Mule Deer Foundation
Mule Deer Foundation reported $33.2 million in revenue and $33.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $97.86 went to program services, $1.03 to management and general costs and $1.11 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 90.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $265,391 (CEO). 4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 108% 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 $33MFor 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 $33MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 97.9% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 1.0% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.1% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.32 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 3.4% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 90.9% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $265,391 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.80% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 4 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 2.0 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 9 of 9 | 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 expenseMembership support services provided by the organization represent the benefits provided to all Mule Deer Foundation members. The organization offers multiple memberships with different benefits at each level. Mebmers recieve educational material and are invided to support our local and national projects by attending chapter and national events held throughout the year. The western hunting and conservation expo is an annual convention that includes vendors and outfitters displaying and selling their prodcuts. In conjunction with this there are educational seminars and meetings held regarding…
The Mule Deer Foundation works closely with its members and partners to facilitate the rehabilitation of Mule Deer, black-tailed deer, and their habitat. The organization accomplishes their mission through wildlife habitat conservation, revitalization, and enchancement projects. Projects that the organization are invloved in include, but are not limited to, water installation (I.e. Guzzlers), juniper removal, reseeding, and rehabilitation of forage for deer species
Production and distribution of organization publication of mule deerfoundation magazine to membership and general public. This magazinecontains numerous articles on wildlife habitat conservation and ways torevitalize and enhance natural habitat. This magazine is given away
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $265,391 | $0 | $0 | $265,391 |
| DIRECTOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $185,000 | $0 | $0 | $185,000 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $180,000 | $0 | $0 | $180,000 |
| CCO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $112,500 | $0 | $0 | $112,500 |
| INTERM COO/BOAR Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $91,314 | $0 | $0 | $91,314 |
| CDO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $80,917 | $0 | $0 | $80,917 |
4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Mule Deer Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $915K (Part IX, line 5).
7 filings since FY2020
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linked| Filing | Revenue | Expenses | Programs | Net assets | Top pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 ⓘ | $33M | $33M | 97.9% | $5.5M | $265,391 |
| FY2024 ⓘ | $27M | $27M | 98.0% | $5.3M | $171,432 |
| FY2023 (amended) ⓘ | $20M | $20M | 97.4% | $4.9M | $190,203 |
| FY2022 (3 mo.) ⓘ | $1.5M | $2.2M | 95.8% | $4.4M | $47,500 |
| FY2022 (amended) ⓘ | $17M | $16M | 97.7% | $5.1M | $190,000 |
| FY2021 ⓘ | $18M | $16M | 97.4% | $4.9M | $133,875 |
| FY2020 ⓘ | $16M | $17M | 98.0% | $3.0M | $176,000 |
Governance 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–1b9 · 9 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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 560
- Volunteers Part I, line 6500
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SUMMIT FORESTS INC Habitat projects | $2,571,122 |
| THOMPSON LAND MANAGEMENT Habitat projects | $1,611,811 |
| TUBIT ENTERPRISES Habitat projects | $1,446,539 |
| GE FORESTRY INC Habitat projects | $889,482 |
| APEX ENTERPRISES INC Habitat projects | $734,018 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
5 private foundations reported grants to Mule Deer Foundation totaling $507K 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 Mule Deer Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Mule Deer Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Mule Deer Foundation spent in FY2025, $97.86 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Dane County Humane SocietyMadison, WI · revenue $32M · programs 66.5% · 2025
- Sea Research FoundationMystic, CT · revenue $34M · programs 79.4% · 2025
- Michigan Humane SocietyDetroit, MI · revenue $32M · programs 76.1% · FY2025
- Tennessee AquariumChattanooga, TN · revenue $34M · programs 70.9% · 2024
- Point Reyes Bird ObservatoryPetaluma, CA · revenue $32M · programs 81.4% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Mule Deer Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Mule Deer Foundation reported that 97.9% of its $33.1 million in expenses went to program services, 1.0% to management and general and 1.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Mule Deer Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Mule Deer Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $265,391, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Mule Deer Foundation get its money?
Of $33.2 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 3.4% came from contributions and grants and 90.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Mule Deer Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 68-0163253 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 202621559349301567 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202510639349300636 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023 (amended), object 202443189349305364 · read the filing
- FY2022 (3 mo.): Form 990 for the 3-month short period ending September 30, 2022, object 202440299349301469 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 (amended), object 202410579349300116 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202210559349300506 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202110149349301011 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 68-0163253: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.