Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SAVING OUR WILDLIFE, ONE LIFE AT A TIME, BY RESCUING, REHABILITATING, AND RELEASING INJURED, DISPLACED, AND ORPHANED WILDLIFE, WHILE EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF NATIVE WILDLIFE AND PARTICIPATING IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
- Income
- $3.0 million
- Spending
- $2.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 11.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 83%
- Employees
- 39
- Volunteers
- 143
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
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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.
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 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)
- $1.9 million spent. MEDICAL CARE AND REHABILITATION: SOUTHWEST WILDLIFE OPERATES A VETERINARY CLINIC PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE FOR SICK, INJURED, OR ORPHANED MAMMALS. THROUGH OUR REHABILITATION WORK, MORE THAN 90% OF INTAKE ANIMALS WHO SURVIVE THEIR INITIAL TRAUMA ARE RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD. ANIMAL SANCTUARY: SOUTHWEST WILDLIFE SPECIALIZES IN PROVIDING SANCTUARY FOR LARGE MAMMALS SUCH AS BLACK BEARS, MOUNTAIN LIONS, BOBCATS, AND COYOTES. SOUTHWEST WILDLIFE ALSO PARTICPATES IN THE MEXICAN WOLF RECOVERY PROGRAM BY PROVIDING SPACE FOR GERIATRIC WOLVES AND COLLECTING GENETIC MATERIAL. ANIMALS THAT HAVE LOST THE ABLITY TO SURVIVE IN THE WILD CAN LIVE OUT THEIR LIVES IN OUR ACCREDITED SANCTUARY.
- $114,167 spent. EDUCATION AND RESEARCH: SOUTHWEST WILDLIFE SHARES ITS KNOWLEDGE OF PROTECTING WILDLIFE THROUGH EDUCATION PROGRAMS, WITH A GOAL OF INSPIRING PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT, RESPECT, AND CONSERVE OUR NATIVE WILDLIFE AND HABITATS. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFERED ONSITE AT THE SANCTUARY IN NORTHEAST SCOTTSDALE INCLUDE WALK WITH WILDLIFE, FAMILY DAYS FOR THE VERY YOUNG, FULL MOON TOURS, DISCOVERY DAYS, AND OTHER WORKSHOPS. SOUTHWEST WILDLIFE ALSO OFFERS OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, SOUTHWEST WILDLIFE CONTRIBUTED TO SEVERAL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROJECTS FOCUSED ON WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, INCLUDING STUDIES ON BOBCATS, KIT FOXES, AND JAVALINAS. SOUTHWEST WILDLIFE ALSO ASSISTED IN PRESERVING THE REPRODUCTIVE POTENTIAL OF ENDANGERED MEXICAN WOLVES FOR FUTURE BREEDING PROGRAMS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1994.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.