Wildlife Conservation Society
Wildlife Conservation Society maintains over $1.2 billion in assets despite fluctuating annual revenues and expenses.
EIN: 131740011 · Bronx, NY · NTEE: D500 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $484.2M |
| Total Expenses | $373.6M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $908.9M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Wildlife Conservation Society Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Wildlife Conservation Society directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Wildlife Conservation Society
Wildlife Conservation Society (EIN: 131740011) is a nonprofit organization based in Bronx, NY, classified under NTEE code D500. The organization reported total revenue of $484.2M and total assets of $1.3B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Wildlife Conservation Society's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Wildlife Conservation Society is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 87 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 4.4%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $345.5M |
| Total Expenses | $373.6M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-28,124,898 |
| Total Assets | $1.2B |
| Total Liabilities | $340.7M |
| Net Assets | $908.9M |
| Operating Margin | -8.1% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 27.3% |
| Months of Reserves | 40.1 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Wildlife Conservation Society reported a deficit of $28.1M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 40.1 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 27.3% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Wildlife Conservation Society's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -12.1% | +10.9% | -1.7% |
| 2022 | +39.9% | +7.8% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | +10.0% | +4.7% | +14.2% |
| 2020 | -3.1% | +1.2% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | -5.3% | +5.0% | +0.2% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2800 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1939 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Wildlife Conservation Society with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 12%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 8%
According to IRS 990 filings, Wildlife Conservation Society allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 12%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 8%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $28.1M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 27.3%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The provided data consistently reports 0% for Officer Comp across all filing periods, which is unusual for an organization of this size and suggests that executive compensation details are either not captured in this summary metric or are reported differently, requiring deeper scrutiny of the full 990 forms.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Wildlife Conservation Society's IRS 990 filings:
- Inconsistent reporting of Officer Comp (0% across all periods) for an organization of this size, which may obscure actual executive remuneration.
- Expenses occasionally exceeding revenue, as seen in 202306 ($373.6M expenses vs. $345.5M revenue), indicating reliance on reserves or other funding sources.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Wildlife Conservation Society:
- Strong and consistent growth in total assets, from $969.9 million in 201406 to $1.25 billion in 202306, demonstrating robust financial health.
- Substantial revenue generation, with the latest reported revenue at $345.5 million, supporting large-scale conservation efforts.
- Significant financial reserves, as indicated by the large asset base, providing stability and capacity for long-term mission fulfillment.
- Ability to manage large-scale operations, with expenses consistently in the hundreds of millions, reflecting extensive program reach.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wildlife Conservation Society
Is Wildlife Conservation Society a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Wildlife Conservation Society (EIN: 131740011) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Wildlife Conservation Society spend its money?
Wildlife Conservation Society directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Wildlife Conservation Society tax-deductible?
Wildlife Conservation Society is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 131740011). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Wildlife Conservation Society's spending goes to programs?
Wildlife Conservation Society directs 80% to programs, 8% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Wildlife Conservation Society compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Wildlife Conservation Society is above average for NTEE category D500 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Wildlife Conservation Society located?
Wildlife Conservation Society is headquartered in Bronx, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 131740011. It is classified under NTEE code D500.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Wildlife Conservation Society have?
Wildlife Conservation Society has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $484.2M in total revenue.
Is Wildlife Conservation Society financially stable?
Yes, WCS appears financially stable, evidenced by its substantial and growing asset base, reaching over $1.25 billion in 202306, and its ability to manage expenses even when they occasionally exceed annual revenue.
How has WCS's revenue trended over the past decade?
WCS's revenue has shown significant growth and some fluctuations over the past decade, increasing from $253.6 million in 201406 to a peak of $393.2 million in 202206, before a slight decrease to $345.5 million in 202306.
What is the trend in WCS's assets?
WCS's assets have shown a consistent upward trend, growing from $969.9 million in 201406 to $1.25 billion in 202306, indicating strong financial health and accumulation of resources.
Are there concerns about executive compensation at WCS?
The provided data consistently shows 0% for Officer Comp, which is highly unusual for an organization of this scale. This lack of reported compensation in the summary data warrants further investigation into the full IRS 990 filings to understand executive remuneration practices.
Does WCS consistently operate at a deficit?
WCS has experienced periods where expenses exceeded revenue, such as in 202306 ($373.6M expenses vs. $345.5M revenue) and 202106 ($312.5M expenses vs. $281.0M revenue). However, it also had surpluses, like in 202206 ($337.0M expenses vs. $393.2M revenue), indicating a fluctuating operational balance.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Wildlife Conservation Society showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Wildlife Conservation Society's revenue has grown by 67.6%, moving from $206.2M to $345.5M. Total assets increased by 57.6% over the same period, from $792.8M to $1.2B. Total functional expenses rose by 81.3%, from $206.1M to $373.6M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Wildlife Conservation Society reported a deficit of $28.1M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $340.7M in liabilities against $1.2B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 27.3%), resulting in net assets of $908.9M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $345.5M | $373.6M | $1.2B | $340.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $393.2M | $337.0M | $1.3B | $343.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $281.1M | $312.6M | $1.3B | $385.0M | — | — |
| 2020 | $255.6M | $298.6M | $1.1B | $310.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $263.9M | $295.0M | $1.1B | $263.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $278.6M | $280.8M | $1.1B | $248.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $251.4M | $265.9M | $1.1B | $238.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $256.0M | $252.8M | $1.0B | $235.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $291.6M | $246.8M | $1.0B | $226.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $253.7M | $229.1M | $970.0M | $223.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $212.0M | $218.4M | $839.1M | $158.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $230.0M | $213.3M | $793.5M | $136.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $206.2M | $206.1M | $792.8M | $125.9M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $345.5M, expenses of $373.6M, and assets of $1.2B (revenue -12.1% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $393.2M, expenses of $337.0M, and assets of $1.3B (revenue +39.9% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $281.1M, expenses of $312.6M, and assets of $1.3B (revenue +10.0% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $255.6M, expenses of $298.6M, and assets of $1.1B (revenue -3.1% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $263.9M, expenses of $295.0M, and assets of $1.1B (revenue -5.3% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $278.6M, expenses of $280.8M, and assets of $1.1B (revenue +10.8% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $251.4M, expenses of $265.9M, and assets of $1.1B (revenue -1.8% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $256.0M, expenses of $252.8M, and assets of $1.0B (revenue -12.2% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $291.6M, expenses of $246.8M, and assets of $1.0B (revenue +15.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $253.7M, expenses of $229.1M, and assets of $970.0M (revenue +19.7% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $212.0M, expenses of $218.4M, and assets of $839.1M (revenue -7.8% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $230.0M, expenses of $213.3M, and assets of $793.5M (revenue +11.6% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $206.2M, expenses of $206.1M, and assets of $792.8M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Wildlife Conservation Society:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Wildlife Conservation Society is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.