Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← WETLANDS AMERICA TRUST INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by WETLANDS AMERICA TRUST INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$19,476,047
Total expenses
$21,876,523
Contributions and grants received
$16,233,707
Grants paid
$6,040,973
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$3,242,340
Other revenue
$0
Total assets, end of year
$201,038,493
Total liabilities, end of year
$113,219,443
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$87,819,050
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$21,876,523
Management and general expenses
$0
Fundraising expenses
$0
Program service expenses (Part III)
$21,876,523

Program services were 100.0% 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

    $16,233,707

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $15,856,606

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $467,427 · unrelated business $651 · excluded $466,776

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $0 · personal property $0

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $12,360,915 · other assets $18,350,290

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

    securities $7,992,159 · other assets $19,944,133

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $4,368,756 · other assets -$1,593,843

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $2,774,913 · related or exempt -$1,593,843 · excluded $4,368,756

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $0

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $6,040,973 · program services $6,040,973

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 24a · Other expenses: CONSERVATION EASEMENTS

    total $15,249,550 · program services $15,249,550

  • 24b · Other expenses: OTHER CONSERVATION

    total $586,000 · program services $586,000

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $2,016,226 · end of year $899,608

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $1,051,005

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    end of year $546,718

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

    $80,842,690

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

    $0

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $100,234,053 · end of year $80,842,690

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $95,106,312 · end of year $117,474,853

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $0

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $211,254 · end of year $223,619

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $581,718 · end of year $0

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $8,620,504 · end of year $6,913,130

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $7,463,000 · end of year $3,500,000

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $92,090,325 · end of year $102,806,313

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $58,263,929 · end of year $62,137,819

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $31,711,805 · end of year $25,681,231

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

WETLANDS AMERICA TRUST, INC. IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FORMED IN 1985 TO EXPAND DUCKS UNLIMITED, INC'S MISSION TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP IN THE PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL BALANCE OF WETLANDS ECOSYSTEMS ENSURING THE FUTURE VIABILITY OF WATERFOWL AND OTHER WETLAND WILDLIFE IN NORTH AMERICA. THE TRUST OPERATES EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF DU AND COMPLIMENTS DU'S DOMESTIC HABITAT PROGRAMS IN HARMONY WITH DU'S CONSERVATION PRIORITIES. THE TRUST IS ALSO A FIDUCIARY FOR DU AND MANAGES ENDOWMENTS AND REVOLVING FUNDS. DU IS THE SOLE MEMBER OF THE TRUST.

Activities or mission (Part I)

WETLANDS AMERICA TRUST, INC. WAS FORMED TO SUPPORT DUCKS UNLIMITED, INC'S (EIN 13-5643799) MISSION TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP IN THE PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL BALANCE OF WETLANDS.

  • PERPETUAL CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ARE SECURED ON WETLANDS AND ASSOCIATED UPLAND HABITATS IMPORTANT TO SUSTAINING NORTH AMERICAN WATERFOWL POPULATIONS. WETLANDS AMERICA TRUST, INC.'S EASEMENTS ARE DESIGNED PRIMARILY TO MAINTAIN OPEN SPACE BY LIMITING SUBDIVISION AND STRUCTURE CREATION AND TO PREVENT DETRIMENTAL LAND-USE CONVERSION OF HABITAT ECOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT TO WATERFOWL. DUCKS UNLIMITED INC. AND WETLANDS AMERICAS TRUST, INC. ENFORCE AND ANNUALLY MONITOR THE TERMS OF EACH EASEMENT TO ENSURE THAT SECURED CONSERVATION VALUES ARE MAINTAINED IN PERPETUITY.

    Expenses $21,290,523 · Grants $6,040,973

  • IN ADDITION TO SECURING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, A PORTFOLIO OF FEE-TITLE PROPERTIES IS ALSO MAINTAINED. GENERALLY, WETLANDS AMERICA TRUST, INC.'S LAND ACQUISITION STRATEGY SERVES TO PROTECT IMPORTANT WATERFOWL HABITAT UNDER IMMINENT THREAT OF DETRIMENTAL LAND-USE CONVERSION WHEN CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ARE NOT AN OPTION. ONCE ACQUIRED, WATERFOWL HABITAT ON THE PROPERTY IS RESTORED AND REHABILITATED. AFTER NECESSARY RESTORATIONS ARE COMPLETE, PROPERTIES ARE DISPOSED TO PUBLIC AGENCIES OR CONSERVATION BUYERS AFTER PROPER STEPS HAVE BEEN MADE TO ENSURE PERPETUAL PROTECTION OF THE PROPERTIES' CONSERVATION VALUES.

    Expenses $586,000 · Revenue -$1,593,843

As filed on the 2024 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • Doug Oberhelman

    Vice Chairman

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • John W Thompson

    Vice Chairman

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • Steve Maritz

    Chairman

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10 + 20 related

  • Wendell W Weakley

    Secretary/Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10 + 10 related

  • Joe Sivewright

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • John A Tomke

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5 + 10 related

  • Karen Waldrop PhD

    Director

    Total calculated
    $441,256
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $407,043
    Other
    $34,213
    Hours/week
    5 + 40 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $0 + $313,641 related
    Bonus
    $0 + $91,884 related
    Other
    $0 + $1,518 related
    Deferred
    $0 + $22,505 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $11,708 related
    Filer's total
    $0 + $441,256 related

  • Daniel Thiel

    Executive Secretary, DUI and WAT

    Total calculated
    $400,950
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $362,702
    Other
    $38,248
    Hours/week
    10 + 40 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $0 + $284,555 related
    Bonus
    $0 + $73,791 related
    Other
    $0 + $4,356 related
    Deferred
    $0 + $26,540 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $11,708 related
    Filer's total
    $0 + $400,950 related

  • Darin R Blunck

    Assistant Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $386,156
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $346,608
    Other
    $39,548
    Hours/week
    10 + 40 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $0 + $272,562 related
    Bonus
    $0 + $72,528 related
    Other
    $0 + $1,518 related
    Deferred
    $0 + $27,840 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $11,708 related
    Filer's total
    $0 + $386,156 related

  • David A Marrone

    Assistant Secretary

    Total calculated
    $348,040
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $308,664
    Other
    $39,376
    Hours/week
    10 + 40 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $0 + $241,162 related
    Bonus
    $0 + $64,664 related
    Other
    $0 + $2,838 related
    Deferred
    $0 + $27,668 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $11,708 related
    Filer's total
    $0 + $348,040 related

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

None.

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 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)

Schedule J, Part I, Line 3
WETLANDS AMERICA TRUST, INC. RELIES UPON DUCKS UNLIMITED, INC. A RELATED ORGANIZATION, TO ESTABLISH COMPENSATION OF DUCKS UNLIMITED, INC.'S CEO AND ALL KEY EMPLOYEES.

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

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
2024
Filed
13 May 2026
IRS schema version
2024v5.1
Source object
202611339349300106

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.