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Wild Wonder Foundation

EIN 87-2348662 · Auburn, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceWeak49 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Wild Wonder Foundation is dedicated to encouraging nature connection and conservation through attention, curisity, art, science and community.

Income
$998,971
Spending
$677,377
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
16.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 72%
Employees
0
Volunteers
104
Highest pay
$91,975, vice president

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.3 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 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 72% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    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, 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 (5)
  1. $103,447 spent. 4a Planned, promoted, and hosted 28 events (23 of which were free), with more than 18,000 event participants. Highlights include the 7th annual Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Conference (online, attended by more than 1600 people, as well as multiple free online educational events.
  2. $49,575 spent. 4b In 2025, 426 people enrolled in our Wild Wonder Nature Journal Educator Program, including 353 who enrolled for the Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Educator Certificate (certificate earners create a stewardship project, and in 2025, they completed 19,629 stewardship hours). As part of the program, we hosted three Wild Wonder Nature Journal Educator Workshops (8-hour online training, attended by more than 200 people.
  3. $321,287 spent. 4c Planned, promoted, and hosted four sold-out multi-day Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Retreats (two in California, one in Maine, and one in Washington state) attended by 169 people.
  4. $119,065 spent. 4d Managed other major projects including the Wild Wonder Micro Grant program, continuing work on a documentary film about nature journaling in public education, and supporting nature education for children in Tanzania through grants to the Amani Foundation.
  5. 4d Managed other major projects including the Wild 119065. 19366. 0.

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 March 2022.

    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.