTANS. SAVING ORANGUTANS ALSO SAVES OTHER ENDANGERED SPECIES SUCH AS SUMATRAN TIGERS AND SUMATRAN ELEPHANTS. WORKING WITH NON-ORANGUTAN CONSERVATION GROUPS PROTECTING HABITAT ALSO SAVES MORE ORANGUTANS. DUE TO THESE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL PROJECTS THE ORANGUTAN PROJECT FOUNDED THE INTERNATIONAL ELEPHANT PROJECT AND THE INTERNATIONAL TIGER PROJECT WHICH NOW ALL OPERATE UNDER WILDLIFE CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL. THE PROJECTS FUNDED BY WCI (AU) NOT ONLY INCLUDE DIRECT ORANGUTAN, TIGER AND ELEPHANT CONSERVATION, SUCH AS RESCUES, REHABILITATIONS AND RELEASE PROGRAMS, BUT ALSO FOREST HABITAT PROTECTION AND REGENERATION, EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND LOCAL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. WCI (AU) BASES CONSERVATION FOUR KEY PILLARS: LEGALLY PROTECT FORESTS SECURE, RESTORE & PATROL ORANGUTAN HABITAT RESCUE, REHABILITATE & RELEASE ORGANUTANS EDUCATE & EMPOWER LOCAL PEOPLE TYING FUNDING INTO DIRECT OUTCOMES FOR THE SPECIES HAS ENABLED WCI (AU) TO PARTNER WITH THE MAJORITY OF ORANGUTAN CONSERVATION PROJECTS, ALONG WITH SELECT TIGER AND ELEPHANT CONSERVATION PROJECTS, OPERATING ON THE GROUND TODAY IN BORNEO AND SUMATRA. WILDLIFE CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL (THE "CHARITY") IS AN INCORPORATED U.S. NONPROFIT "FRIENDS OF" ORGANIZATION ORGANIZED TO FUNDRAISE AND SUPPORT WCI ("WCI") A GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED TAX-EXEMPT NGO REGISTERED AND BASED IN AUSTRALIA, COMMITTED TO ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF ALL ORANGUTAN SPECIES IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT AND PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF ALL ORANGUTANS. SAVING ORANGUTANS ALSO SAVES OTHER ENDANGERED SPECIES SUCH AS SUMATRAN TIGERS AND SUMATRAN ELEPHANTS. WORKING WITH NON-ORANGUTAN CONSERVATION GROUPS PROTECTING HABITAT ALSO SAVES MORE ORANGUTANS. DUE TO THESE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL PROJECTS THE ORANGUTAN PROJECT FOUNDED THE INTERNATIONAL ELEPHANT PROJECT AND THE INTERNATIONAL TIGER PROJECT WHICH NOW ALL OPERATE UNDER WILDLIFE CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL. THE PROJECTS FUNDED BY WCI (AU) NOT ONLY INCLUDE DIRECT ORANGUTAN, TIGER AND ELEPHANT CONSERVATION, SUCH AS RESCUES, REHABILITATIONS AND RELEASE PROGRAMS, BUT ALSO FOREST HABITAT PROTECTION AND REGENERATION, EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND LOCAL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. WCI (AU) BASES CONSERVATION FOUR KEY PILLARS: LEGALLY PROTECT FORESTS SECURE, RESTORE & PATROL ORANGUTAN HABITAT RESCUE, REHABILITATE & RELEASE ORGANUTANS EDUCATE & EMPOWER LOCAL PEOPLE TYING FUNDING INTO DIRECT OUTCOMES FOR THE SPECIES HAS ENABLED WCI (AU) TO PARTNER WITH THE MAJORITY OF ORANGUTAN CONSERVATION PROJECTS, ALONG WITH SELECT TIGER AND ELEPHANT CONSERVATION PROJECTS, OPERATING ON THE GROUND TODAY IN BORNEO AND SUMATRA.

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 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 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 January 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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Conservation International Foundation (Arlington, VA), EIN 52-1497470. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.