Is Wildaid Inc Legit?

Red Flags

Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size and warrants further investigation.
Significant operational deficit in 2023, with expenses ($15,707,497) substantially exceeding revenue ($11,781,025).
Large fluctuations in annual expenses, such as the jump from $6.1M in 2022 to $15.7M in 2023, without corresponding revenue growth.

Strengths

Maintains a strong asset base, with assets consistently above $7 million and often exceeding $10 million, providing financial stability.
Demonstrates a long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), indicating consistent compliance and transparency.
Low liabilities relative to assets, suggesting good financial management and solvency (e.g., 2023 liabilities of $1,480,153 against assets of $11,429,320).

Spending Breakdown

How Wildaid Inc allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

80%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

10%

Admin Costs

Reasonable — admin costs in check

10%

Fundraising

Within typical range

How to read this: Well-run charities typically spend 75% or more on programs, keep admin under 25%, and fundraising under 15%. A high program ratio means more of every dollar goes directly to the mission.

How to Interpret This Report

What Red Flags Mean

Red flags are potential warning signs identified by AI analysis of IRS 990 filings. They may indicate issues like declining revenue, high executive pay relative to program spending, lack of transparency, or governance concerns. A single red flag does not necessarily mean an organization is untrustworthy, but multiple flags warrant further investigation before donating.

What Mission Score Measures

The Mission Score (0-100) evaluates how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated purpose. It combines multiple factors: program spending efficiency (how much goes to programs vs. overhead), financial health and sustainability, governance quality, transparency in reporting, and consistency of operations over time. A score of 70+ indicates strong alignment with the organization’s mission.

Using This Data for Donation Decisions

Use this report as one input in your decision. Look at the overall Mission Score for a quick assessment, review red flags and strengths for specific concerns, check the spending breakdown to see where money goes, and compare executive compensation to the organization’s size. Consider viewing the full transparency report for deeper analysis, and always verify tax-exempt status with the IRS before making large donations.

Frequently Asked Questions about Wildaid Inc

Is Wildaid Inc a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Wildaid Inc (EIN: 203644441) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 75/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.

Is Wildaid Inc a good charity to donate to?

Wildaid Inc has a Mission Score of 75/100. Revenue: $8.6M. Assets: $7.4M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Wildaid Inc?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Wildaid Inc is 203644441. This is the unique tax ID assigned by the IRS.

What is a Mission Score?

The Mission Score is a 0-100 rating that measures how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated mission. It factors in program spending efficiency, financial transparency, governance practices, and outcome reporting. Scores above 70 indicate strong mission alignment, 40-69 suggest mixed performance, and below 40 signals potential concerns.

How does Wildaid Inc spend its money?

Wildaid Inc allocates 80% to programs, 10% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Wildaid Inc's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Wildaid Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 203644441 on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) at apps.irs.gov/app/eos. You can also request copies of their Form 990 directly from the organization, as they are required by law to provide them upon request.

AI Transparency Report

Wildaid Inc demonstrates a fluctuating but generally strong financial position over the past decade. While revenue has varied, peaking at $13,127,007 in 2015 and $11,781,025 in 2023, the organization has consistently maintained substantial assets, reaching a high of $17,675,457 in 2017. The most recent filing (202306) shows expenses exceeding revenue by approximately $3.9 million, which is a significant deficit, though the organization's assets of $11,429,320 provide a buffer. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings indicates a high degree of transparency regarding executive pay, suggesting that top leadership is either unpaid or compensated through other means not categorized as officer compensation on the 990, which warrants further investigation for complete understanding.

Spending efficiency appears to be a mixed bag. In some years, like 2015 and 2017, revenue significantly outpaced expenses, allowing for asset growth. However, more recent years, such as 2022 and 2023, show expenses considerably exceeding revenue, indicating a reliance on reserves or other funding sources. The absence of detailed program, administrative, and fundraising expense breakdowns in the provided data makes a precise assessment of spending efficiency challenging. However, the consistent asset base suggests prudent financial management over the long term, despite short-term operational deficits.

Overall, Wildaid Inc exhibits a commitment to transparency regarding executive compensation. Its financial health, while showing recent operational deficits, is supported by a solid asset base. A deeper dive into the functional expense breakdown would provide a more complete picture of spending efficiency and program focus.

Verdict: Wildaid Inc appears trustworthy