Exotic Wildlife Association

The information for Exotic Wildlife Association is as of the organization's most recent filing in December '21. This organization is located in Kerrville, TX. It has been in existence for 24 years, following its founding in 1997.

Organization Classification

The IRS classifies organizations according to the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) system. The NTEE system helps the IRS assign a 3-character code to each organization to describe the organization's activities.

The Exotic Wildlife Association's NTEE code is D03. The "D" tells us that the organization is classified along with Animal-Related organizations. The "03" tells us that the organization is a Professional Societies & Associations. The NTEE describes Professional Societies & Associations as organizations that bring together individuals or organizations with a common professional or vocational interest within the Animal-Related major group area.

Every organization is also governed by a specific section of the Internal Revenue Code. This organization happens to be a 501(c)(6) organization. The IRS describes these organizations as Business Leagues, Chambers of Commerce, Real Estate Boards.

Perhaps the most accurate way to get a sense of what the organization hopes to achieve is by looking at its mission. The mission of the Exotic Wildlife Association is to protect game ranchers and hunters, as well as develop and expand non-native wildlife breeding throughout the United States. They aim to provide a stringent member code of ethics as management tools to foster conservation.

Program Areas

The organization provided technical support and useful information to its members in order to promote the development of the alternative livestock industry through agricultural diversification into production and marketing. Additionally, it promoted conservation through commerce and articulated the professionalism and ethics code by which its members are bound. These activities are reported within the general fund, as they are not specifically reported by another fund or program.

Organization Staffing

Exotic Wildlife Association is run by Charly Seale, who is the Executive Director. The organization has 4 employees, none of whom are paid over $100k per year. Supporting the small staff are 20 volunteers.

Board Governance

The Exotic Wildlife Association appears to be well-governed based on the information provided. The organization has a total of 21 voting members, all of whom are independent, indicating a diverse and unbiased decision-making process. The absence of potential conflicts of interest further strengthens the organization's governance, ensuring that decisions are made in the best interest of the non-profit and its mission. The fact that the organization has documented board meetings and committee meetings demonstrates a commitment to transparency and accountability. This documentation allows for a clear record of discussions, decisions, and actions taken by the board and committees, ensuring that all members are informed and involved in the governance process. The presence of a conflict of interest policy and a requirement for disclosure of conflicts further highlights the organization's commitment to ethical practices. These policies help to mitigate any potential conflicts and ensure that decisions are made in an objective and fair manner. However, there are some areas where the organization could improve its governance. The absence of a written whistleblower policy and a document retention policy leaves room for potential vulnerabilities. These policies are important in promoting a culture of transparency, accountability, and protection for individuals who report misconduct or violations within the organization. Additionally, the organization does not substantiate or review leadership salaries or officer's salaries, which could raise concerns about financial accountability and the appropriate use of funds. Overall, the Exotic Wildlife Association demonstrates strong governance practices, particularly in terms of independence, conflict of interest policies, and documentation of meetings. However, there are areas where the organization could enhance its governance framework to further strengthen transparency and accountability.

Organization Growth

The Exotic Wildlife Association has experienced growth over the given time period. Contributions and grants received increased from $163.4K in 2015 to $189.7K in 2021. Other revenue also increased from $261.8K in 2015 to $395.7K in 2021. Total revenue saw an increase as well, from $604.5K in 2015 to $630.1K in 2021. However, some aspects of the organization experienced a decrease. Investment income decreased from $179.3K in 2015 to $44.7K in 2021. Grants paid decreased from $14.3K in 2015 to $5.5K in 2021. Employee salaries also decreased from $177.3K in 2015 to $127.6K in 2021. Additionally, the total number of employees decreased from 7 in 2015 to 4 in 2021. Despite these decreases, the overall growth of the organization is evident as the total expenses decreased from $488.5K in 2015 to $401.0K in 2021. The number of volunteers remained the same at 20 from 2015 to 2018.