Wild Terra Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- 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 preserve and protect wildlife and habitat in Africa
- Income
- $198,929
- Spending
- $192,707
- Reserves
- -11.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 21 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 525% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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)
- Siyafunda - The Siyafunda Endangered Species Project is based on the 61,000 acre Greater Makalali Game Reserve. Wild Terra sends volunteers to Siyafunda who live in and learn about the bush while performing wildlife counts animal identification and other tasks which help the reserve management to keep tabs on all the fauna there. Volunteers come away with a Big 5 experience and appreciation for wildlife and wildlife management making them conservationists for life.
- Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary - NWS is a collection of wildlife and humanitarian projects which encompasses wildlife rehabilitation with an emphasis on cheetah and other big mammals of the Namibian desert but also includes medical clinics and schools for the Khoisan people. Volunteers come away with the knowledge they have done something great for wildlife and humanity.
- Bambalela is also called the Vervet Monkey Sanctuary. It takes in orphaned and injured vervet monkeys rehabilitates them assembles them into troops and eventually releases those troops back into the wild. Hands on experience with primates is a wonderful experience for volunteers and veterinarians often get invaluable experience at Bambalela as well. Volunteers cannot help but be deeply touched by their interactions.
- $156,940 spent. Wild Terra supports many other wildlife projects across Southern Africa. These include a Great White Shark project an Orca Project a Penguin project Kariega Amakala Lapolosa and others. This sum represents the total grants in 2024 to all supported projects.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.