2026-06-11T09:13:28-04:00 2025-09-30 320394930 STROEMER & COMPANY 14030 METROPOLIS AVE STE 200 FORT MYERS FL 33912 990 2024-10-01 592240895 DING DARLING WILDLIFE SOCIETY INC DING 2394721100 1 WILDLIFE DRIVE SANIBEL FL 33957 ANN MARIE E WILDMAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 2394701100 2026-06-02 true true MARC WHITFIELD CPA P00125986 2394331002 2026-06-10 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z DING DARLING WILDLIFE SOCIETY LAND ANN MARIE E WILDMAN 1 WILDLIFE DR SANIBEL FL 33957 4011454 false X WWW.DINGDARLINGSOCIETY.ORG X 1988 FL ENHANCE THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEARLY 207,010 ANNUAL JN "DING" DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE VISTORS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVATION AND WILDLIFE PROTECTION. 12 12 11 210 0 4343056 2836028 0 638847 648593 120695 17527 5102598 3502148 63200 109961 0 655406 629357 0 209866 1710417 1365215 2429023 2104533 2673575 1397615 27398829 30213047 107127 12115 27291702 30200932 X "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. false false 1759602 109961 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. 1759602 true true false false false false false true false true true false false false false true true false false false false false false false true false false true true true false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false true 59 0 11 true false false false false false true true false false false false false false false false X 12 12 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true true false X X X JOY ROBERTSON 2394721100 1 WILDLIFE DRIVE SANIBEL FL 33957 ANN MARIE E WILDMAN EXECUTIVE DI 40.00 X 156941 0 14195 JIM BIRMINGHAM BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 BARBARA BLUEDORN SECRETARY 1.00 X X 0 0 0 MARVELL BRADLEY BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 ROBIN COOK BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 NANCY FELKER BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 WILLIAM HARKEY PRESIDENT 1.00 X X 0 0 0 MARK HEIMAN SECRETARY TO 1.00 X 0 0 0 WENDY KINDIG PAST PRES 1.00 X 0 0 0 RICHARD LEVINSON BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 BILL MILLAR VICE PRESIDE 1.00 X X 0 0 0 STUART SERGEANT BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 HANK SPIRE BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 BILL VALERIAN TREASURER 1.00 X X 0 0 0 156941 14195 1 false true false 532000 2304028 55799 2836028 645787 645787 550 41552 -41002 -41002 -41002 2806 2806 2806 2806 38225 532000 194201 -155976 -128645 488058 273553 214505 214505 3502148 -41002 734453 77000 77000 32961 32961 149350 120993 9123 19234 352640 285685 21540 45415 27500 22279 1680 3541 59639 48315 3643 7681 40228 32590 2457 5181 75264 75264 77723 62965 4748 10010 59155 47924 3612 7619 14884 12058 909 1917 4954 4013 303 638 10707 8674 654 1379 2577 2088 157 332 140612 113914 8589 18109 5190 4665 169 356 REFUGE RESTORATION 696404 696404 BOONE PROPERTY EXPENSES 101582 101582 FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 81781 81781 NATURE STORE EXPENSE 26709 26709 67673 58783 2217 6673 2104533 1759602 135065 209866 308849 8263064 71604 109594 249461 261282 41970 11323 7356576 410483 7086705 6946093 19471609 14450711 168631 170980 27398829 30213047 101923 6810 5204 5305 107127 12115 X 19583952 22270918 7707750 7930014 27291702 30200932 27398829 30213047 X 1397615 1511615 X false true X true false X 4499892 4903836 4960797 2618056 2836028 19818609 4499892 4903836 4960797 2618056 2836028 19818609 3430364 16388245 215502 246718 439735 632564 645787 2180306 810776 1211975 274152 593092 488058 3378053 25376968 200278 0.64580 0.64540 X SUPPORTING SCHEDULE PART II, LINE 10 GROSS SALES OF INVENTORY 2,889,995 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 346779 X false 1480888 -46408 1434480 2038071 218148 770155 5176 1480888 1669197 134561 240822 6509 2038071 1171985 767022 -254714 9000 6096 1669197 905909 98835 171451 4210 1171985 0.24410 0.75590 true false 2309500 2309500 3480146 228405 3251741 282709 282709 127081 127081 1157140 182078 975062 6946093 X 5169664 1511615 155901 1667516 3502148 3502148 2260434 155901 155901 2104533 2104533 SCHEDULE D, PAGE 3, PART X THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE HAS DETERMINED THAT THE ORGANIZATION IS EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL INCOME TAXES UNDER SECTION 501(C)3 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. THE ORGANIZATION IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT FLORIDA CORPORATION AND THEREFORE IS NOT SUBJECT TO STATE INCOME TAX. THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE PROVIDES FOR TAXATION OF UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ORGANIZATION REPORTS NO UNRELATED BUSINESS TAXABLE INCOME, HOWEVER, SUCH STATUS IS SUBJECT TO FINAL DETERMINATION UPON EXAMINATION OF THE RELATED TAX RETURNS BY THE APPROPRIATE TAXING AUTHORITIES. THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX FILINGS ARE SUBJECT TO AUDIT BY VARIOUS TAXING AUTHORITIES. CERTAIN INCOME TAX RETURNS FILED BY THE ORGANIZATION REMAIN OPEN TO EXAMINATION BY THESE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. THE ORGANIZATION FOLLOWS ASC TOPIC 740, "INCOME TAXES" IN ACCOUNTING FOR UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS. THE ORGANIZATION HAS EVALUATED ITS TAX POSITIONS AND ANY ESTIMATES UTILIZED IN ITS TAX RETURNS, AND CONCLUDED THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAS TAKEN NO UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT REQUIRE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS GUIDANCE. INTEREST AND PENALTIES ASSOCIATED WITH UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS WILL BE RECOGNIZED IN INCOME TAX EXPENSE, IF REQUIRED. SCHEDULE D, PAGE 4, PART XI, LINE 2D FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 114,349 RENTAL EXPENSES 41,552 SCHEDULE D, PAGE 4, PART XII, LINE 2D FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 114,349 RENTAL EXPENSES 41,552 GO WILD 292735 258910 33825 28313 8385 50769 TARPON TOURNAME 250490 246090 4400 65402 150 205 13646 1 27000 27000 86 5539 21706 570225 532000 38225 65402 28549 14129 86121 194201 -155976 false MISC ORGANIZATIONS 6500 BAILEY-MATTHEWS NATIONAL SHELL 3075 SANIBEL CAPTIVA RD SANIBEL FL 33957 592775992 501C3 15000 DONATION NWRA-NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE 1701 K STREET NW STE 550 WASHINGTON DC 20036 237447365 501C3 50000 CONSERVE WILDLIFE EVERGLADES COALITION 801 SE JOHNSON AVE 1709 STUART FL 34994 352242463 501C3 5500 EVENT SPONSORSHIP SCHOLARSHIPS 14 32961 SCHEDULE I, PAGE 1, PART I, LINE 2 THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE ISSUES A CHECK DIRECTLY TO THE AWARD RECIPIENT, WITH NO RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON THE USE OF THE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS. THERE ARE NO MONITORING PROCEDURES. X X false false false false false false false false false ANN MARIE E WILDMAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 156941 14195 171136 X AUCTION ITEMS 19 28700 FMV X AUCTION ITEMS 16 4400 FMV X SCULPTURE,BIKES 17 22699 FMV false true false 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