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Wilderness Society Action Fund at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Public charity

Wilderness Society Action Fund

The WILDERNESS SOCIETY ACTION FUND works with partners and lawmakers to influence policy related to public lands.

$63k
Granted FY2025still arriving
5
Grants FY2025still arriving
4
States reached
$25k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2018 to 2024.

Environment$511kAnimals$15k
02FY2025 · 5 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 5 grants below total $57,500, the rows itemized in this filing. The $62,500 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $5,000 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k3 grants · $20k
  • $10k–50k2 grants · $38k
$7,500
Median grant
4
States reached
$1.3M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
AMERICAN HUNTERS & ANGLERS ACTION NETWORK$25,000
ALASKA WILDERNESS LEAGUE$12,500
THE SEMILLA PROJECT$7,500
COALITION TO PROTECT AMERICA'S NATIONAL PARKS$6,500
EARTHJUSTICE$6,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY18–25) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 8%. 90% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 8%NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTANS FOR WILDERNESS: $10k → 8%BOUNDARY WATERS ACTION FUND: $10k → 11%MONTANA WILDERNESS ASSOCIATION: $28k → 9%AMERICAN HUNTERS & ANGLERS ACTION NETWORK: $25k → 9%MOUNTAIN MAMAS: $15k → 10%EARTHJUSTICE: $6k → 10%THE SEMILLA PROJECT: $8k → 14%NUESTRA TIERRA CONSERVATION PROJECT: $10k → 23%PARTNERSHIP PROJECT ACTION FUND: $18k → 14%WALLOWA RESOURCES: $20k → 12%RURAL VOICES FOR CONSERVATION COALITION: $10k → 12%WILDERNESS WORKSHOP: $30k → 6%NATIVE ORGANIZERS ALLIANCE ACTION FUND: $15k → 9%WEST VIRGINIA RIVERS COALITION: $10k → 18%NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION: $15k → 6%WABANAKI ALLIANCE: $21k → 15%MONTANA WILDERNESS ASSOCIATION: $7k → 9%WESTERN ORGANIZATIONS OF RESOURCES: $75k → 9%THE SEMILLA PROJECT: $8k → 14%ALASKA WILDERNESS ACTION: $25k → 14%ALASKA WILDERNESS LEAGUE ACTION: $25k → 14%ALASKA WILDERNESS LEAGUE: $13k → 14%ALASKA WILDERNESS ACTION: $10k → 14%VET VOICE FOUNDATION INC: $15k → 14%VET VOICE FOUNDATION INC: $14k → 14%NATIONAL RELIGIOUS PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: $9k → 14%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

ME
WA
MT
MN
OR
CO
WV
VA
NM
DC
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

24%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$138k · 4 repeat orgs$446k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +191% since the first grant, against +22% for those funded once.

4 repeat relationships: 1 still active in FY2025, 3 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

4
16

Total granted

$138k
$396k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+191%
+22%

Still filing today

100%
100%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 13% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $50k went to new ones.

50%100%’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
EnvironmentPublic BenefitArts & CultureCivil RightsCommunity ImprovementAnimalsOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • MW
    MONTANA WILDERNESS ASSOCIATION
    2× · 2022–2023 · $35k · revenue +35%
  • VV
    VET VOICE FOUNDATION INC
    2× · 2018–2021 · $29k · revenue +941%
  • TS
    THE SEMILLA PROJECT
    2× · 2024–2025 · $15k · revenue +191%

Funded once

  • WO
    WESTERN ORGANIZATION OF RESOURCE COUNCILSgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $75k · revenue +114%
  • BS
    BIG SKY FIFTY FIVE PLUS
    one grant, 2020 · $70k · revenue -4%
  • MC
    MONTANA CONSERVATION VOTERS INC
    one grant, 2020 · $50k · revenue +22%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Alaska Wildlife Alliance

Support ecosystem-based wildlife management by increasing public awareness of wildlife issues, responding to information requests, advocating for science-based wildlife habitat management through proposal and comment submissions, and…

Environment
2
Native Ecosystems Council

Promote wildlife habitat

Environment
3
Western Resource Advocates

Western Resource Advocates (WRA) is a regional nonprofit advocacy organization fighting climate change and its impacts to sustain the environment, economy, and people of the West. As the region's go-to experts for more than three decades,…

Crime & Legal
4
Western Way Action

Providing leadership on environmental and conservation issues.

—
5
Gallatin Wildlife Association

Promote research and actions to save wildlife.

Animals
6
Wyoming Wildlife Advocates

To promote science-based wildlife management that fosters ecosystem health and dynamic equilibrium between species throughout the state of wyoming.

Animals
7
CalWild

The California Wilderness Coalition protects the natural landscapes that make California unique, providing clean air and water, a home to wildlife, and a place for recreation and spiritual renewal.

—
8
Wild Montana Action Fund

Wild montana action fund builds the political power necessary for protecting and conserving public lands and wild places across the state by elevating the voices of montanans who cherish our outdoor way of life.

Environment
9
Western Environmental Law Center

Public interest law firm - the western environmental law center uses the power of the law to foster thriving, resilient western u.s. lands, waters, wildlife, and communities in the face of a changing climate. we envision a thriving west,…

—
10
Montana Wildlife Federation

The montana wildlife federation is a statewide conservation organization dedicated to protecting wildlife, wildlife habitat, and public access for outdoor recreation.

Animals
11
Wra Action Fund

The mission of the WRA Action Fund is to advance solutions to climate change and its impacts.

—
12
Oregon Natural Resources Council Fund

Oregon Wild works to protect and restore Oregon's wildlands, wildlife and waters as an enduring legacy for future generations.

Environment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is New Mexico Wild Action Fund; the most unlike its peers is Big Sky Fifty Five Plus. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

23 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 23 of the 24 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
7
Early backer (in before they grew)
23/23
Grantees still filing
11/23
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

WESTERN ORGANIZATION OF RESOURCE COUNCILS: $75,000 · OtherWESTERN ORGANIZATION OF RESOURCE COUNCIL…MONTANA CONSERVATION VOTERS INC: $50,000 · OtherMONTANA CONSERVATION VOTERS INCWILDERNESS WORKSHOP: $30,000 · OtherWILDERNESS WORKSHOPAMERICAN HUNTERS & ANGLERS ACTION NETWORK: $25,000 · OtherAMERICAN HUNTERS & ANGLERS ACTION NETWOR…NUESTRA TIERRA CONSERVATION PROJECT: $10,000 · OtherBOUNDARY WATERS ACTION FUND: $10,000 · OtherTHE NATIONAL RELIGIOUS PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ENVIRONMENT INC: $9,000 · OtherALASKA WILDERNESS LEAGUE ACTION: $60,000 · EnvironmentALASKA WILDERNESS LEAGUE ACTIONMONTANA WILDERNESS ASSOCIATION: $34,500 · EnvironmentMONTANA WILDERNESS ASSOCIATIONThe Partnership Project Action Fund: $18,008 · EnvironmentThe Partnership Project Action Fu…MT MOUNTAIN MAMAS: $15,000 · EnvironmentMT MOUNTAIN MAMASALASKA WILDERNESS LEAGUE: $12,500 · EnvironmentALASKA WILDERNESS LEAGUEWEST VIRGINIA RIVERS COALITION INC: $10,000 · EnvironmentWEST VIRGINIA RIVERS COALITION IN…NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTANS FOR WILDERNESS: $10,000 · EnvironmentNORTHEASTERN MINNESOTANS FOR WILD…NEW MEXICO WILD ACTION FUND: $8,250 · EnvironmentEARTHJUSTICE: $6,000 · EnvironmentBIG SKY FIFTY FIVE PLUS: $70,000 · Public BenefitBIG SKY FIFTY …Coalition to Protect Americas National: $6,500 · Public BenefitCoalition to P…WALLOWA RESOURCES INC: $29,500 · Arts & CultureWALLOWA R…Wabanaki Alliance: $21,000 · Arts & CultureWabanaki …VET VOICE FOUNDATION INC: $28,500 · Civil RightsJust Strategy: $15,000 · Civil RightsTHE SEMILLA PROJECT: $15,000 · EducationNATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION: $15,000 · Animals
Other$209,000Environment$174,258Public Benefit$76,500Arts & Culture$50,500Civil Rights$43,500Education$15,000Animals$15,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetWESTERN ORGANIZATION OF RESOURCE COUNCILS: $75,000 over 1y, 2.3% of budgetBIG SKY FIFTY FIVE PLUS: $70,000 over 1y, 14% of budgetALASKA WILDERNESS LEAGUE ACTION: $60,000 over 3y, 5.9% of budgetMONTANA CONSERVATION VOTERS INC: $50,000 over 1y, 6.3% of budgetMONTANA WILDERNESS ASSOCIATION: $34,500 over 2y, 0.9% of budgetWILDERNESS WORKSHOP: $30,000 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetWALLOWA RESOURCES INC: $29,500 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetVET VOICE FOUNDATION INC: $28,500 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetWabanaki Alliance: $21,000 over 1y, 6.2% of budgetThe Partnership Project Action Fund: $18,008 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetJust Strategy: $15,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetTHE SEMILLA PROJECT: $15,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetNATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION: $15,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetALASKA WILDERNESS LEAGUE: $12,500 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetWEST VIRGINIA RIVERS COALITION INC: $10,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetBOUNDARY WATERS ACTION FUND: $10,000 over 1y, 2.5% of budgetNORTHEASTERN MINNESOTANS FOR WILDERNESS: $10,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetNUESTRA TIERRA CONSERVATION PROJECT: $10,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetTHE NATIONAL RELIGIOUS PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ENVIRONMENT INC: $9,000 over 1y, 2.5% of budgetNEW MEXICO WILD ACTION FUND: $8,250 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetCoalition to Protect Americas National: $6,500 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetEARTHJUSTICE: $6,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Resources Legacy FundThe Wilderness SocietyWestern Conservation …PatagoniaorgEnvironmental Defense…Western Conservation …The Partnership Proje…Energy Action FundAmerica VotesTides FoundationNrdc Action Fund IncNational Wildlife Fed…
Resources Legacy FundCA23.7× affinity9 shared granteesties to 10 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Resources Legacy Fund · The Wilderness Society · Western Conservation Foundation · Patagoniaorg · Environmental Defense Fund Incorporated · Western Conservation Action · The Partnership Project Inc · Energy Action Fund · America Votes · Tides Foundation · Nrdc Action Fund Inc · National Wildlife Federation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Wilderness Society Action Fund funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Wilderness Society Action Fund. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%4%8%15%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 100%
  • Wallowa Resources Inc: 100% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
2report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
1rely on government for over half their income
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 24 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Wilderness Society Action’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home