Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.
Go to
www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
| (i) Name of supported organization | (ii) EIN | (iii) Type of organization (described on lines 1- 10 above (see instructions)) | (iv) Is the organization listed in your governing document? | (v) Amount of monetary support (see instructions) | (vi) Amount of other support (see instructions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | |||||
|
Total |
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Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2020 | (b) 2021 | (c) 2022 | (d) 2023 | (e) 2024 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grant.") .. | 4,499,892 | 4,903,836 | 4,960,797 | 2,618,056 | 2,836,028 | 19,818,609 |
| 2 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf .... | ||||||
| 3 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge.. | ||||||
| 4 | Total. Add lines 1 through 3 | 4,499,892 | 4,903,836 | 4,960,797 | 2,618,056 | 2,836,028 | 19,818,609 |
| 5 | The portion of total contributions by each person (other than a governmental unit or publicly supported organization) included on line 1 that exceeds 2% of the amount shown on line 11, column (f) .. | 3,430,364 | |||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | 16,388,245 | |||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2020 | (b) 2021 | (c) 2022 | (d) 2023 | (e) 2024 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | 4,499,892 | 4,903,836 | 4,960,797 | 2,618,056 | 2,836,028 | 19,818,609 |
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | 215,502 | 246,718 | 439,735 | 632,564 | 645,787 | 2,180,306 |
| 9 | Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.. | ||||||
| 10 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.).. | 810,776 | 1,211,975 | 274,152 | 593,092 | 488,058 | 3,378,053 |
| 11 | Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 | 25,376,968 | |||||
Calendar year (or fiscal
year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2020 | (b) 2021 | (c) 2022 | (d) 2023 | (e) 2024 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") . | ||||||
| 2 | Gross receipts from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed, or facilities furnished in any activity that is related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose | ||||||
| 3 | Gross receipts from activities that are not an unrelated trade or business under section 513 ..... | ||||||
| 4 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf... | ||||||
| 5 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge | ||||||
| 6 | Total. Add lines 1 through 5 | ||||||
| 7a | Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons | ||||||
| b | Amounts included on lines 2 and 3 received from other than disqualified persons that exceed the greater of $5,000 or 1% of the amount on line 13 for the year. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 7a and 7b.. | ||||||
| 8 | Public support. (Subtract line 7c from line 6.) | ||||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2020 | (b) 2021 | (c) 2022 | (d) 2023 | (e) 2024 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Amounts from line 6... | ||||||
| 10a | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources.. | ||||||
| b | Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 10a and 10b. | ||||||
| 11 | Net income from unrelated business activities not included on line 10b, whether or not the business is regularly carried on. | ||||||
| 12 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.) .. | ||||||
| 13 | Total support. (Add lines 9, 10c, 11, and 12.).. | ||||||
| Section A - Adjusted Net Income | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Net short-term capital gain | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Other gross income (see instructions) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Add lines 1 through 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Depreciation and depletion | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Portion of operating expenses paid or incurred for production or collection of gross income or for management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for production of income (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Other expenses (see instructions) | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Adjusted Net Income (subtract lines 5, 6 and 7 from line 4) | 8 | ||||
| Section B - Minimum Asset Amount | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Aggregate fair market value of all non-exempt-use assets (see instructions for short tax year or assets held for part of year): | 1 | ||||
| a | Average monthly value of securities | 1a | ||||
| b | Average monthly cash balances | 1b | ||||
| c | Fair market value of other non-exempt-use assets | 1c | ||||
| d | Total (add lines 1a, 1b, and 1c) | 1d | ||||
| e |
Discount claimed for blockage or other factors (explain in detail in Part VI): |
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| 2 | Acquisition indebtedness applicable to non-exempt use assets | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Subtract line 2 from line 1d | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Cash deemed held for exempt use. Enter 0.015 of line 3 (for greater amount, see instructions). | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Net value of non-exempt-use assets (subtract line 4 from line 3) | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Multiply line 5 by 0.035 | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Minimum Asset Amount (add line 7 to line 6) | 8 | ||||
| Section C - Distributable Amount | Current Year | |||||
| 1 | Adjusted net income for prior year (from Section A, line 8, Column A) | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Enter 85% of line 1 | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Minimum asset amount for prior year (from Section B, line 8, Column A) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Enter greater of line 2 or line 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Income tax imposed in prior year | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Distributable Amount. Subtract line 5 from line 4, unless subject to emergency temporary reduction (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| Section D - Distributions | Current Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Amounts paid to supported organizations to accomplish exempt purposes | 1 | |
|
2
Amounts paid to perform activity that directly furthers exempt purposes of supported organizations, in excess of income from activity |
2 | |
| 3 Administrative expenses paid to accomplish exempt purposes of supported organizations | 3 | |
| 4 Amounts paid to acquire exempt-use assets | 4 | |
| 5 Qualified set-aside amounts (prior IRS approval required - provide details in Part VI) | 5 | |
| 6 Other distributions (describe in Part VI). See instructions | 6 | |
| 7Total annual distributions. Add lines 1 through 6. | 7 | |
|
8
Distributions to attentive supported organizations to which the organization is responsive (provide details in Part VI). See instructions |
8 | |
| 9 Distributable amount for 2024 from Section C, line 6 | 9 | |
| 10 Line 8 amount divided by Line 9 amount | 10 | |
| Section E - Distribution Allocations (see instructions) |
(i) Excess Distributions |
(ii) Underdistributions Pre-2024 |
(iii) Distributable Amount for 2024 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Distributable amount for 2024 from Section C, line 6 | ||||
|
2
Underdistributions, if any, for years prior to 2024 (reasonable cause required-- explain in Part VI).
See instructions. |
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| 3 Excess distributions carryover, if any, to 2024: | ||||
| a From 2019....... | ||||
| b From 2020....... | ||||
| c From 2021....... | ||||
| d From 2022....... | ||||
| e From 2023....... | ||||
| fTotal of lines 3a through e | ||||
| g Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| h Applied to 2024 distributable amount | ||||
|
i
Carryover from 2019 not applied (see instructions) |
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| j Remainder. Subtract lines 3g, 3h, and 3i from line 3f. | ||||
| 4Distributions for 2024 from Section D, line 7: | ||||
| $ | ||||
| a Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| b Applied to 2024 distributable amount | ||||
| c Remainder. Subtract lines 4a and 4b from line 4. | ||||
|
5
Remaining underdistributions for years prior to 2024, if any. Subtract lines 3g and 4a from line 2. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
6
Remaining underdistributions for 2024. Subtract lines 3h and 4b from line 1. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
7 Excess distributions carryover to 2025. Add lines 3j and 4c. |
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| 8 Breakdown of line 7: | ||||
| a Excess from 2020..... | ||||
| b Excess from 2021..... | ||||
| c Excess from 2022..... | ||||
| d Excess from 2023..... | ||||
| e Excess from 2024..... | ||||
| Facts And Circumstances Test |
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| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| SUPPORTING SCHEDULE | |
| PART II, LINE 10 | GROSS SALES OF INVENTORY 2,889,995 |
| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| FORM 990 - ORGANIZATION'S MISSION | "FOUNDED IN 1945, THE J.N. "DING" DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE CONSISTS OF NEARLY 8,000 ACRES OF SOME OF THE MOST UNIQUE AND ECOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT ECOSYSTEMS IN THE WORLD. BUDGETS CONTINUE TO DECREASE, AND FEDERAL FUNDING DOES NOT COVER ALL THE NEEDS OF THIS VERY POPULATED REFUGE. AS A RESULT, THE "DING" DARLING WILDLIFE SOCIETY - FRIENDS OF THE REFUGE (DDWS) PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT WHERE FEDERAL FUNDING FALLS SHORT. EVERY YEAR, THE VISITATION TO THE REFUGE INCREASES AND NEARLY ONE MILLION VISITORS EXPLORE THESE PUBLIC LANDS. FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS, THE DDWS HAS SUPPORTED THE REFUGE IN AREAS OF EDUCATION, LAND ACQUISITION, INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE AND EXHIBITS, HABITAT MANAGEMENT, BIOLOGICAL STUDIES, WATER RESEARCH, AND MUCH MORE. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A | ART IN THE WILD & OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN OCTOBER, ART IN THE WILD CELEBRATES NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE WEEK, THE BIRTHDAY OF THE REFUGE'S NAMESAKE, JAY NORWOOD "DING" DARLING, AS WELL AS THE PERSONAL APPEARANCE BY THE WINNER OF THE FEDERAL DUCK STAMP CONTEST. THIS EVENT MERGES ART, NATURE, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH; ATTRACTING FAMILIES, ARTISTS, AND CONSERVATION SUPPORTERS. ALL COMMUNITY ART EVENTS THAT ARE HOSTED AT THE ROOST, THE VISITOR & EDUCATION CETNER, AND OUTREACH VENUES, ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, THANKS TO THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF ART- IN-EDUCATION INITIATIVES AND ONGOING CONSERVATION WORK. GO WILD FOR DING GO WILD FOR "DING," THE SOCIETY'S FLAGSHIP ANNUAL FUNDRAISING GALA, IS A POWERFUL TESTAMENT TO THE GENEROSITY, VISION, AND SHARED COMMITMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY. HELD EACH FEBRUARY AT THE SANIBEL COMMUNITY HOUSE, THIS SPIRITED EVENING BRINGS TOGETHER DONORS, CONSERVATIONISTS, BUSINESS LEADERS, AND NATURE LOVERS FOR A CELEBRATION OF PURPOSE, PARTNERSHIP, AND PHILANTHROPY. FROM HIGH-PROFILE AUCTIONS TO IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES THAT BENEFIT THE REFUGE, THE EVENT OFFERS A DYNAMIC BLEND OF EDUCATION, ENGAGEMENT, AND GIVING. GUESTS ALSO ENJOY A LIVELY DINNER RECEPTION, TAILORED SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND DIRECT "BID TO GIVE" APPEALS THAT AMPLIFY IMPACT. THE 2025 GALA, THEMED "DREAM OF A WHITE PELICAN," RAISED AN UNPRECEDENTED 300,000 - RECORD-BREAKING ACHIEVEMENT MADE POSSIBLE BY THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF MAJOR SPONSORS, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS. THESE FUNDS WERE DEDICATED TO ADVANCING EDUCATION, CONSERVATION, AND RESEARCH AT THE REFUGE, AND THEY REFLECT A DEEP, COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE. MORE THAN A FUNDRAISER, GO WILD FOR DING IS A RALLYING POINT - A MOMENT WHERE GENEROSITY MEETS MISSION, AND WHERE UNRESTRICTED FUNDS EMPOWER DDWS TO RESPOND SWIFTLY AND STRATEGICALLY TO EMERGING NEEDS. WE ARE PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL TO EVERY SUPPORTER WHO MAKES THIS LEGACY POSSIBLE. DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES EACH WINTER SUPPORT FROM OUR DONORS ALLOWS DDWS TO OFFER A SERIES OF LECTURES WHICH BLEND EDUCATION WITH CULTURAL ENRICHMENT ON TOPICS FROM WILDLIFE BIOLOGY TO LOCAL HISTORY AND NATIONAL CONSERVATION ISSUES. AS AN ADDITIONAL OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE FREQUENTLY ABLE TO OFFER THESE LECTURES TO SENIOR COMMUNITIES WITH WHOM WE PARTNER. RECENT LINE-UPS HAVE FEATURED CELEBRATED PHOTOGRAPHERS, ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORS, SCIENTISTS, AND INSPIRATIONAL FIGURES IN WILDLIFE ADVOCACY. TARPON TOURNAMENT ANOTHER SIGNATURE FUNDRAISING EVENT, THE "DING" DARLING & DOC FORD'S TARPON TOURNAMENT, IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN BOTH THE REGION'S ANGLING HERITAGE AND ITS CONSERVATION MISSION. LAUNCHED TO HONOR THE FIRST RECORDED TARPON CATCH AT THE REFUGE AND TO ENGAGE A BROADER SPORTING PUBLIC IN CONSERVATION AWARENESS, THE TOURNAMENT'S FORMAT IS STRICTLY CATCH-AND-RELEASE, WITH ALL ENTRY FEES RETURNED AS ANGLER PRIZES. THE 2025 TOURNAMENT SET A PARTICIPATION RECORD WITH 61 REGISTERED TEAMS AND MORE THAN 266,000 RAISED FROM SPONSORSHIPS AND DONATIONS, MAKING A CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF OVER 1.57 MILLION FOR RESEARCH, HABITAT PRESERVATION, AND EDUCATION PROJECTS OVER ITS 13-YEAR HISTORY. THE IMPORTANCE OF SPONSOR NETWORKS (BOTH CASH AND IN-KIND) CANNOT BE OVERSTATED - WITHOUT THESE PARTNERSHIPS, THE EVENT'S IMPACT WOULD BE FAR SMALLER. ADVANCING EDUCATION AND STEWARDSHIP EDUCATION IS EMBEDDED IN THE DNA OF DDWS. SINCE ITS FOUNDING TO MEET OVERWHELMING VISITOR DEMAND, THE SOCIETY HAS PRIORITIZED INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTHS AND ADULTS, INVESTING HEAVILY IN BOTH ON-SITE AND MOBILE OUTREACH CAPABILITIES. TODAY, ITS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING ENCOMPASSES: CURRICULUM-BASED FIELD TRIPS FOR AREA SCHOOLS THAT FOSTER ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMMING, OFTEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. YOUNG SCIENTIST INTERNSHIPS AND HANDS-ON JOB TRAINING. COMMUNITY LECTURES, ARTIST RESIDENCIES, AND NATURE-BASED ARTS ENRICHMENT. IN 2024, OVER 12,000 CONSERVATION LESSONS WERE TAUGHT TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, EITHER THROUGH WOW, IN-REFUGE PROGRAMS, OR SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS. THE WILDLIFE -FOCUSED CURRICULUM IS DIRECTLY ALIGNED WITH STATE LEARNING STANDARDS, AND CLASSROOM VISITS FREQUENTLY INCLUDE ECOSYSTEM DEMONSTRATIONS. WOW (WILDLIFE ON WHEELS) WOW REPRESENTS A PARADIGM SHIFT IN MAKING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE. THROUGH THIS MOBILE PLATFORM AND THE ADDITION OF A DEDICATED URBAN OUTREACH COORDINATOR, THE SOCIETY HAS FORGED PARTNERSHIPS WITH LIBRARIES, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND OTHER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES. FOR EXAMPLE, WEEKLY WILDLIFE FRIDAYS AT THE IMMOKALEE LIBRARY HAVE BROUGHT THE REFUGE EXPERIENCE TO CHILDREN UNABLE TO VISIT SANIBEL, FOSTERING INTEREST AND STEWARDSHIP AMONG DIVERSE AUDIENCES. POCKET REFUGE EACH YEAR SINCE 2005, THE JN "DING" DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE "DING" DARLING WILDLIFE SOCIETY-FRIENDS OF THE REFUGE (DDWS), HAS AWARDED CONSERVATION GRANTS TO LOCAL TEACHERS FOR SCIENCE PROJECTS RELATED TO STUDYING THE ENVIRONMENT. EACH YEAR THE "DING" DARLING WILDLIFE SOCIETY OFFERS GRANTS TO NEW SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS GRANTS FOR UPKEEP OF EXISTING POCKET REFUGES. DISCOVERING "DING THANKS TO THE ROTARY OF SANIBEL-CAPTIVA AND SANIBEL-CAPTIVA KIWANIS AND OTHER COMMUNITY ALLIES, THE "DISCOVERING DING" PROGRAM, WHICH CONNECTS THE JN "DING" DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE WITH SANIBEL SCHOOL, WAS BACK IN ACTION WITH AROUND 156 LESSONS OFFERED TO STUDENTS VISITING THE REFUGE EACH MONTH FOR HANDS-ON, SCIENCE-BASED LEARNING. STUDENTS CREATE "DISCOVERING DING" JOURNALS TO COLLECT DATA, LEARN VOCABULARY, USE BIOLOGICAL TOOLS, AND EXPLORE THEIR CREATIVITY THROUGH ART, HONORING THE LEGACY OF JAY NORWOOD DING" DARLING. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B | "THE DRAFT OF THE RETURN IS GIVEN TO THE TREASURER AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO REVIEW FOR ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS. IT IS THEN PROVIDED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR APPROVAL PRIOR TO ELECTRONICALLY FILING THE TAX RETURN. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C | ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, ALL BOARD MEMBERS SIGN A DOCUMENT STATING THAT THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A | ONE MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IS ASSIGNED TO RESEARCH AREA SALARIES BASED ON JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR SIMILAR POSITIONS HELD. ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, THE BOARD REVIEWS THE JOB PERFORMANCE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AGAINST GOALS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD THE YEAR PRIOR. CURRENT YEAR'S SALARY IS BASED ON REVIEW. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022, DDWS UTILIZED A RECRUITING FIRM TO PROVIDE A SALARY SURVEY FOR ITS TOP MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. IT ALSO USES DATA AVAILABLE ONLINE TO DETERMINE THE AVERAGE SALARY PAID FOR A PARTICULAR POSITION IN THIS GEOGRAPHICAL AREA AND THEN DETERMINES COMPENSATION BASED ON THAT AVERAGE. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15B | ONE MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IS ASSIGNED TO RESEARCH AREA SALARIES BASED ON JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR SIMILAR POSITIONS HELD. ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, THE BOARD REVIEWS THE JOB PERFORMANCE OF KEY EMPLOYEES AGAINST THE GOALS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD THE YEAR PRIOR. CURRENT YEAR'S SALARIES ARE BASED ON THE REVIEW. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 | GOVERNING DOCUMENTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. |
| FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9 | FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 114,349 RENTAL EXPENSES 41,552 FUNDRAISING EXPENSES -114,349 RENTAL EXPENSES -41,552 |
| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |