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Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife Foundation
Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife Foundation reported $26.3 million in revenue and $22.5 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $84.41 went to program services, $15.59 to management and general costs and $0.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 75.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $214,824 (SENIOR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS). 4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 28% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $22MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $26MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 84.4% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 15.6% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.0% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 23.0% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 75.2% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $214,824 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.96% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 4 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 53.4 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 3 of 6 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseThe foundation manages and operates Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife national museum and aquarium (wow) located in springfield, mo. The museum and aquarium offer visitors a unique experience to learn about conservation through tours, live animal collections, taxidermied wildlife galleries and other exhibits. The experience celebrates those who hunt, fish and act as stewards of the land and water. The education team connects people to nature through interpretive programs, outreach and field programs. The Wonders of Wildlife houses the exhibit, nature's best photography. This exhibit is home…
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SENIOR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 15.0 hrs/week | $189,980 | $0 | $24,844 | $214,824 |
| DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL CARE Highest compensated employee, 45.0 hrs/week | $127,487 | $0 | $34,306 | $161,793 |
| DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Highest compensated employee, 15.0 hrs/week | $127,615 | $0 | $22,138 | $149,753 |
| SENIOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGER Highest compensated employee, 31.0 hrs/week | $110,690 | $0 | $15,667 | $126,357 |
4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife Foundation (Part VII, line 2).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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–1b6 · 3 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 15aNo
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- 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 4No
- 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 5434
- Volunteers Part I, line 6370
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MEMOIR AGENCY LLC Construction, design, and creative services | $2,418,840 |
| DOTDOTDASH Construction, design, and creative services | $1,368,909 |
| FEDERAL BUILDING SERVICES Contracted cleaning | $723,440 |
| ASSOCIATED THEATRICAL CONTRACTORS Audio and visual services | $282,558 |
| PARAGON FABRICATION LLC Construction and fabrication services | $280,931 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 11 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
3 private foundations reported grants to Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife Foundation totaling $99,175 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 Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife 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 Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife Foundation spent in 2025, $84.41 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Questions people ask
How much of Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife Foundation reported that 84.4% of its $22.5 million in expenses went to program services, 15.6% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife Foundation reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $214,824, for the role of SENIOR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife Foundation get its money?
Of $26.3 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 23.0% came from contributions and grants and 75.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 82-2342237 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, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202622649349300727 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202523149349301847 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202413209349306966 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202303189349306430 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202203159349305875 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202123199349322607 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202023219349314257 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 82-2342237: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.