Defenders of Wildlife is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$58.5M
+16.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$292K
-46.4% YoY
Grant Count
18
-43.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
-4.6% YoY
About Defenders of Wildlife
Based on IRS filings
Defenders of Wildlife is a nonprofit organization focused on Environment & Animals, based in WASHINGTON, DC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $58.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 18 grants totaling $292K. Net investment income was $487K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $58,479,065 | $50,165,827 | $48,630,491 |
| Revenue | $36,052,170 | $35,880,686 | $42,802,063 |
| Expenses | $35,168,532 | $37,549,970 | $37,955,460 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $486,995 | $-585,538 | $223,366 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
126 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Univeristy of Alaska ($47,120), Indian Nations Conservation Alliance ($32,333), Alaska Wilderness League ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Wildlife Alliance Anchorage, AK | To assist with costs associated with a coordinator for the Cook Inlet Beluga Advocacy Group and its activities. | $13,000 |
| Alaska Wilderness League Washington, DC | To support the Arctic Refuge Defense Campaign's efforts to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. | $30,000 |
| Andrus Ranch Holdings LLC Concho, AZ | To support efforts to avoid livestock depredation by wolves on grazing allotment in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. | $6,000 |
| Aris Land & Livestock LLC New River, AZ | To assist with costs associated with efforts to avoid livestock depredation by wolves in the Gila National Forest. | $24,000 |
| Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes Poplar, MT | To assist in cost associated with the bison quarantine program on Fort Peck Reservation in northeastern Montana. | $22,500 |
| Greater Yellowstone Coalition Bozeman, MT | To assist with costs associated with bear coexistence in MT and WY | $9,500 |
| Indian Nations Conservation Alliance Taos, NM | To support tribal efforts to reduce conflicts between wolves and livestock and to assist with range and grassland conservation objectives. | $32,333 |
| KCK Investments Inc Mesa, AZ | To support efforts to avoid livestock depredation by wolves on allotment or allotments in the Gila National Forest | $6,000 |
| Legacy Philanthropy Works Santa Barbara, CA | To employ a Resilience Coordinator position to further the goals of the Northwest Florida Sentinel Landscape Partnership (NWFSL). | $21,656 |
| Rangeland Wild Dana Point, CA | For Ranching with Wolves workshop in Oregon; towards continued wolf-livestock coexistence work in North Park, CO. | $11,815 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Caylor | Chair | 2.5 | — |
| John Donovan | Vice Chair | 2 | — |
| Sheryl Sachs | Treasurer | 2 | — |
| Susan Alexander | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Sylvia Baca | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Whitfield Bailey | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Don Barry | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Dinah Bear | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Kim O'Keefe Beck | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Gaby Chavarria | Director, Until June 2024 | 0.5 | — |
| John Dayton | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Paul Donaher | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Robert Fischman | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Caroline Gabel | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Ann Morgan | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Terry Root | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Tom Sisk | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Jamie Rappaport Clark | President/CEO, Until July 2024 | 40 | $608,543 |
| Andrew Bowman | President/CEO, as of Aug 2024 | 40 | — |
| Michael Senatore | SVP, Conservation Programs | 40 | $87,939 |
| Laura Sheehan | SVP, External Affairs | 40 | $155,918 |
| James Stofan | SVP, Operations, Until Sept 2024 | 40 | $275,372 |
| David Anderson | Interim SVP, Ops, as of Sep 2024 | 40 | — |
| Elizabeth C Nichols | VP, Finance and CFO, Until July 2024 | 40 | $272,789 |
| Matt Braughler | VP, Development | 40 | $268,706 |
| Brandace J Swimeley | VP, Integrated Marketing | 40 | $246,555 |
| Thu Pham | Chief of Staff | 40 | $198,705 |
| Robert L Dewey | VP, Government Relations | 40 | $193,219 |
| Shawn P Cantrell | VP, Species Conservation & Coexistence | 40 | $184,519 |
| Sharon Morris-Smith | VP, Human Resources | 40 | $176,216 |
| Julia Adams | VP, Conservation Law | 40 | $172,233 |
| Lindsay D Rosa | VP, Conservation Research and Innovation | 40 | $158,150 |
| Mary Beth Beetham | Director, Legislative Affairs | 40 | $140,514 |
| Cherie Wasoff | Director of Philanthropy | 40 | $129,528 |
| Andrew P Carter | Director, Conservation Policy | 40 | $128,797 |
| James Luerssen | Director, Gift Planning | 40 | $127,630 |
| Jane Davenport McClintock | Senior Attorney | 40 | $125,977 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Defenders of Wildlife?
Defenders of Wildlife is a nonprofit organization focused on Environment & Animals, based in WASHINGTON, DC. It holds $58.5M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Defenders of Wildlife?
As of 2024, Defenders of Wildlife holds $58.5M in total assets with $36.1M in annual revenue. It awarded 18 grants totaling $292K in 2024.
Where does Defenders of Wildlife operate?
Defenders of Wildlife has awarded grants in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Montana, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington.
What size grants does Defenders of Wildlife award?
In 2024, Defenders of Wildlife awarded 18 grants totaling $292K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Defenders of Wildlife's EIN?
Defenders of Wildlife's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 53-0183181. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Defenders of Wildlife's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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