Translating science into action to save southern resident killer whales from extinction.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
77¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX

Before you give

FY2023 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 3
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $96K a year · 27% of revenue · last 3 filings
Fine: a surplus in 2 of the last 3 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 3 filings
Spent on programs
77%
of spending
Looks good: 77% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
19 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 19.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
8
named funders · $65K
Looks good: 8 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$9K
2% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 2% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
3
of 3 voting members
Looks good: 3 of 3 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$390K
+98% vs prior year
Spent
$181K
To programs
77%
Net assets
$397K
By yearFY2022–FY2025
Revenue
$390K
FY2023▲ +98%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2022$197K
FY2023$390K
FY2024$441K
FY2025$250K
Expenses
$181K
FY2023
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2022Not on file
FY2023$181K
FY2024$200K
FY2025$411K
Net assets
$397K
FY2023▲ +111%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2022$188K
FY2023$397K
FY2024$639K
FY2025$478K

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending February 2023) · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Exemption reinstated (2017-07-15). Per the IRS revocation list. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jun 2018.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

77 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 77% · $140K Management & general 16% · $29K Fundraising 6% · $12K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

3 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
See Wild Orca executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Translating science into action to save Southern Resident Killer Whales from extinction.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $140K · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Conservation Research

Wild orca's high-impact conservation research program utilizes one-of-a-kind non-invasive methods to reveal a near real-time picture of the health of endangered southern resident killer whales.

$123Kprogram expense
02

Strategic Advocacy

We make conservation science accessible, digestible and actionable by translating science and providing opportunities for individuals, organizations and management agencies to engage with policymakers in an effort to create change and accountability. We believe everyone has a unique role to play and action to take.

$13Kprogram expense
03

Policy Engagement

To recover southern resident killer whales, public policy and regulation must be rooted in accurate and timely scence. We work directly with stakeholders, organizations and management agencies to ensure that decisions are made based on the best available science and an understanding of the urgency required for recovery.

$3Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 8 funders →
Grants paid · 3 grants · $164K · 2023–2024
The U C Davis FoundationCA · FY2024$145,000
Orca NetworkWA · FY2024$13,500
Orca NetworkWA · FY2023$5,550

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$390K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$370K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$20K
Money outPt IX
$181K
Ln 25
Programscol B$140K
Managementcol C$29K
Fundraisingcol D$12K
Owns and owesPt X
$397K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$290K
Total assetsLn 16$406K
LiabilitiesLn 26$9K
PeoplePt VI, VII
3
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a3
IndependentVI 1b3
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$370K
Government grantsLn 1e$0
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Fees for servicesLn 2g$20K
Total revenueLn 12$390K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$290K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$290K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$106K
Total assetsLn 16$406K
LiabilitiesLn 26$9K
Net assetsLn 32$397K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 52
VolunteersI 629
Fiscal year endsHeaderFebruary
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$136K$290K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$89K$106K
Total assetsLn 16$229K$406K
LiabilitiesLn 26$41K$9K
Net assetsLn 32$188K$397K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$2K$2K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$59K$54K$0$6K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$6K$5K$0$669
Payroll taxesLn 10$6K$5K$0$546
Accounting feesLn 11c$3K$3K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$15K$15K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$106$106
Office expensesLn 13$32K$20K$8K$4K
Information technologyLn 14$8K$5K$3K$454
OccupancyLn 16$19K$12K$7K
TravelLn 17$2K$2K$143$225
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$14K$13K$550
InsuranceLn 23$11K$3K$8K$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$3K$3K$440$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$181K$140K$29K$12K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $250K$411K−$161K$478K 990 PDF
FY2024 $441K$200K$241K$639K 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $390K$181K$209K$397K 990 PDF
FY2022 $197K$188K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $389,817 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $189,525$369,984
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $7,000$19,833
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $196,525$389,817
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $500$2,500
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefits$70,923
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $19,914$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $14,137$107,225
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $34,551$180,648
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $161,974$209,169
Part VI · Governance 3 of 3 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body3
VI-1b Independent voting members3
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $389,817 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$0
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$369,984
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$369,984
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $19,833 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$19,833
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $19,833 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$389,817
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $180,648 across 14 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $2,500$2,500
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $53,586 · Management $0 · Fundraising $5,571$59,157
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $5,261 · Management $0 · Fundraising $669$5,930
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $5,290 · Management $0 · Fundraising $546$5,836
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $2,722$2,722
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $15,476$15,476
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $106$106
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $19,887 · Management $7,552 · Fundraising $4,237$31,676
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $4,626 · Management $2,675 · Fundraising $454$7,755
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $12,146 · Management $7,188$19,334
IX-17 TravelPrograms $2,077 · Management $143 · Fundraising $225$2,445
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $13,093 · Management $550$13,643
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $2,780 · Management $7,880 · Fundraising $0$10,660
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $2,968 · Management $440 · Fundraising $0$3,408
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $139,796 · Management $29,150 · Fundraising $11,702$180,648
Part X · Balance sheet $406,311 assets, 10 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $135,866$289,663
X-4 Accounts receivable$10,200
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $88,893$106,448
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $229,294$406,311
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $41,113$9,293
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $41,113$9,293
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $188,181$397,018
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $0$0
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $188,181$397,018
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $229,294$406,311
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $397,018 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$389,817
XI-2 Total expenses$180,648
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$209,169
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$188,181
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments−$332
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$397,018

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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