FOUNDED IN 1935 BY CONSERVATION VISIONARIES, THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY PROTECTS WILDERNESS AND UNITES PEOPLE TO PROTECT AMERICA'S WILD PUBLIC LANDS. WE WORK TO GUIDE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT TO THE RIGHT PLACES AND ENSURE THAT PUBLIC LANDS CONTRIBUTE TO CLIMATE SOLUTIONS. WE WORK TO ENSURE THAT ALL PEOPLE CAN ACCESS AND SHARE THE BENEFITS OF THE OUTDOORS, FROM THE URBAN TO THE WILD. IN 1964, WE LED THE EFFORT TO ESTABLISH THE NATIONAL WILDERNESS PRESERVATION SYSTEM, WHICH HAS NOW GROWN TO 109 MILLION ACRES OF PERMANENTLY PROTECTED WILDLANDS THAT PRESERVE AMERICA'S NATURAL HERITAGE. FEDERAL PUBLIC LANDS, WHICH BELONG TO ALL AMERICANS, FACE GROWING THREATS. THOSE ACRES AND MILLIONS MORE REQUIRE ACTION TO CONSERVE THEIR NATURAL CHARACTER. SEE WWW.WILDERNESS.ORG.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 14 reported individuals · Filing year 2023
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Environment organizations in District of Columbia.
- Base
- $424k
- Bonus
- $25k
- Other
- $1k
- Benefits
- $39k
- Base
- $337k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $291
- Benefits
- $30k
- Base
- $269k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $48k
- Benefits
- $211
- Base
- $287k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $270
- Benefits
- $32k
- Base
- $269k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $194
- Benefits
- $32k
- Base
- $259k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $270
- Benefits
- $2k
- Base
- $217k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $183
- Benefits
- $39k
- Base
- $180k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $270
- Benefits
- $39k
- Base
- $202k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $100
- Benefits
- $8k
- Base
- $180k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $187
- Benefits
- $27k
- Base
- $188k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $270
- Benefits
- $13k
- Base
- $186k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $280
- Benefits
- $254
- Base
- $64k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $117k
- Benefits
- $5k
- Base
- $178k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $270
- Benefits
- —
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President (to Sep '24) Above 90th percentile | $424k | $25k | $1k | $39k | $509k $558k |
COO Above 90th percentilevs Environment peers nationwide | $337k | — | $291 | $30k | $386k $423k |
Svp, Giving & Impact (to Oct '23) Senior Vice President Median to 75th percentilevs all sectors nationwide | $269k | — | $48k | $211 | $333k $365k |
Chief of Staff Officer (Unspecified) | $287k | — | $270 | $32k | $326k $358k |
VP of External Affairs Board Vice President Above 90th percentilevs Environment peers nationwide | $269k | — | $194 | $32k | $318k $349k |
VP Strategy & Results Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentilevs Environment peers nationwide | $259k | — | $270 | $2k | $277k $304k |
Vp, People & Culture Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentilevs Environment peers nationwide | $217k | — | $183 | $39k | $270k $296k |
Ed Twsaf & Special Advisor Chief of Staff Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $180k | — | $270 | $39k | $231k $254k |
Vp, Conservation & Communities Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentilevs Environment peers nationwide | $202k | — | $100 | $8k | $222k $243k |
Sr Dir Human Resources & Operations Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $180k | — | $187 | $27k | $219k $240k |
Dvp, Giving & Impact Operations & Outreach Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $188k | — | $270 | $13k | $213k $233k |
Sr Dir of Government Relations Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $186k | — | $280 | $254 | $197k $216k |
Vice President & General Counsel (to Feb '23) Board Vice President Median to 75th percentilevs Environment peers nationwide | $64k | — | $117k | $5k | $190k $208k |
Dvp, Community-led Conservation Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $178k | — | $270 | — | $189k $207k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 33 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY equaled 1% of the organization's total expenses. The median for environment organizations is 11%.
Based on 4,942 environment organizations, each measured at its most recent filing year with reported expenses and compensation.
Funded by
Private foundations whose Form 990-PF Part XV grants matched this organization.
Climbed 15%
over 2 years
From $444k in 2021 to $509k in 2023.
Estimated with Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Chief Executive Officer pay rose 15% from 2021 to 2023, while revenue fell 33%.
- Chief Operating Officer pay rose 87% from 2022 to 2023.
- Senior Vice President pay rose 24% from 2021 to 2023.
Pay for the position itself, not any one person. The officeholder may have changed between 2021 and 2023.
Among peers
Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.
Common questions about THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY
What does the Chief Executive Officer of THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY received $509,193 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Environment organizations in District of Columbia: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Environment organizations in District of Columbia, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY equaled 1% of the organization's total expenses. The median for environment organizations is 11%.
What are THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY reported $42M in total revenue and $43.5M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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