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Top Rated

The Wild Animal Sanctuary

CharityWatch rating issued
August 2025

Top-Rated Charity
A
CharityWatch Rating
Our independent rating based
on a number of factors.
 
87%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$4
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.
Ratings & Metrics

Contact Information

The Wild Animal Sanctuary
1946 County Road 53
Keenesburg, CO 80643-4209

Other Names

Colorado's Wild Animal Sanctuary
Dollars for Animals
Rocky Mountain Wildlife Conservation Center
Summer Safari at RMWCC
The Wild Animal Sanctuary Refuge
Wild Animal Sanctuary
Wild Horse Refuge
Wild Things

Tax Status

501(c)3

Website

www.wildanimalsanctuary.org

Stated Mission

Animal Sanctuary and Public Education on Captive Wildlife

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Ratings & Metrics

Learn more about Ratings & Metrics
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2022

Program Percentage: 87%

The percentage of The Wild Animal Sanctuary's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$15,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $4

How many dollars The Wild Animal Sanctuary spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$18,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
The Wild Animal Sanctuary IRS Form 990 84-1351483
The Wild Animal Sanctuary Audited Financial Statements 84-1351483
Entity: The Wild Animal Sanctuary
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 84-1351483
Entity: The Wild Animal Sanctuary
Document Type: Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: 84-1351483

Governance & Transparency

Learn more about Governance & Transparency
CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
The Wild Animal Sanctuary
meets governance benchmarks.
 
The Wild Animal Sanctuary
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy No Sharing  

Top Salaries

Learn more about Top Salaries
  Name Title Compensation
1 Patrick L. Craig Executive Director $258,925
2 Rebecca Miceli Chief Science Officer $150,349
3 Jessica McCormick CAO $140,000
1
Name: Patrick L. Craig
Title: Executive Director
Compensation: $258,925
2
Name: Rebecca Miceli
Title: Chief Science Officer
Compensation: $150,349
3
Name: Jessica McCormick
Title: CAO
Compensation: $140,000

Analysts' Notes

Learn more about Analysts' Notes

There are currently no Analysts’ Notes

Related External Articles

Sanctuary founder rehabilitates animals removed from Puerto Rico zoo closed after years of complaints