Wild Salmon Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF WILD SALMON CENTER IS TO PROMOTE THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF WILD SALMON ECOSYSTEMS ACROSS THE PACIFIC RIM. WE IDENTIFY SCIENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO SUSTAIN WILD SALMONIDS AND THE HUMAN COMMUNITIES AND LIVELIHOODS THAT DEPEND ON THEM.
- Income
- $17.2 million
- Spending
- $15.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 3.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 67%
- Employees
- 45
- Volunteers
- 16
- Highest pay
- $381,229, president & ceo
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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 23% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 111% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 21% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 (4)
- $9.3 million spent. NORTH AMERICA PROGRAMALASKA -WORKED WITH AN ALASKA-BASED COALITION OF FISHERMEN, BUSINESS OWNERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ON THE CONSERVATION OF THE WEST SUSITNA WATERSHEDS.OREGON -PARTNERING WITH MORE THAN A DOZEN CONSERVATION AND FISHING ORGANIZATIONS, WSC CONTINUES TO LEAD A PROCESS TO MODERNIZE FOREST MANAGEMENT AND THE CONSERVATION OF SALMON HABITAT ON STATE AND PRIVATE LANDS.WASHINGTON -ON THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA, WSC WORKED WITH LOCAL TRIBES, LAND OWNERS, AGENCIES AND CONSERVATION PARTNERS ON CULVERT REPLACEMENT EFFORTS AND OTHER SALMON HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS.
- $749,846 spent. SCIENCE IN COLLABORATION WITH MORE THAN TWO DOZEN ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND LOCAL PARTNERS FROM CALIFORNIA TO ALASKA, WSC SCIENTISTS BUILT NEW KNOWLEDGE AND DATA TO SUPPORT CUTTING EDGE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AND RESILIENCE BUILDING AT THE REGIONAL AND WATERSHED LEVEL.
- $491,528 spent. WESTERN PACIFIC PROGRAMWORKED WITH SCIENTISTS, LOCAL OFFICIALS, AND TOURISM OPERATORS TO STUDY SIBERIAN TAIMEN AND DEVELOP CONSERVATION STRATEGIES FOR THIS CHARISMATIC SPECIES IN MONGOLIA.
- $2.6 million spent. COMMUNICATIONS AND OTHER PROGRAMS - TEAMED WITH SCIENTISTS AND PROGRAM DIRECTORS TO EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING SALMON HABITAT INTACT AND PROTECTING LIFE HISTORY AND GENETIC DIVERSITY IN WILD SALMON FISHERIES. THE COMMUNICATIONS STAFF ALSO DEVELOPED MEDIA TO HIGHLIGHT THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF SALMON STRONGHOLDS AROUND THE NORTH PACIFIC.
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 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 November 6, 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 October 1992.
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 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.