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The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation

Animal sanctuary and public education on captive wildlife.

The Wild Animal Sanctuary

Animal Welfare Keenesburg, CO EIN: 841351483 (IRS) Sign up to see website
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77
Integrity Assessment
Strong transparency
77/100 · methodology

About The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation

The Wild Animal Sanctuary was founded in Boulder, Colorado in 1980, and has been operating for more than 46 years. The refuge is open to supporters daily, and is run by staff and volunteers. The Wild Animal Sanctuary is one of only a handful of true sanctuaries for abused and abandoned great cats and bears in the United States, where the animals are not bred, sold, or otherwise commercially exploited in any way. The Sanctuary is located in Colorado and utilizes more than 40,000 acres to shelter more than 1,000 lions, tigers, bears, leopards, mountain lions, wolves, mustangs and other animals. The Sanctuary is the largest refuge network in the world, as well as the only sanctuary that provides large …

Founded
Headquarters
Keenesburg, CO
Foundation type
Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2))
NTEE code
D340
IRS subsection
501(c)(03)
Ruling date
Size
large
Operating in
10 countries

Verified certifications

Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.

IRS Tax-Deductible since 1999

Mission

Animal sanctuary and public education on captive wildlife.

Focus areas & reach

· What they work on and where
Cause tags
SDG alignment The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the global agenda for ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity by 2030. We tag each charity to the goals its work advances.
Operating countries (10)
Argentina Bolivia Canada Colombia Mexico Puerto Rico South Korea Spain United States Uruguay

How it stacks up against peers

· vs. 6 similar animal welfare in United States
Program spending This charity: 92%
Peer average: 83%
CEO comp as % of revenue This charity: 0.71%
Peer average: 0.48%
Integrity Assessment This charity: 77
Peer average: 90

Concerns

· None found
No red flags found
Screened for IRS revocation history, Open investigations, Governance scandals, Related-party deals, Excessive exec comp.

Where every $1 goes

· FY2024 · IRS 990 (FY2024)
$0.92
Program$0.92
92% to programs beats the peer average (83%) and beats the Charity Navigator "highly efficient" threshold (75%).

GiveRadar Analysis

Original analysis from GiveRadar's dataset of comparable organizations

Based on the records currently verified by GiveRadar, The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation has a complete profile, cross-referenced across 6 independent sources including the IRS.

  • GiveRadar holds 14 years of financial filings for this organization, the most recent for fiscal year 2024 - a deeper filing history than 99% of the 16,398 animal welfare charities in the United States with filings on record. See the filings
  • By reported annual revenue, it is larger than 98% of the 16,157 animal welfare charities in the United States with financial records on GiveRadar. See the filings
  • It is one of the better-documented animal welfare charities in the United States GiveRadar currently tracks, because GiveRadar has verified its financial disclosures and its governance. Most of those have little verified data on record yet. View this cohort
GiveRadar has verified
  • government registration
  • financial records (14 filed years)
  • disclosed leadership
  • a website
  • a donation page
  • third-party accreditation
Not yet verified by GiveRadar
  • a contact email
  • an owner-submitted profile claim

Analysis based on GiveRadar's benchmark dataset of 2026-07-03. It describes what GiveRadar has verified, not a judgment of the organization itself.

Common questions

· Auto-generated from filings + methodology

The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation is a registered animal welfare nonprofit based in Keenesburg, CO, United States. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It was founded in 1995 and has been operating for 31 years. Its EIN is 841351483. According to GiveRadar's records, it holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 77/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports $36M in annual revenue. 50 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. No red flags have been detected.

The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 841351483. This is the organization's IRS tax identification number; you can use it to verify tax-exempt status and to look up its Form 990 filings with the IRS.

The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 77/100. This score combines five components: Registration (20 pts), Financial Transparency (30 pts), Governance (20 pts), Contact Availability (10 pts), and Data Recency (20 pts), with negative adjustments for any red flags. A score of 77 ('Strong transparency') reflects well-documented governance, recent financials, named leadership, and working contact details. The charity allocates 92% of expenses to programs, which contributes positively to its score. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for animal welfare charities in United States is 90/100.

The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation is located in Keenesburg, CO, United States. The organization was established in 1995 and has been active for 31 years.

Based on official tax filings, The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation has $36M in annual revenue. It allocates 92% of expenses to programs and services. This is above the average of 83% for animal welfare charities in United States. Its revenue is significantly above the peer average of $1M. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.

The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation is classified as an Animal Welfare organization, registered in United States. It operates as a Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)). By size, it is categorized as a large organization. It has $36M in annual revenue. The organization has 50 disclosed officers and directors.

No red flags have been detected for The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation. GiveRadar automatically screens charities for concerning patterns including high executive compensation, low program spending, and missing financial filings. Based on available official data, no issues have been identified.

According to GiveRadar's records, The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It reports that 92% of expenses go to programs (the peer average is 83%). You can donate directly through their official donation page linked on their GiveRadar profile. GiveRadar provides data for research and does not endorse any organization. A GiveRadar Integrity Assessment reflects how much public data is available, not whether an organization is safe to donate to, so it is always smart to do your own research before giving.

The Wild Animal Sanctuary was founded in Boulder, Colorado in 1980, and has been operating for more than 46 years. The refuge is open to supporters daily, and is run by staff and volunteers. The Wild Animal Sanctuary is one of only a handful of true sanctuaries for abused and abandoned great cats and bears in the United States, where the animals are not bred, sold, or otherwise commercially exploited in any way. The Sanctuary is located in Colorado and utilizes more than 40,000 acres to shelter more than 1,000 lions, tigers, bears, leopards, mountain lions, wolves, mustangs and other animals. The Sanctuary is the largest refuge network in the... The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation is classified as an animal welfare organization registered in United States. The organization was founded in 1995.

Among animal welfare charities registered in United States: It allocates 92% of expenses to programs, above the peer average of 83%. Its annual revenue of $36M is well above the peer average of $1M.

Yes, donations to The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation are generally tax-deductible in the United States. The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Its EIN is 841351483, which you can use for tax filing purposes. Donors can typically deduct contributions on their federal income tax return if they itemize deductions. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Annual revenue
$10M-$100M
92% to programs
Source: IRS 990 (FY2024) why this matters
Unlock exact figures

Filing history

10 years on file from IRS 990 (FY2024): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.

Years on record: FY2024, FY2023, FY2022, FY2021, FY2020, FY2019, FY2018, FY2017, FY2016, FY2015.
Financial details are free - with a GiveRadar account

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Taxes

Tax-deductibility for donors

Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United States under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.

Always confirm tax treatment with the charity directly or your tax advisor before donating.

Staff & volunteers

From filings and published profiles

Employees
166

Leadership

From FY2024 filing

PA
Patrick L C••••
Executive Director

Officers & trustees (15)

Source: Public filings

See full names, roles, and stories

15 officers and trustees on file - free with a GiveRadar account.

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Latest news

From global news sources

1 article found

From news sources and the organization. Shown for transparency; news never affects the integrity score.

Activity timeline

Filings and press mentions, merged

Form filed
$36.4M revenue
FY2024
IRS 990
Form filed
$33.9M revenue
FY2023
IRS 990
The Wild Animal Sanctuary Acquires 22,450 Acres of Land for Newly Formed Wild Horse Refuge Property - PR Newswire
Jan 2023
www.prnewswire.com
Form filed
$31.8M revenue
FY2022
IRS 990
Form filed
$25.4M revenue
FY2021
IRS 990
Form filed
$23.4M revenue
FY2020
IRS 990
Form filed
$20.0M revenue
FY2019
IRS/ProPublica
Form filed
$20.8M revenue
FY2018
IRS/ProPublica
Form filed
$16.2M revenue
FY2017
IRS/ProPublica
Form filed
$15.4M revenue
FY2016
IRS/ProPublica
Form filed
$12.0M revenue
FY2015
IRS/ProPublica

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Cause areas in United States

How many charities work in each area, with this charity's area highlighted.

Human Services 322,679
Education 195,586
Arts & Culture 133,128
Advocacy & Civil Rights 128,026
Religion 114,636
Health 98,862
Community Development 56,086
Youth Development 53,450
Animal Welfare this charity 40,468
See all cause areas in United States

Most common causes in United States

Causes charities work on most.

Community Development 235,146
Education 159,016
Religion 103,741
Arts & Culture 101,203
Human Rights 76,926
Health 65,250
Youth Development 47,775
Animal Welfare 32,425

Sources and verification

Registration and legal identity
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search
Financial filings
IRS Form 990 filings - Fiscal year 2024 most recent on file.
Officers and trustees
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search - 50 disclosed in the public registry.
News and media coverage
GDELT Project + Google News
Supplementary verification
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Supplementary verification
GlobalGiving partner directory
Supplementary verification
Charity Navigator

Data freshness

Last updated
Jun 12, 2026
Registry checked
Jun 6, 2026
Profile completeness
100%

What we know and don't know

Exactly which public data we hold on this charity. Our score reflects transparency, not impact.

On record · 10
  • Financial data · FY2024 on record
  • Named leadership · 50 officers on file
  • Executive pay · Disclosed
  • Government registration · Registered with an official registry
  • Mission statement · Published
  • Official website · On record
  • Headquarters address · On file
  • Direct contact · Email or phone published
  • Tax-deductibility · Verified
  • Founding date · 1995
Not available · 1
  • Programs & activities
    No named programs listed by the charity

Methodology

GiveRadar builds each profile primarily from official government charity registries, supplemented where available by third-party nonprofit databases and news archives, and combines it into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. The exact sources for this charity are listed above. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.

Read full methodology

Are you the owner or a board member?

If you represent this organization and want to correct or update its data, you can claim this listing to edit details yourself, or email [email protected] with the correct information. We review every request and respond within 30 days.

Quick facts about The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation

What is The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation?
The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation is a animal welfare publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)) based in Keenesburg, United States. The Wild Animal Sanctuary was founded in Boulder, Colorado in 1980, and has been operating for more than 46 years. The refuge is open to supporters daily, and is run by staff and volunteers. The Wild Animal Sanctuary is one of only a handful of true sanctuaries for abused and abandoned great cats and bears in the United States, where the animals are not bred, sold, or otherwise commercially exploited in any way. The Sanctuary is located in Colorado and utilizes more than 40,000 acres to shelter more than 1,000 lions, tigers, bears, leopards, mountain lions, wolves, mustangs and other animals. The Sanctuary is the largest refuge network in the world, as well as the only sanctuary that provides large acreage (5 to 300 acres in size) species-specific habitats for its rescued animals. The Sanctuary also provides direct education to more than 200,000 people per year concerning the Captive Wildlife Crisis.
When was The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation founded?
The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation was founded in 1995.
Who leads The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation?
Patrick L Craig serves as Executive Director.
Where is The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation located?
Headquartered in Keenesburg, CO, United States. The charity operates in 10 countries.
What is The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation's annual budget?
Annual revenue for fiscal year 2024 is approximately $10M-$100M. 92% of expenses go to program services.
Is The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation trustworthy?
The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 77 out of 100 (Strong transparency). The score reflects public-data transparency: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and how recently data was refreshed. It does not measure program impact.
What is The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation's registration number?
IRS EIN: 841351483.
What is The Wild Animal Sanctuary a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation's website?
http://www.wildanimalsanctuary.org