The Wildcat Sanctuary

What it reported doing in 2025

The wildcat sanctuary (tws) is a 501c3 non-profit, big cat rescue located in sandstone, mn. Tws provides a natural sanctuary to wild cats in need and inspires change to end the captive wildlife crisis. Tws is funded solely on private donations. The sanctuary is a rescue organization and is not open to the public. Combining natural and spacious habitats with a life free of exhibition, tws allows all residents to live wild at heart. As a true sanctuary, we do not buy, breed, sell or exhibit animals. The wildcat sanctuary is accredited by the american sanctuary association, the global federation of animal sanctuaries and a member of the wildlife confiscation network. We are also licensed by the usda. Our savingsas an organization with the responsibility of caring for over 150 felines for years into the future, sustainability is a cornerstone of our sanctuary.o our board ensures that we have a minimum of 2 years of operating savings in the bank to ensure we can care for the cats even during the toughest of times.o we also have savings earmarked for acquiring any adjacent land that becomes available to provide a natural border to the sanctuary and conserve wildlife land.o we have restricted funds for new land development toward utilities, perimeter fence, a workshop and more. Our sanctuarythis past year, we were able to provide sanctuary for 17 new residents and lead many high-profile cases. Our rescue efforts spanned from quebec, canada to bandon, Oregon. Our team coordinated the sedation, placement and transport of eight big cats and seven exotic cats from west coast game park safari in Oregon. After investigators finished a four-day search there, 310 animals were seized and relocated. The roadside attraction in Oregon was raided by law enforcement due to concerns about animal welfare. We also coordinated the placement of servals, bobcats, lynx, leopards, tigers and lions to other accredited sanctuaries. And no cat was too small as we welcomed bengal cats after sea quest's closure and highlander hybrids from a neglect situation. At the end of the year, we also welcomed our first-ever snow leopard to the sanctuary! We enhanced habitats for our current residents. Liliger alyssa and lion cub mango received new rock caves to explore. Leo lion moved into a newly remodeled habitat in roar ridge. Many cats received additional skywalks and a-frames to explore more vertical space. And on top of that, two roofed habitats with heated bungalows were constructed. The onsite work isn't complete without maintaining the sanctuary. You helped us do that through the installation of a second well and new roofs on three central animal buildings. Our veterinary team performed 71 wellness exams and 18 surgeries, in addition to preventative treatments like vaccines and deworming. The surgeries included serval jalapeo's orthopedic surgery and leg amputation, lion mango's two hernia surgeries and tiger noah's stem cell therapy to relieve his arthritic pain.we also hosted the first-ever sanctuary veterinary working group to foster collaboration among eight facilities. We received our 3-year gfas accreditation renewal and were humbled when we were told the wildcat sanctuary is the gold standard for wildlife sanctuaries. These accomplishments would not be possible without all of you who support our mission. You, our supporters, and our 28 interns and volunteers, who contribute over 4,400 hours annually to the cause, have made our sanctuary what it is today.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 62.2%; rating input score 62
• Program expense ratio: 85.5%; rating input score 86
• Fundraising efficiency: $16.55 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 28.9%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.31; rating input score 73; 73rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 8.5%; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 12.2% per year; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 13.3% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 19% per year; rating input score 100; 82nd percentile among comparable filings