Give.org logo
Support Give.org
Support Give.org
CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: July 2024 Expires: July 2026

World Wildlife Fund

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
Accreditation seal
(202) 293-4800
1250 24th Street NW
Washington, DC, 20037
https://www.worldwildlife.org
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

World Wildlife Fund meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth."

Year, State Incorporated:
1961, DE

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reports that it works in 100 countries to ensure that people and nature thrive, with its focus being on forests, oceans, marine, freshwater, wildlife, food, and climate. The organization partners with other organizations and governments to protect and restore species and their habitats; strengthen local communities’ ability to conserve the natural resources they depend upon; transform markets and policies to reduce the impact of the production and consumption of commodities; ensure that the value of nature is reflected in decisions made by individuals, communities, governments and businesses; and mobilize people to support conservation. WWF states that its strategy combines science-based solutions with action at every level of government from local to global to ensure the needs of both people and nature are met. Some ($29,733,859 or 7%) of WWF's programs are conducted in conjunction with informational materials that include fundraising appeals.

For the year ended June 30, 2023, World Wildlife Fund's program expenses were:

Conservation field and policy programs: $239,754,333

Public education: $145,029,906

Total Program Expenses: $384,784,239

Chief Executive
Carter Roberts, President and Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$1,204,775

Chair of the Board
Yolanda Kakabadse

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Retired, Minister of Environment for the Republic of Ecuador

Board Size
27

Paid Staff Size
1305

*2022 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Note: Sanjeev Mehra, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Periphas Capital LP, serves as co-chair of the board of directors. 

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Radio, Special events, Telemarketing, Print advertisements, Corporate solicitation

WWF incurred joint costs of $51,107,602 for informational materials and activities that included fundraising materials. Of those costs $29,733,859 was allocated to program expenses and $21,373,743 was allocated to fundraising expenses.

Fundraising costs were 10% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $439,037,235, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on World Wildlife Fund's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2023.

Source of Funds
Contributions $216,777,707
Government grants and contracts $74,141,090
WWF network income $20,482,997
Royalties, service contracts, and other income $10,406,187
In-kind contributions $104,295,592
Commercial building income, net $-1,688,244
Bequests, endowments, and split income gifts $43,822,846
Investment income, net $35,952,861
Total Income $504,191,036

Programs: 85% Fundraising: 10% Administrative: 6%

Total Income $504,191,036
Total expenses: $454,544,058
  Program expenses $384,784,239
  Fundraising expenses $43,881,198
  Administrative expenses $25,878,621
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $49,646,978
Beginning Net Assets $573,250,166
Other Changes In Net Assets $181,839
Ending Net Assets $623,078,983
Total Liabilities $132,347,274
Total Assets $755,426,257

Note 1: As noted in the above financial section, "other changes in net assets" refers to a foreign currency exchange.

Note 2: According to WWF's audited financial statements - consolidated - for the year ended June 30, 2023, the organization received $104,295,592 in contributed goods and services including advertising ($102,094,336), software ($1,539,339), legal services ($475,439), consulting services ($177,602), and goods and supplies ($8,876).

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance