Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Hawaii Wildlife Fund

EIN 99-0326669 · Kealakekua, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NATIVE HAWAIIAN WILDLIFE PROTECTION, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

Income
$632,494
Spending
$759,604
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
14
Volunteers
1,000
Highest pay
$71,294, executive director

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    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, 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)
  1. $430,485 spent. KA'U COASTAL RESTORATION -- HWF TEAM AND VOLUNTEERS WORK TO PROTECT NATIVE COASTAL AND MARINE FLORA, FAUNA, AND ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH MARINE DEBRIS RECOVERY, NATIVE PLANT CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND ESTUARY RESTORATION. MUCH OF THIS WORK TAKES PLACE WITHIN THE 1,353 ACRE FOREST RESERVE IN WAI'OHINU BUT IT HAS EXPANDED BOTH ON HAWAI'I ISLAND, AS WELL AS ON MAUI AND KAUA'I. THE PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND ESTUARY RESTORATION EFFORTS ACROSS HAWAI'I ISLAND (AND NOW VIRTUALLY WITH ONLINE CURRICULUM AVAILABLE GLOBALLY). WITH VARIOUS GOV'T, FOUNDATION GRANTS AND PRIVATE DONATIONS CONTINUING SINCE 2003, HWF HAS CONDUCTED MARINE DEBRIS RECOVERY EFFORTS ALONG THE COAST, AND INITIATED PROJECTS TO PROTECT ENDANGERED AND ENDEMIC SPECIES, NATIVE COASTAL-STRAND PLANTS AND TO RESTORE ANCHIALINE POOLS IN THIS REGION AND WETLANDS IN OTHER NEARBY AREAS.
  2. $149,767 spent. HAWAI'I WILDLIFE DISCOVERY CENTER -- IN COLLABORATION WITH NOAA'S HAWAIIAN ISLANDS HUMPBACK WHALE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY, HWF DESIGNED, CURATED AND OPERATES A 5,000 SQUARE FOOT WILDLIFE DISCOVERY CENTER IN MAUI'S ICONIC SHOPPING CENTER AT WHALERS VILLAGE. WITH INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS AND ARTIFACTS THAT FOCUS ON NATIVE MARINE LIFE, THE DISCOVERY CENTER HOUSES A DYNAMIC BLEND OF ART AND SCIENCE TO EDUCATE VISITORS AND RESIDENTS ABOUT THE ISLAND'S NATIVE MARINE LIFE.
  3. $62,341 spent. HO'OKULEANA: HO'OKIPA HONU -- RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND GREEN SEA TURTLE PROTECTION PROJECT TO MANAGE BASKING AND NESTING GREEN TURTLES AT HO'OKIPA, MAUI AND EVALUATE THE IMPORTANCE OF IN-WATER HABITAT. THROUGH ITS HONU WATCH PROGRAM, HWF MONITORS BASKING HONU (TURTLES) AND EDUCATES THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE PHENOMENON CALLED "BASKING," A RARE BEHAVIOR IN WHICH GREEN SEA TURTLES CRAWL ASHORE FOR REASONS OTHER THAN NESTING. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE A DAY COME TO WITNESS THIS BEHAVIOR AND HWF PROVIDES PROTECTION FOR THE TURTLES. NESTING AND HATCHING EVENTS ARE ALSO MONITORED CLOSELY TO ENSURE SURVIVABILITY OF NESTERS AND HATCHLINGS.

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

  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 2024.

    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 1996.

    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.