Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Wilderness Inquiry Inc

EIN 93-0708637 · Bloomington, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WILDERNESS INQUIRY'S MISSION IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS, IDENTITIES, AND ABILITIES THROUGH SHARED OUTDOOR ADVENTURES SO THAT ALL PEOPLE CAN EQUITABLY EXPERIENCE THE BENEFITS OF TIME SPENT IN NATURE.

Income
$10.0 million
Spending
$8.5 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 41%
Employees
213
Volunteers
366
Highest pay
$207,348, executive director

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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (3)
  1. $4.1 million spent. DAY & MULTI-DAY PROGRAMS: WILDERNESS INQUIRY DAY PROGRAMS PROVIDES INTRODUCTORY HANDS-ON LEARNING AND OUTDOOR RECREATION IN MORE THAN 80 COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA AND NATIONALLY. DAY PROGRAMS SERVE THE MAJORITY OF WILDERNESS INQUIRY'S PARTICIPANTS THROUGH PROGRAMS INCLUDING CANOEMOBILE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITY DAYS, OUTDOOR CREDIT RECOVERY, AND VIRTUAL EXPLORERS. THESE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED OUTDOOR PROGRAMS CONNECT YOUTH, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES TO THEIR LOCAL PUBLIC LANDS AND WATERWAYS, DEVELOP OUR NEXT GENERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS, AND ADDRESS THE OPPORTUNITY GAP. WILDERNESS INQUIRY CONTINUES TO OFFER VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING IN ADDITION TO IN-PERSON OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES. IN 2025, 35,939 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN DAY & MULTI-DAY PROGRAMS (1,096 VIRTUALLY).NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVED: 35,939NUMBER OF SERVICE DAYS: 17,082NUMBER OF EVENTS: 400" "DAY PROGRAMS PROVIDES INTRODUCTORY HANDS-ON LEARNING AND OUTDOOR RECREATION IN MORE THAN 80 COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA AND NATIONALLY. DAY PROGRAMS SERVE THE MAJORITY OF WILDERNESS INQUIRY'S PARTICIPANTS THROUGH PROGRAMS INCLUDING CANOEMOBILE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITY DAYS, OUTDOOR CREDIT RECOVERY, AND VIRTUAL EXPLORERS. THESE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED OUTDOOR PROGRAMS CONNECT YOUTH, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES TO THEIR LOCAL PUBLIC LANDS AND WATERWAYS, DEVELOP OUR NEXT GENERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS, AND ADDRESS THE OPPORTUNITY GAP. WILDERNESS INQUIRY CONTINUES TO OFFER VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING IN ADDITION TO IN-PERSON OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES. IN 2025, 35,939 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN DAY & MULTI-DAY PROGRAMS (1,096 VIRTUALLY).NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVED: 35,939NUMBER OF SERVICE DAYS: 17,082NUMBER OF EVENTS: 400"
  2. $2.6 million spent. NEAR NATURE & EXTENDED OVERNIGHT ADVENTURES: OVERNIGHT ADVENTURES BRING PARTICIPANTS TO DESTINATIONS NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AND ARE DESIGNED TO WELCOME INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF AGE, BACKGROUND, IDENTITY, OR ABILITY. INCLUSION IS AT THE HEART OF THESE PROGRAMS, WHICH STRIVE TO CREATE AUTHENTIC AND POSITIVE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS. ADVENTURES ARE 2-15 NIGHTS AND INCLUDE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS KAYAKING, CANOEING, HIKING, AND WINTER ADVENTURING. IN 2025, WILDERNESS INQUIRY GUIDED 141 TRIPS TO MORE THAN 20 UNIQUE DESTINATIONS, INCLUDING APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKESHORE, BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA, COSTA RICA, FLORIDA EVERGLADES, GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, ISLE ROYALE, KENYA, AND YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. NEW ITINERARIES IN 2025 INCLUDED BLACK HILLS, MOROCCO, AND ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK. 1,970 PEOPLE TRAVELED WITH WILDERNESS INQUIRY ON OVERNIGHT ADVENTURES IN 2025. NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVED: 1,970NUMBER OF SERVICE DAYS: 8,248NUMBER OF EVENTS: 141"
  3. $431,962 spent. TRAINING, LEADERSHIP & CAREER PATHWAYS: WILDERNESS INQUIRY OFFERS MANY PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON TRAINING, LEADERSHIP, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT. IN 2025, PROGRAMS INCLUDED A FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES PAID, ACCESSIBLE, PROFESSIONAL SKILL-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN BUILDING CAREERS IN THE OUTDOOR AND NONPROFIT JOB SECTORS, AS WELL AS AN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE FELLOWSHIP, OTHER PARTNERED INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND MANY OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP TRAININGS. IN TOTAL, WILDERNESS INQUIRY WORKED WITH 403 PEOPLE THROUGH TRAINING, LEADERSHIP, AND CAREER PROGRAMS. NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVED: 403NUMBER OF SERVICE DAYS: 263NUMBER OF EVENTS: 17"

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 June 1980.

    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.