Wildlife Heritage Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROTECT, ENHANCE, AND RESTORE WILDLIFE HABITAT ON LANDS CONSERVED FOR THE BENEFIT OF FUTURE GENERATIONS.
- Income
- $7.9 million
- Spending
- $4.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 6.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 81%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 6
- Highest pay
- $184,391, executive director (thru 5/15/24)
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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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 (3)
- $3.4 million spent. WILDLIFE HERITAGE FOUNDATION PROTECTS, ENHANCES, AND RESTORES WILDLIFE HABITAT AND PROVIDES NATURE EDUCATION FOR YOUTH. IN 2024, WE CONTINUED TO PERMANENTLY PROTECT MORE THAN 99,000 ACRES OF WILDLIFE HABITAT, AGRICULTURAL LANDS, AND OPEN SPACE THROUGH THE STEWARDSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF 195 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND ONE FEE TITLE PROPERTY. WHF AUDITED ITS RECORDS AND UPDATED THE ACREAGE AND PROPERTY NUMBERS WITHIN ITS CONSERVATION PORTFOLIO. WHF CONTINUED ITS EFFORTS TO PERMANENTLY PROTECT WILDLIFE HABITAT AND RECORDED A NEW CONSERVATION EASEMENT, THE LIND WILDLIFE PRESERVE, IN PLUMAS COUNTY, WHERE WE HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY HAD ANY PRESENCE.
- WILDLIFE HERITAGE FOUNDATION HAS A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE OUTDOOR EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL EVENTS FOR ALL AGES, BUT WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON YOUTH, TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION FOR THE NATURAL WORLD. IN A TYPICAL YEAR, WE PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS ON OUR PROTECTED PROPERTIES ON THE SUBJECTS OF WILDLIFE, WETLANDS, POLLINATORS, WILDFLOWERS, WATER CYCLE, AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES AND HABITATS FOUND IN CALIFORNIA FOR HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS IN THE WESTERN PLACER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, A WEEK-LONG OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE FOR 6TH GRADERS. WHF ALSO PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL NATURE WALKS FOR ADULTS. IN 2024, WHF PROVIDED OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO LIVE IN AREAS ADJACENT TO CONSERVED LANDS.
- WILDLIFE HERITAGE FOUNDATION CREATED THE SUN CITY LINCOLN HILLS URBAN BIRD PROGRAM TO HELP REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CALIFORNIA QUAIL AND WATERFOWL TRAPPED IN STORM DRAINS WITHIN THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT THAT IS CONNECTED TO OUR OPEN SPACE PRESERVE. WE DESIGNED A STORM DRAIN COVER TO PREVENT THESE BIRDS FROM FALLING INTO THE STORM DRAINS, AND WE REGULARLY WORK WITH RESIDENTS TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN THE DRAIN COVERS. IN 2024, WE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT, AS WELL AS REFINE, AND EXPAND THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM.
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 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 December 2000.
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.