Nonprofit · EIN 83-1279703
THE WILDERNESS PROJECT FOUNDATION
Also known as CULHANE MEADOWS PLLC
Tax-exempt · WASHINGTON, DC 20036
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $5,747,870 | $5,597,813 | $150,057 | $2,980,489 | $97,304 | $2,883,185 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $4,904,221 | $4,738,478 | $165,743 | $2,757,682 | $88,840 | $2,668,842 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $5,802,110 | $4,172,617 | $1,629,493 | $2,538,273 | $34,922 | $2,503,351 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $5,541,949
- Program service revenue
- $92,000
- Investment income
- $113,254
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $5,391
- Other revenue
- $667
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $2,084,000
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $134,691
- Other salaries and wages
- $63,917
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $203,779
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $7,959
- Accounting fees
- $122,953
- Travel
- $534,574
- Depreciation
- $223,237
- Program services (functional)
- $5,058,409
- Management and general (functional)
- $533,748
- Fundraising (functional)
- $5,656
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $2,757,682
- Total assets, end of year
- $2,980,489
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $97,304
- Net assets, end of year
- $2,883,185
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $567,989
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $2,743,185
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $140,000
- Gross receipts
- $5,747,870
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 6
- Year formed
- 2018
- State of legal domicile
- DE
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID GARRETT | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Trustee or director, Officer | 30 | $134,691 |
| STEVE BOYES | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| JOHN HILTON | PRESIDENT AND TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| STEVE BESSINGER | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| MOREANGELS MBIZAH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SHOHAM ARAD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BROOKE RUNNETTE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 7 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID GARRETT | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Trustee or director, Officer | 30 | $136,564 |
| STEVE BOYES | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| JOHN HILTON | PRESIDENT AND TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| STEVE BESSINGER | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| MOREANGELS MBIZAH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SHOHAM ARAD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BROOKE RUNNETTE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 7 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID GARRETT | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 30 | $98,698 |
| STEVE BOYES | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| JOHN HILTON | PRESIDENT AND TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| STEVE BESSINGER | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| MOREANGELS MBIZAH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SHOHAM ARAD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BROOKE RUNNETTE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1050 CONNECTICUT AVE NW STE 500, WASHINGTON, DC 20036-5304
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- JOHN HILTON, 1050 CONNECTICUT AVE NW 500, WASHINGTON, DC 20036
- Signed the 990
- JOHN HILTON, PRESIDENT
- Phone
- (202) 788-2850
- Website
- THEWILDERNESSPROJECT.ORG
- Return prepared by
- CBIZ ADVISORS LLC
Mission
THE PURPOSE OF THE WILDERNESS PROJECT FOUNDATION IS TO PROTECT 1.2 MILLION SQ. KM OF IRREPLACEABLE AFRICAN WATERSHEDS, PLATEAUS, AND WATER TOWERS BY 2030.
Program accomplishments
- GREAT SPINE OF AFRICA EXPEDITIONS - THE GREAT SPINE OF AFRICA SERIES OF EXPEDITIONS REPRESENTS THE LARGEST NON-MILITARY EXPEDITIONARY MOBILIZATION IN AFRICA'S HISTORY, TRAVERSING 27 COUNTRIES AND AIMING TO COMPLETE 200 RIVER EXPEDITIONS BY 2030. LOCAL COMMUNITIES LIVING TRADITIONALLY AROUND THE SOURCES OF AFRICA'S GREAT RIVERS ARE TYPICALLY THE LEAST-SERVED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES. OUR RESEARCH EXPEDITIONS ARE GUIDED BY THESE "RIVER GUARDIANS" AS WE UNDERTAKE SCIENTIFIC SURVEYS USING CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY.Expenses $2,667,103
- HABITAT CONSERVATION - THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES GRANTS TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROMOTE EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION OF WILD BIRD SPECIES AND THEIR HABITATS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA, USING LONG-TERM BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SYSTEMS.Expenses $2,075,000 · grants $2,075,000
- CONSERVATION MEDIA & STORYTELLING - IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AFRISOS, SUPPORTING AND INVESTING IN YOUNG AFRICAN FILMMAKERS TO TELL STORIES OF NATURE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THAT LIVE ALONGSIDE WILD RIVERS.Expenses $316,306 · grants $9,000 · revenue $92,000
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 83-1279703
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2019
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Animal-related (D32)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $2,980,489
- Income (IRS master file)
- $5,747,870
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $5,747,870 | $5,597,813 | $2,980,489 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $4,904,221 | $4,738,478 | $2,757,682 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $5,802,110 | $4,172,617 | $2,538,273 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $2,904,460 | $3,423,231 | $938,548 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-EZ | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 83-1279703).
Questions about THE WILDERNESS PROJECT FOUNDATION
- What is the EIN of THE WILDERNESS PROJECT FOUNDATION?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of THE WILDERNESS PROJECT FOUNDATION is 83-1279703.
- Is THE WILDERNESS PROJECT FOUNDATION tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2019.
- Are donations to THE WILDERNESS PROJECT FOUNDATION tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does THE WILDERNESS PROJECT FOUNDATION file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of THE WILDERNESS PROJECT FOUNDATION due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did THE WILDERNESS PROJECT FOUNDATION last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of THE WILDERNESS PROJECT FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names JOHN HILTON.
- Who are the officers and directors of THE WILDERNESS PROJECT FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 7 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $134,691 (DAVID GARRETT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER).
- How much revenue does THE WILDERNESS PROJECT FOUNDATION have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $5,747,870, expenses of $5,597,813 and total assets of $2,980,489 at year end.
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All nonprofits in WASHINGTON · District of Columbia · Animal-related