Wilderness Society is located in Washington, DC. The organization was established in 1942. According to its NTEE Classification (C34) the organization is classified as: Land Resources Conservation, under the broad grouping of Environment and related organizations. As of 09/2023, Wilderness Society employed 210 individuals. This organization is an independent organization and not affiliated with a larger national or regional group of organizations. Wilderness Society is a 501(c)(3) and as such, is described as a "Charitable or Religous organization or a private foundation" by the IRS.
For the year ending 09/2023, Wilderness Society generated $39.2m in total revenue. This represents relatively stable growth, over the past 8 years the organization has increased revenue by an average of 2.9% each year. All expenses for the organization totaled $47.4m during the year ending 09/2023. While expenses have increased by 6.5% per year over the past 8 years. They've been increasing with an increasing level of total revenue. You can explore the organizations financials more deeply in the financial statements section below.
Since 2015, Wilderness Society has awarded 738 individual grants totaling $24,203,040. If you would like to learn more about the grant giving history of this organization, scroll down to the grant profile section of this page.
Form
990
Mission & Program ActivityExcerpts From the 990 Filing
TAX YEAR
2023
Describe the Organization's Mission:
Part 3 - Line 1
THE LEADING ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROTECTING AMERICA'S WILD PLACES, THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY WORKS STRATEGICALLY AND COLLABORATIVELY WITH LAWMAKERS, LAND MANAGERS, LOCAL COALITIONS, AND INTERESTED CITIZENS TO LEAD NATIONAL POLICY ISSUES ON WILDERNESS AND PUBLIC LANDS. TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR AMAZING 80-YEAR HISTORY OF SUCCESSES AND THE MANY PROGRAMS AND PLACES WE WORK, VISIT WWW.WILDERNESS.ORG.
Describe the Organization's Program Activity:
Part 3 - Line 4a
30 X 30: THE GOAL OF THE 30 X 30 MOVEMENT IS TO ADDRESS THE DEVASTATING LOSS OF NATURE ACROSS THE GLOBE. IN APPROXIMATELY THE LAST 20 YEARS, WE'VE LOST 1.2 MILLION SQUARE MILES OF THE WILD LAND WORLDWIDE - ABOUT THE SAME AS THE TOTAL AREA OF INDIA. IF DEVELOPMENT AND DESTRUCTION CONTINUE AT THAT RATE, SCIENTISTS SAY THERE WILL BE NO TRULY WILD PLACES LEFT WITHOUT HUMAN DISTURBANCES IN LESS THAN A CENTURY. THIS LOSS OF NATURE AFFECTS OUR SOURCES OF CLEAN AIR AND WATER AS WELL AS THE PLACES WE RECREATE. IT ALSO MEANS FEWER PLACES TO ACT AS REFUGE FOR PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE STRUGGLING TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE. ADDITIONALLY, THIS TREND IS HURTING OUR ABILITY TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE ITSELF, AS FORESTS AND OTHER LANDSCAPES WITH A GREAT CAPACITY TO ABSORB GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ARE BEING WIPED OUT.
CRITICAL MASS: IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE OUR AMBITIOUS STRATEGIC GOALS, WE REQUIRE CRITICAL MASS OF PEOPLE REFLECTING AMERICA'S DIVERSITY, TAKING ACTION TO PROTECT WILDERNESS AND PUBLIC LANDS. THROUGH NATIONAL AND LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, CAMPAIGNS AND PUBLIC AWARENESS INITIATIVES, WE WORK TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERM MOVEMENT.
30 X 30: THE GOAL OF THE 30 X 30 MOVEMENT IS TO ADDRESS THE DEVASTATING LOSS OF NATURE ACROSS THE GLOBE. IN APPROXIMATELY THE LAST 20 YEARS, WE'VE LOST 1.2 MILLION SQUARE MILES OF THE WILD LAND WORLDWIDE - ABOUT THE SAME AS THE TOTAL AREA OF INDIA. IF DEVELOPMENT AND DESTRUCTION CONTINUE AT THAT RATE, SCIENTISTS SAY THERE WILL BE NO TRULY WILD PLACES LEFT WITHOUT HUMAN DISTURBANCES IN LESS THAN A CENTURY. THIS LOSS OF NATURE AFFECTS OUR SOURCES OF CLEAN AIR AND WATER AS WELL AS THE PLACES WE RECREATE. IT ALSO MEANS FEWER PLACES TO ACT AS REFUGE FOR PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE STRUGGLING TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE. ADDITIONALLY, THIS TREND IS HURTING OUR ABILITY TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE ITSELF, AS FORESTS AND OTHER LANDSCAPES WITH A GREAT CAPACITY TO ABSORB GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ARE BEING WIPED OUT.
CRITICAL MASS: IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE OUR AMBITIOUS STRATEGIC GOALS, WE REQUIRE CRITICAL MASS OF PEOPLE REFLECTING AMERICA'S DIVERSITY, TAKING ACTION TO PROTECT WILDERNESS AND PUBLIC LANDS. THROUGH NATIONAL AND LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, CAMPAIGNS AND PUBLIC AWARENESS INITIATIVES, WE WORK TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERM MOVEMENT.
COMMUNITY LED CONSERVATION: ALL PEOPLE, OF EVERY RACE, GENDER, IMMIGRATION STATUS, PHYSICAL ABILITY OR INCOME LEVEL, SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO NATURE. WE ARE WORKING TO TRANSFORM CONSERVATION POLICY AND PRACTICE SO THAT EVERYONE CAN GET OUTDOORS AND BENEFIT EQUITABLY FROM PUBLIC LANDS.
COMMUNITY LED CONSERVATION: ALL PEOPLE, OF EVERY RACE, GENDER, IMMIGRATION STATUS, PHYSICAL ABILITY OR INCOME LEVEL, SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO NATURE. WE ARE WORKING TO TRANSFORM CONSERVATION POLICY AND PRACTICE SO THAT EVERYONE CAN GET OUTDOORS AND BENEFIT EQUITABLY FROM PUBLIC LANDS.
NET ZERO: WE STRIVE TO MAKE PUBLIC LANDS AND WATERS ENTIRELY POLLUTION-FREE. THE FIRST STEP IS TO MAKE PUBLIC LANDS A NET-ZERO SOURCE OF EMISSIONS BY 2030 AND SUPPORT A JUST TRANSITION FOR FOSSIL-FUEL-DEPENDENT COMMUNITIES. WE ALSO WANT TO BOOST RESPONSIBLE RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN THE RIGHT PLACES AND TO PROTECT FORESTS AND LANDSCAPES THAT PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ABSORBING CLIMATE CHANGE EMISSIONS.
NET ZERO: WE STRIVE TO MAKE PUBLIC LANDS AND WATERS ENTIRELY POLLUTION-FREE. THE FIRST STEP IS TO MAKE PUBLIC LANDS A NET-ZERO SOURCE OF EMISSIONS BY 2030 AND SUPPORT A JUST TRANSITION FOR FOSSIL-FUEL-DEPENDENT COMMUNITIES. WE ALSO WANT TO BOOST RESPONSIBLE RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN THE RIGHT PLACES AND TO PROTECT FORESTS AND LANDSCAPES THAT PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ABSORBING CLIMATE CHANGE EMISSIONS.
Name (title) | Role | Hours | Compensation |
---|---|---|---|
Michael A Mantell Governing Council Chair | OfficerTrustee | 2 | $0 |
Molly Mcusic Vice Chair | OfficerTrustee | 2 | $0 |
William J Cronon Vice Chair | OfficerTrustee | 2 | $0 |
Rue Mapp Vice Chair | OfficerTrustee | 2 | $0 |
Cathy Douglas Stone Secretary | OfficerTrustee | 2 | $0 |
David Bonderman At-Large | OfficerTrustee | 2 | $0 |
Vendor Name (Service) | Service Year | Compensation |
---|---|---|
Production Solutions Inc Direct Mail | 9/29/23 | $2,501,379 |
M & R Strategic Services Digital Consulting | 9/29/23 | $1,592,889 |
Barbara Sims Inc Digital Marketing | 9/29/23 | $302,486 |
Merkle Response Services Digital Marketing | 9/29/23 | $256,453 |
Meta Platforms Inc Digital Marketing | 9/29/23 | $230,835 |
Barbara Sims Inc Digital Marketing | 9/29/23 | $302,486 |
Statement of Revenue | |
---|---|
Federated campaigns | $0 |
Membership dues | $0 |
Fundraising events | $634,374 |
Related organizations | $0 |
Government grants | $0 |
All other contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts not included above | $34,342,864 |
Noncash contributions included in lines 1a–1f | $1,665,476 |
Total Revenue from Contributions, Gifts, Grants & Similar | $34,977,238 |
Total Program Service Revenue | $209,303 |
Investment income | $1,659,857 |
Tax Exempt Bond Proceeds | $0 |
Royalties | $100,730 |
Net Rental Income | $14,993 |
Net Gain/Loss on Asset Sales | $2,186,794 |
Net Income from Fundraising Events | -$65,976 |
Net Income from Gaming Activities | $0 |
Net Income from Sales of Inventory | $0 |
Miscellaneous Revenue | $0 |
Total Revenue | $39,217,935 |
Statement of Expenses | |
---|---|
Grants and other assistance to domestic organizations and domestic governments. | $2,770,506 |
Grants and other assistance to domestic individuals. | $55,200 |
Grants and other assistance to Foreign Orgs/Individuals | $0 |
Benefits paid to or for members | $0 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $2,538,409 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $70,868 |
Compensation to disqualified persons | $0 |
Other salaries and wages | $18,114,228 |
Pension plan accruals and contributions | $921,087 |
Other employee benefits | $2,564,540 |
Payroll taxes | $1,450,576 |
Fees for services: Management | $0 |
Fees for services: Legal | $889,343 |
Fees for services: Accounting | $137,832 |
Fees for services: Lobbying | $58,969 |
Fees for services: Fundraising | $243,403 |
Fees for services: Investment Management | $119,847 |
Fees for services: Other | $5,950,997 |
Advertising and promotion | $0 |
Office expenses | $5,319,117 |
Information technology | $0 |
Royalties | $0 |
Occupancy | $2,309,342 |
Travel | $2,068,727 |
Payments of travel or entertainment expenses for any federal, state, or local public officials | $0 |
Conferences, conventions, and meetings | $0 |
Interest | $806 |
Payments to affiliates | $0 |
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization | $499,548 |
Insurance | $87,124 |
All other expenses | $224,788 |
Total functional expenses | $47,392,193 |
Balance Sheet | |
---|---|
Cash—non-interest-bearing | $2,610,214 |
Savings and temporary cash investments | $14,308,793 |
Pledges and grants receivable | $17,012,337 |
Accounts receivable, net | $45,408 |
Loans from Officers, Directors, or Controlling Persons | $0 |
Loans from Disqualified Persons | $0 |
Notes and loans receivable | $0 |
Inventories for sale or use | $0 |
Prepaid expenses and deferred charges | $781,562 |
Net Land, buildings, and equipment | $3,151,162 |
Investments—publicly traded securities | $50,224,409 |
Investments—other securities | $314,316 |
Investments—program-related | $0 |
Intangible assets | $0 |
Other assets | $23,453,488 |
Total assets | $111,901,689 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $3,921,460 |
Grants payable | $0 |
Deferred revenue | $64,719 |
Tax-exempt bond liabilities | $0 |
Escrow or custodial account liability | $0 |
Loans and other payables to any current Officer, Director, or Controlling Person | $0 |
Secured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Unsecured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Other liabilities | $24,405,269 |
Total liabilities | $28,391,448 |
Net assets without donor restrictions | $39,720,720 |
Net assets with donor restrictions | $43,789,521 |
Capital stock or trust principal, or current funds | $0 |
Paid-in or capital surplus, or land, building, or equipment fund | $0 |
Retained earnings, endowment, accumulated income, or other funds | $0 |
Total liabilities and net assets/fund balances | $111,901,689 |
Over the last fiscal year, Wilderness Society has awarded $5,324,152 in support to 168 organizations.
Grant Recipient | Amount |
---|---|
NATIVE AMERICAN RIGHTS FUND PURPOSE: CONSERVATION PROJECTS | $156,104 |
THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY ACTION FUND PURPOSE: CONSERVATION PROJECTS | $134,500 |
VIRGINIA WILDERNESS COMMITTEE PURPOSE: CONSERVATION PROJECTS | $120,238 |
THE INTERNATIONAL SONORAN DESERT ALLIANCE PURPOSE: CONSERVATION PROJECTS | $120,000 |
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TRIBAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICERS PURPOSE: CONSERVATION PROJECTS | $105,000 |
THEODORE ROOSEVELT CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PURPOSE: CONSERVATION PROJECTS | $90,000 |