Wilderness Society
Meets Standards
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
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Board Oversight
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Board Size
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Board Meetings
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Board Compensation
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Conflict of Interest
Measuring Effectiveness
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Effectiveness Policy
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Effectiveness Report
Finances
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Program Expenses
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Fundraising Expenses
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Accumulating Funds
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Audit Report
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Detailed Expense Breakdown
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Accurate Expense Reporting
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Budget Plan
Fundraising & Info
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Truthful Materials
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Annual Report
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Website Disclosures
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Donor Privacy
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Cause Marketing Disclosures
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Complaints
Wilderness Society meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Complaints
Number of complaints processed by the BBB in the last 36 months: 1.
Donation Cancellation
The organization addressed the complaint issues brought to its attention: 1.
(This complaint involved an individual seeking to have his or her monthly donation cancelled).
Stated Purpose:
"to unite people to protect America's wild public lands."
Year, State Incorporated:
1937, DC
Wilderness Society reports that it works to protect America's wilderness and positively affect management of shared national lands. The organization collaborates with lawmakers, land managers, local coalitions, and interested citizens regarding public lands. Wilderness Society distributes grants to other non-profits for conservation projects. In 2022, the organization states that it distributed 110 grants. Some ($3,269,371) or 8%) of Wilderness Society's programs are conducted in conjunction with informational materials that include fundraising appeals.
For the year ended September 30, 2023, Wilderness Society's program expenses were:
Net zero: $6,780,246
30X30: $17,089,182
Community led conservation: $9,003,282
Critical mass: $2,832,832
Action fund: $1,073,572
Total Program Expenses: $36,779,114
Chief Executive
Jamie Williams, President
Compensation*
$415,400
Chair of the Board
Michael A. Mantell
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Retired, Founder, Resources Law Group
Board Size
33
Paid Staff Size
175
*2021 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Radio, Print advertisements
Wilderness Society incurred joint costs of $8,042,038 for informational materials and activities that included fundraising materials. Of those costs $3,269,371 was allocated to program expenses, $2,660,645 was allocated to fundraising expenses, and $2,112,022 was allocated to administrative expenses.
Fundraising costs were 26% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $35,731,327, 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 Wilderness Society's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2023.
Source of Funds
| Contributions | $28,955,457 |
| Foundations | $6,553,591 |
| Corporations | $222,279 |
| Program services | $856,605 |
| Investment income, net | $9,190,231 |
| Other income | $251,064 |
| Total Income | $46,029,227 |
Programs: 76% Fundraising: 19% Administrative: 5%
| Total Income | $46,029,227 |
| Total expenses: | $48,477,713 |
| Program expenses | $36,779,114 |
| Fundraising expenses | $9,148,881 |
| Administrative expenses | $2,549,718 |
| Other expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $-2,448,486 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $86,869,668 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $361,594 |
| Ending Net Assets | $84,782,776 |
| Total Liabilities | $28,451,710 |
| Total Assets | $113,234,486 |
Note: As noted in the above financial section, "other changes in net assets" refers to a change in value of beneficial interest.
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.
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Meets Standards
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Standards Not Met
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Review in Progress
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Unable to Verify
Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance