Defenders of Wildlife

Analysis

Defenders of Wildlife is a registered charity in United States, based in Washington, DC. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in June 1948, 78 years ago. Its declared purposes cover animal-related, which this site groups under animals. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (gross receipts test) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending September 2023, Defenders of Wildlife reported income of $35.9m and spending of $37.5m, spending 105% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from September 2019 to September 2023, income grew from $33.4m to $35.9m (+7.4%), an average of +1.8% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to September 2021, when income rose by 25%. Over the whole period it spent 96% of the income it received.

Among 14,470 United States charities whose main cause is animals and that reported income, Defenders of Wildlife sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile, and in the 96th percentile within DC. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include International Fund for Animal Welfare Inc ($35.2m), Jacksonville Zoological Society Inc ($37.3m) and Karuna Foundation ($34.5m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending September 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 101% and program service revenue 0.1% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $2.9m (7.8% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $11.5m. It paid $2.0m in professional fundraising fees. At year end it held assets of $50.2m against liabilities of $4.4m, net assets of $45.8m. It reported 216 employees.