Celebrating 30 years of helping you give wisely
America's most independent,
assertive charity watchdog
Top Rated

Wildlife Conservation Society

CharityWatch rating issued
July 2025

Top-Rated Charity
A
CharityWatch Rating
Our independent rating based
on a number of factors.
 
88%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$7
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

Wildlife Conservation Society
2300 Southern Blvd.
Bronx, NY 10460

Other Names

None

Tax Status

501(c)3

Website

www.wcs.org

Stated Mission

Saves wildlife & wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature.

View similar charities
Charity  
600 Million Stray Dogs Need You  
Alley Cat Allies  
American Humane Society  
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)  
Animal Legal Defense Fund  
Animal Welfare Institute  
Bat Conservation International  
Best Friends Animal Society  
Born Free USA united with Animal Protection Institute  
Castleton Ranch Horse Rescue  
Chimp Haven  
D.E.L.T.A. Rescue  
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International  
Dog Is My CoPilot  
Doris Day Animal League (DISSOLVED)  
Dreamchaser PMU Horse Rescue & Rehabilitation  
Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee  
Farm Sanctuary  
Friends of Animals  
Front Range Equine Rescue  
Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue  
Gorilla Foundation  
Horse Rescue of America  
Humane Farming Association  
Humane World Action Fund  
Humane World for Animals  
In Defense of Animals  
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)  
Jane Goodall Institute  
Keepers of the Wild  
Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary  
Last Chance for Animals  
Lifesavers  
Living Earth Productions  
Marine Mammal Center  
Mercy For Animals  
Morris Animal Foundation  
National Anti-Vivisection Society  
National Disaster Search Dog Foundation  
National Humane Education Society  
Noah's Lost Ark  
North Shore Animal League America  
Paws of Honor  
Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue  
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)  
Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)  
Pet Partners  
PetSmart Charities  
Pilots N Paws  
Pilots To The Rescue  
Project K-9 Hero  
RedRover  
Redwings Horse Sanctuary  
Save the Chimps  
Sidekick Foundation / Mara Elephant Project  
SPCA International (SPCAI)  
The Humane League  
The Wild Animal Sanctuary  
Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary  
Tiger Haven  
White Coat Waste Project  
Wings of Rescue  
World Animal Protection  
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 06/30/2024

Program Percentage: 88%

The percentage of Wildlife Conservation Society's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$460,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $7

How many dollars Wildlife Conservation Society spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$187,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

25% to 49%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Wildlife Conservation Society Consolidated Audited Financial Statements Multiple
Wildlife Conservation Society IRS Form 990 13-1740011
Entity: Wildlife Conservation Society
Document Type: Consolidated Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: Multiple
Entity: Wildlife Conservation Society
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 13-1740011

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?
 
Wildlife Conservation Society
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Wildlife Conservation Society
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

  Name Title Compensation
1 Robert G. Menzi EVP Chief Operating Officer $905,749
2 Monica P. Medina Past President / CEO $851,778
3 Paula Hayes EVP Chief of Global Resources $656,102
1
Name: Robert G. Menzi
Title: EVP Chief Operating Officer
Compensation: $905,749
2
Name: Monica P. Medina
Title: Past President / CEO
Compensation: $851,778
3
Name: Paula Hayes
Title: EVP Chief of Global Resources
Compensation: $656,102

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

CharityWatch's rating of Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) also includes the financial activities of the subsidiaries included in the WCS audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2024, according to Note 1, The Organization. This includes the U.S. based Henry L. Heymann Wildlife Preservation Foundation, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. 

To view a complete list of organizations included in WCS's consolidated audited financial statements and in CharityWatch's rating of Wildlife Conservation Society, see pages I-8 through I-10 of the organization's fiscal 2024 consolidated audit

According to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) tax filing for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, WCS reports re: Compensation, Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, and Highest Compensated Employees (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part II):

WCS reports providing "bonus & incentive compensation" during 2023 to six individuals. Monica P. Medina, Past President & CEO, received $175,000 of bonus and incentive compensation, with total reported compensation of $851,778. Robert G. Menzi, EVP Chief Operating Officer, received $150,000 of bonus and incentive compensation, with total reported compensation of $905,749. The remaining four individuals received $10,000 to $85,000, with total reported compensation ranging from $399,283 to $656,102 (after adjusting deferred compensation reported on a prior year tax filing (Column F) out of total reported compensation (Column E)) (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part II).


Related External Articles