The Wild Animal Sanctuary
The Wild Animal Sanctuary reported $38.3 million in revenue and $35.7 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $90.39 went to program services, $8.11 to management and general costs and $1.50 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 97.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $260,189 (Executive Director). 3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 91% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $36MFor 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
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $38MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 90.4% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.1% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.5% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.01 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 97.4% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $260,189 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.73% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 3 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 11.1 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 5 of 5 | 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 expenseAnimal Care-The Sanctuary successfully cares for Lions, Tigers, Bears, Wolves and other large carnivores as well as Wild Mustangs. The Organization feeds species-specific food and provides large natural habitats for the animals
Public Education-The Sanctuary operated on-site public education programs for people in the Denver Metro area as well as visitors from around the nation and other countries. Education on the Sanctuarys animals is provided through in person field trips, Zoom intertnet videos presentations as well as various social media campaigns
Animal Rescue-The Sancuary has remained highly active in rescuing large carnivores throughout the United States and from many other countries around the world. The Sanctuary operates a fleet of specialized rescue equipment and highly trained staff to rescue animals that were suffering or facing death on a daily basis
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Director Key employee, 060.00 hrs/week | $260,189 | $0 | $0 | $260,189 |
| Veterinarian Key employee, 050.00 hrs/week | $172,344 | $0 | $0 | $172,344 |
| Cheif Science Welfare Officer Key employee, 050.00 hrs/week | $163,963 | $0 | $0 | $163,963 |
3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Wild Animal Sanctuary (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $0 (Part IX, line 5).
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–1b5 · 5 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 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 5161
Private foundation grants it received
99 private foundations reported grants to The Wild Animal Sanctuary totaling $1.5M 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 The Wild Animal Sanctuary's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Wild Animal Sanctuary, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Wild Animal Sanctuary spent in 2025, $90.39 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Oregon Humane SocietyPortland, OR · revenue $37M · programs 80.4% · 2025
- Brandywine Valley SPCAWest Chester, PA · revenue $40M · programs 95.1% · 2025
- John Ball ZooGrand Rapids, MI · revenue $37M · programs 89.4% · 2024
- Birdlife InternationalUnited Kingdom, · revenue $41M · programs 93.4% · 2024
- African Wildlife FoundationWashington, DC · revenue $37M · programs 83.1% · FY2025
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Colorado
Questions people ask
How much of The Wild Animal Sanctuary's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, The Wild Animal Sanctuary reported that 90.4% of its $35.7 million in expenses went to program services, 8.1% to management and general and 1.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Wild Animal Sanctuary pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Wild Animal Sanctuary reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $260,189, for the role of Executive Director (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Wild Animal Sanctuary get its money?
Of $38.3 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 97.4% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Wild Animal Sanctuary a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 84-1351483 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, 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 202622049349301127 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202522589349302487 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202411859349300806 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202302089349300140 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202231329349301443 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202141309349301454 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202021209349300812 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 84-1351483: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.