Wild Orca
Translating science into action to save Southern Resident killer whales from extinction.
Wild Orca at a glance
In short: Wild Orca gave $159K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $79K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $158,500
- +2755.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $79,250
- +1327.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $79,250
- Total assets
- $479,317
- -25.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (91% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Wild Orca funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The UC Davis Foundation ($145K). Together the top 2 received $159K.
Grant Size Distribution
3 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 3 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2023) to $159K (2025). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $159K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The UC Davis Foundation Davis, CA | To facilitate the continuation of Wild Orca's Conservation Research work that will be transitioned fully to SeaDoc Society, a program of the UC Davis Foundation. | $145,000 |
| Orca Network Freeland, WA | To support the San Juan Island Naturalist Program of which Wild Orca is a partner. | $13,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $479,317 | $249,876 | $410,783 | $158,500 | 2 |
| 2024 | $642,841 | $441,443 | $200,436 | $5,550 | 1 |
| 2023 | $406,311 | $389,817 | $180,648 | $2,500 | Total only |
| 2022 | $229,294 | $196,525 | $34,551 | — | — |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Wild Orca
Based on IRS filings
Wild Orca is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Friday Harbor, WA. IRS filing data is available from 2022 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $479K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $159K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Wild Orca is led by Michael Hays, President on every filing since 2022; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael Hays
President
On filings since 2022
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Sharadin
Director
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anna Gullickson
Secretary
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Wild Orca
How much does Wild Orca give each year?
Wild Orca gave $159K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $6K across 1 grant.
How large is Wild Orca?
Wild Orca reported $479K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $250K.
What is Wild Orca?
Wild Orca is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Friday Harbor, WA. It holds $479K in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Wild Orca operate?
Wild Orca has awarded grants in California, Washington.
What is Wild Orca's EIN?
Wild Orca's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4936308. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 7, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wild Orca's focus areas in our free grants database
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