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Nonprofiteer
← WILDERNESS SOCIETY

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by WILDERNESS SOCIETY.

Totals

Total revenue
$42,032,659
Total expenses
$43,478,669
Contributions and grants received
$38,066,122
Grants paid
$2,571,306
Program service revenue
$197,926
Investment income
$3,477,915
Other revenue
$290,696
Total assets, end of year
$119,089,723
Total liabilities, end of year
$25,751,411
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$93,338,312
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$34,187,770
Management and general expenses
$1,409,816
Fundraising expenses
$7,881,083
Program service expenses (Part III)
$34,187,770

Program services were 78.6% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $38,066,122

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $851,619

  • 2a · Program service revenue: CONTRACTED SERVICES

    total $193,126 · related or exempt $193,126

  • 2b · Program service revenue: ADVOCATE TRIPS

    total $4,800 · related or exempt $4,800

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $2,026,594 · excluded $2,026,594

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $90,073 · excluded $90,073

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $10,358

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $10,358

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $10,358 · excluded $10,358

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $3,219,835

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $1,768,514

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $1,451,321

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $1,451,321 · excluded $1,451,321

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $190,265 · excluded $190,265

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $190,265

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $2,455,107 · program services $2,455,107

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $51,199 · program services $51,199

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $65,000 · program services $65,000

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $2,548,167 · program services $2,031,379 · management and general $55,334 · fundraising $461,454

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $18,329,455 · program services $14,564,426 · management and general $394,942 · fundraising $3,370,087

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $959,293 · program services $784,430 · management and general $22,101 · fundraising $152,762

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $2,817,471 · program services $2,303,895 · management and general $64,912 · fundraising $448,664

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $1,515,881 · program services $1,239,562 · management and general $34,925 · fundraising $241,394

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $142,540 · program services $103,033 · management and general $7,247 · fundraising $32,260

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $163,573 · program services $118,236 · management and general $8,317 · fundraising $37,020

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $70,260 · program services $50,786 · management and general $3,572 · fundraising $15,902

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $237,600 · fundraising $237,600

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $74,243 · management and general $74,243

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $4,842,723 · program services $3,672,217 · management and general $258,307 · fundraising $912,199

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $930,364 · program services $557,894 · management and general $33,993 · fundraising $338,477

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $2,995,353 · program services $1,814,125 · management and general $114,806 · fundraising $1,066,422

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $102,066 · program services $77,062 · management and general $8,467 · fundraising $16,537

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $2,783,629 · program services $2,534,915 · management and general $119,433 · fundraising $129,281

  • 17 · Travel

    total $929,060 · program services $783,980 · management and general $33,090 · fundraising $111,990

  • 20 · Interest

    total $1,268 · program services $790 · management and general $291 · fundraising $187

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $429,037 · program services $267,250 · management and general $98,464 · fundraising $63,323

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $113,402 · program services $85,622 · management and general $9,407 · fundraising $18,373

  • 24a · Other expenses: DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $549,346 · program services $414,770 · management and general $45,572 · fundraising $89,004

  • 24b · Other expenses: MAILING LIST RENTAL

    total $201,000 · program services $120,530 · management and general $7,344 · fundraising $73,126

  • 24c · Other expenses: STAFF DEVELOPMENT

    total $48,693 · program services $36,765 · management and general $4,039 · fundraising $7,889

  • 24d · Other expenses: TAXES AND FEES

    total $20,321 · program services $12,658 · management and general $4,664 · fundraising $2,999

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $102,618 · program services $42,139 · management and general $6,346 · fundraising $54,133

  • 26 · Joint costs (an allocation of the lines above)

    total $6,690,149 · program services $2,797,241 · management and general $1,789,204 · fundraising $2,103,704

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $2,610,214 · end of year $3,189,623

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $14,308,793 · end of year $13,507,208

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $17,012,337 · end of year $14,954,745

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $45,408 · end of year $330

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $781,562 · end of year $600,401

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $4,640,964

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $1,918,843

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $3,151,162 · end of year $2,722,121

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $50,224,409 · end of year $63,198,451

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $314,316 · end of year $315,340

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $23,453,488 · end of year $20,601,504

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $3,921,460 · end of year $3,044,137

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $64,719 · end of year $56,699

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $24,405,269 · end of year $22,650,575

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $39,720,720 · end of year $47,143,041

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $43,789,521 · end of year $46,195,271

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

FOUNDED IN 1935 BY CONSERVATION VISIONARIES, THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY PROTECTS WILDERNESS AND UNITES PEOPLE TO PROTECT AMERICA'S WILD PUBLIC LANDS. WE WORK TO GUIDE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT TO THE RIGHT PLACES AND ENSURE THAT PUBLIC LANDS CONTRIBUTE TO CLIMATE SOLUTIONS. WE WORK TO ENSURE THAT ALL PEOPLE CAN ACCESS AND SHARE THE BENEFITS OF THE OUTDOORS, FROM THE URBAN TO THE WILD. IN 1964, WE LED THE EFFORT TO ESTABLISH THE NATIONAL WILDERNESS PRESERVATION SYSTEM, WHICH HAS NOW GROWN TO 109 MILLION ACRES OF PERMANENTLY PROTECTED WILDLANDS THAT PRESERVE AMERICA'S NATURAL HERITAGE. FEDERAL PUBLIC LANDS, WHICH BELONG TO ALL AMERICANS, FACE GROWING THREATS. THOSE ACRES AND MILLIONS MORE REQUIRE ACTION TO CONSERVE THEIR NATURAL CHARACTER. SEE WWW.WILDERNESS.ORG.

Activities or mission (Part I)

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.

  • 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.

    Expenses $16,629,270 · Grants $1,567,882 · Revenue $96,273

  • 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.

    Expenses $8,520,151 · Grants $705,244 · Revenue $49,326

  • 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.

    Expenses $6,491,534 · Grants $264,862 · Revenue $37,582

  • Expenses $2,546,815 · Grants $33,318 · Revenue $14,744

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Martinique Grigg

    CO-GOVERNING COUNCIL CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Rue Mapp

    CO-GOVERNING COUNCIL CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Michael A Mantell

    IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 1 related
  • Molly McUsic

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 1 related
  • William J Cronon

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Cathy Douglas Stone

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • David Bonderman

    AT-LARGE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Hansjorg Wyss

    AT-LARGE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • August Ball

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Thomas A Barron

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 1 related
  • Faith Briggs

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Indy Burke

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER (FROM NOV '23)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Matthew Campbell

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Norm Christensen

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • David Churchill

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Daniel Cordalis

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Kim Elliman

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Jim Enote

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Carl Ferenbach

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 1 related
  • David J Field

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Caroline M Getty

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Ben Jealous

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Lisa Keith

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Kevin Luzak

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Jacqueline Badger Mars

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 1 related
  • Juan Martinez

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dave Matthews

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Jeffrey Rhodes

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Rebecca L Rom

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Theodore Roosevelt IV

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Jennifer Perkins Speers

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Mark Wan

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER (FROM NOV '23)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Aaron Wernham

    GOV COUNCIL MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Jamie Williams

    PRESIDENT (TO SEP '24)

    Total calculated
    $509,193
    From this org
    $449,985
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $59,208
    Hours/week
    39 + 1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $423,500
    Bonus
    $25,000
    Other
    $1,485
    Deferred
    $19,800
    Nontaxable benefits
    $39,408
    Filer's total
    $509,193
  • David Seabrook

    COO

    Total calculated
    $386,266
    From this org
    $336,905
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $49,361
    Hours/week
    30 + 10 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $336,614
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $291
    Deferred
    $19,800
    Nontaxable benefits
    $29,561
    Filer's total
    $386,266
  • Teresa Lane

    SVP, GIVING & IMPACT (TO OCT '23)

    Total calculated
    $332,867
    From this org
    $316,536
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,331
    Hours/week
    39 + 1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $268,661
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $47,875
    Deferred
    $16,120
    Nontaxable benefits
    $211
    Filer's total
    $332,867
  • Elvis Cordova

    CHIEF OF STAFF

    Total calculated
    $326,382
    From this org
    $286,915
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $39,467
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $286,645
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $270
    Deferred
    $7,488
    Nontaxable benefits
    $31,979
    Filer's total
    $326,382
  • Lauren Gephart

    VP OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

    Total calculated
    $318,209
    From this org
    $269,408
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $48,801
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $269,214
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $194
    Deferred
    $16,822
    Nontaxable benefits
    $31,979
    Filer's total
    $318,209
  • Chase Huntley

    VP STRATEGY & RESULTS

    Total calculated
    $277,084
    From this org
    $259,091
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,993
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $258,821
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $270
    Deferred
    $15,575
    Nontaxable benefits
    $2,418
    Filer's total
    $277,084
  • Wordna Meskheniten

    VP, PEOPLE & CULTURE

    Total calculated
    $270,261
    From this org
    $217,071
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $53,190
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $216,888
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $183
    Deferred
    $13,782
    Nontaxable benefits
    $39,408
    Filer's total
    $270,261
  • Monique Dailey

    VP, CONSERVATION & COMMUNITIES

    Total calculated
    $222,098
    From this org
    $201,627
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,471
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $201,527
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $100
    Deferred
    $12,280
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,191
    Filer's total
    $222,098
  • Andrea O'Brien

    DVP, GIVING & IMPACT OPERATIONS & OUTREACH

    Total calculated
    $212,842
    From this org
    $188,410
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,432
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $188,140
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $270
    Deferred
    $11,392
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,040
    Filer's total
    $212,842
  • Maria Handley

    ED TWSAF & SPECIAL ADVISOR CHIEF OF STAFF

    Total calculated
    $231,411
    From this org
    $180,717
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $50,694
    Hours/week
    10 + 30 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $180,447
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $270
    Deferred
    $11,286
    Nontaxable benefits
    $39,408
    Filer's total
    $231,411
  • Lydia Weiss

    SR DIR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

    Total calculated
    $197,427
    From this org
    $186,028
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,399
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $185,748
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $280
    Deferred
    $11,145
    Nontaxable benefits
    $254
    Filer's total
    $197,427
  • Jeanna Cannan

    SR DIR HUMAN RESOURCES & OPERATIONS

    Total calculated
    $218,776
    From this org
    $180,267
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $38,509
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $180,080
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $187
    Deferred
    $11,092
    Nontaxable benefits
    $27,417
    Filer's total
    $218,776
  • Yvette Lopez-Ledesma

    DVP, COMMUNITY-LED CONSERVATION

    Total calculated
    $188,974
    From this org
    $178,288
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $10,686
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $178,018
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $270
    Deferred
    $10,686
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $188,974
  • Deborah Liu

    VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL COUNSEL (TO FEB '23)

    Total calculated
    $189,999
    From this org
    $180,719
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,280
    Hours/week
    30 + 10 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $63,731
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $116,988
    Deferred
    $3,950
    Nontaxable benefits
    $5,330
    Filer's total
    $189,999

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment

Answered no

  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 4A
TERESA LANE SEVERANCE $46,618 DEBORAH LIU SEVERANCE $116,660

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
15 July 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202521989349301562

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.