Wildlife Conservation Society

CharityWatch's rating of Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is based on the financial activities of its U.S. public charity entity (tax ID #13-1740011) and does not include the financial activities of the other WCS entities consolidated in the organization's fiscal 2020 audited financial statements. Most of these other entities are affiliates and wholly owned subsidiaries organized outside of the U.S., and some are not tax exempt. The U.S. public charity entity rated by CharityWatch accounts for more than 90% of the total revenue and expenses, respectively, of the consolidated Wildlife Conservation Society organization for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.

According to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) consolidated audit of June 30, 2020 (Note 15 (a)-(c), Significant Event during the Fiscal Year):

"In January 2020, the World Health Organization recognized the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, as a pandemic. Beginning March 16, 2020, all WCS's zoos and aquarium were temporarily closed to the public in accordance with New York State executive orders and guidance related to the pandemic. Outdoor exhibits at the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo and Queens Zoo reopened to the public on July 24, 2020. Indoor exhibits at those facilities and outdoor and indoor exhibits at the New York Aquarium reopened to the public on August 24, 2020. The reopened facilities are operating in accordance with New York State safety guidance and directives, including attendance capacity limitations. The operations of WCS's Global Conservation programs were also affected by local governmental and other guidance and requirements, which in some cases disrupted planned programmatic activity. The incidence of COVID-19 has therefore negatively affected WCS's operating results. It is anticipated that the effects of COVID-19 may continue to negatively affect WCS's financial position, results of operations and cash flows of WCS. However, given the uncertainty of the pandemic's duration, severity, and economic impacts, the ultimate financial effects cannot be known at this time."

"WCS has applied for the employee retention credit for $1,290,372. The credit will be claimed against WCS payroll taxes for each calendar quarter, in an amount equal to 50 percent of qualified wages limited to $10,000 per quarter per employee."

"WCS has elected to defer applicable payroll taxes under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act from April 30, 2020 through June 30, 2020. The Act permits companies to defer paying their portion of applicable payroll taxes from the date the act was signed into law through December 31, 2020. The deferred amount of $922,541 has been accrued and will be due in two equal installments on December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2022."

According to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) tax filing for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, WCS reports re: Compensation, Supplemental Information (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part III):

Regarding the payment or accrual of any compensation to officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees contingent on the net earnings of the organization (Schedule J, Part I, Line 6a):

"...This column [Part II, column B(ii), Bonus & incentive compensation] reports [a] $31,116 incentive payment to Niko Radjenovic, Vice President for Business Services, for the previous fiscal year. As a condition of his employment, Mr. Radjenovic receives a portion of his compensation as a variable incentive payment determined by a formula based on net income results of certain auxiliary services departments in his division during the fiscal year. The reported $31,116 payment was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019 and was reported as taxable income on Mr. Radjenovic's 2019 W-2."

[The reported total compensation for Niko Radjenovic in calendar year 2019 is $318,037 (Schedule J, Part II).]

Regarding any nonfixed payments to officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees (Schedule J, Part I, Line 7):

"One Vice President received [a] non-fixed payment in calendar year 2019, Patrick Thomas, Vice President and General Curator and Associate Director, Bronx Zoo, received $20,000. This was a one-time discretionary bonuses [sic] in recognition of extraordinary accomplishments during the prior year. The payment was reported as taxable income on the employee's 2019 W-2."

[The reported total compensation for Patrick Thomas in calendar year 2019 is $362,866 (Schedule J, Part II).]