Defenders of Wildlife
Defenders of Wildlife reported $48.6 million in revenue and $38.3 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $71.05 went to program services, $16.45 to management and general costs and $12.50 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 85.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $861,689 (President and CEO (to 7/24)). 46 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 41% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $38MFor context, the median across 245 covered animal-related charities: $83.96 programs, $9.42 management, $6.62 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $49MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 71.1% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 16.5% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 12.5% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.12 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 85.6% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.1% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.1% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $861,689 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.25% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 46 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 19.0 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 18 of 18 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseConservation and Restoration of Imperiled Biodiversity in North America: Defenders of Wildlife focuses on the conservation of imperiled species and keystone or umbrella species that help restore the integrity and health of ecosystems. Our focus on wildlife and habitat conservation and the safeguarding of biodiversity defines our important niche in the environmental and conservation community. Long known for our leadership on endangered species issues, our programs emphasize imperiled species and their habitat throughout North America because of the irreparable loss that species extinction…
Mobilization of a Broader Constituency for Wildlife Conservation:Defenders of Wildlife implements nation-wide conservation initiatives and place-based conservation programs that are rooted in the communities in which we work. We focus on strategic areas where we can have a positive impact on wildlife and landscapes. We are driven by our responsibility to mobilize and grow a movement for conservation that will endure for generations to come. We issue a monthly email publication, as well as an Impact Report, sent to all members who have provided us with their email address. It features…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President and CEO (to 7/24) Former, 40.00 hrs/week | $820,725 | $589 | $40,375 | $861,689 |
| SVP, Conservation Programs Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $251,732 | $0 | $53,480 | $305,212 |
| Vice President, Integrated Marketing Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $248,150 | $0 | $52,636 | $300,786 |
| Vice President, Development Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $272,874 | $0 | $23,658 | $296,532 |
| Senior Vice President, External Affairs Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $256,642 | $123 | $14,989 | $271,754 |
| SVP, Operations (to 9/24) Former, 40.00 hrs/week | $237,962 | $0 | $29,404 | $267,366 |
| Chief of Staff Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $202,035 | $0 | $49,890 | $251,925 |
| Vice President, Government Relations Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $198,983 | $96 | $42,429 | $241,508 |
46 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Defenders of Wildlife (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.9M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b18 · 18 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5165
- Volunteers Part I, line 680
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| RWT Production LLC Printing and Production | $3,029,174 |
| ALTA Resources Fulfillment and Call Center Services | $961,388 |
| New Canvassing Experience Inc Canvassing | $763,965 |
| Genuine Engagement Fundraising LLC Canvassing | $589,976 |
| ROI Solutions Incorporated Database Services | $491,077 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 19 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
173 private foundations reported grants to Defenders of Wildlife totaling $5.2M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Defenders of Wildlife's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Defenders of Wildlife, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Defenders of Wildlife spent in FY2025, $71.05 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Paws ChicagoChicago, IL · revenue $47M · programs 88.2% · 2024
- Lowry Park Zoological Society of TampaTampa, FL · revenue $49M · programs 88.4% · FY2025
- Arizona Humane SocietyPhoenix, AZ · revenue $47M · programs 79.3% · FY2025
- The Toledo Zoological SocietyToledo, OH · revenue $50M · programs 85.1% · 2024
- North Shore Animal League AmericaPort Washington, NY · revenue $46M · programs 80.9% · 2024
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Defenders of Wildlife's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Defenders of Wildlife reported that 71.1% of its $38.3 million in expenses went to program services, 16.5% to management and general and 12.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Defenders of Wildlife pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Defenders of Wildlife reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $861,689, for the role of President and CEO (to 7/24) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Defenders of Wildlife get its money?
Of $48.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 85.6% came from contributions and grants (including 1.1% from government grants) and 0.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Defenders of Wildlife a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 53-0183181 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, object 202600449349301320 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202540459349300129 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202410459349301736 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202340449349301564 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202230419349300108 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202130429349301208 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 53-0183181: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.