National Wildlife Federation
National Wildlife Federation reported $124.1 million in revenue and $125.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $85.83 went to program services, $7.05 to management and general costs and $7.12 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 88.2% of the total. Government grants made up 13.9%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $636,574 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 123 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 50% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $125MFor 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 August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $124MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 85.8% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 7.0% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.1% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.08 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 88.2% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 13.9% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 6.8% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $636,574 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.51% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 123 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 12.8 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 35 of 35 | 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 programsas a leading conservation organization, the National Wildlife Federation is active across a broad array of issues. The breadth of our work reflects the breadth of threats confronting fish and wildlife and it has never felt more important as treasured and unknown species alike face mounting pressures: habitat degradation and fragmentation, the spread of zoonotic diseases and invasive species, and the impact from extreme weather events mean more than one-third of all species in the united states face an increased risk of extinction in the coming decades.recovering wildlife…
Education outreach & publicationseco-schools had widespread participation in school-based sustainability efforts, with 452 schools actively engaging across 68% of U.S. States. The program engaged over 36,400 students in nearly 1,400 student-led actions focused on energy and water conservation, waste reduction, habitat creation, and environmental awareness. Schools reported improvements in outdoor learning, green spaces, and community resilience. Actions included creative projects like pollinator gardens and upcycling. Since the program's inception, more than 6,000 schools have…
Membership & other nature education programsmembership education programs maintain an active, engaged and informed membership providing supporters with the information and inspiration to make a difference in their own backyards, their communities, and across the country. Nwf reaches millions of supporters monthly to communicate the most pressing needs facing the environment today - from people becoming more disconnected from nature to loss of habitat and the impacts of climate change. Through such publications as National Wildlife magazine, the nwf website, and other sources of information…
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 & CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $529,912 | $0 | $106,662 | $636,574 |
| SECRETARY & COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $344,762 | $0 | $51,753 | $396,515 |
| TREASURER & CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $319,220 | $0 | $41,649 | $360,869 |
| EXECUTIVE VP CONSERVATION & JUSTICE Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $321,639 | $0 | $26,786 | $348,425 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $316,948 | $0 | $24,825 | $341,773 |
| SENIOR VP FOR PHILANTHROPY Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $230,177 | $0 | $46,163 | $276,340 |
| SENIOR VP OF PEOPLE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $226,989 | $0 | $38,618 | $265,607 |
| SENIOR VP OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $227,564 | $0 | $26,722 | $254,286 |
123 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from National Wildlife Federation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.8M (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–1b35 · 35 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 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5505
- Volunteers Part I, line 64,000
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| CDS GLOBAL INC Fulfillment and consulting | $1,942,040 |
| RWT PRODUCTION LLC Print procurement services | $1,270,330 |
| FOREST INCENTIVES LTD Fulfillment and consulting | $1,231,237 |
| ROCK DESIGN ASSOCIATES LLC Design and documentation | $1,162,145 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN Conservation research | $535,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 37 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
298 private foundations reported grants to National Wildlife Federation totaling $24M 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 National Wildlife Federation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for National Wildlife Federation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 National Wildlife Federation spent in FY2025, $85.83 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- People for the Ethical Treatment of AnimalsNorfolk, VA · revenue $110M · programs 83.8% · FY2025
- Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsBoston, MA · revenue $152M · programs 87.3% · 2025
- Trout UnlimitedArlington, VA · revenue $110M · programs 88.2% · FY2025
- Georgia Aquarium Inc. & SubsidiaryAtlanta, GA · revenue $166M · programs 79.3% · 2024
- Shedd Aquarium SocietyChicago, IL · revenue $102M · programs 76.7% · 2024
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Virginia
Questions people ask
How much of National Wildlife Federation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, National Wildlife Federation reported that 85.8% of its $125.0 million in expenses went to program services, 7.0% to management and general and 7.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does National Wildlife Federation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation National Wildlife Federation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $636,574, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does National Wildlife Federation get its money?
Of $124.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 88.2% came from contributions and grants (including 13.9% from government grants) and 6.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is National Wildlife Federation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 53-0204616 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), 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 August 31, 2025, object 202621779349300602 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202511539349300841 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202441529349300509 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202321909349300402 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202211619349301311 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202141169349300024 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 53-0204616: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.