WILDERNESS EDUCATION PROJECT
Cite this
Plain text WILDERNESS EDUCATION PROJECT. furp.org, nonprofit organization profile, tax years 2022–2024. https://furp.org/org/wilderness-education-project-880579271. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
APA furp.org. (n.d.). WILDERNESS EDUCATION PROJECT [Nonprofit organization profile; tax years 2022–2024]. Retrieved October 27, 2026, from https://furp.org/org/wilderness-education-project-880579271
MLA “WILDERNESS EDUCATION PROJECT.” furp.org, tax years 2022–2024, https://furp.org/org/wilderness-education-project-880579271. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.
Retrieved 2026-10-27; covers tax years 2022–2024. Data: furp.org, CC BY 4.0.
2024 · Form 990 · revenue $6.2M · expenses $6.0M · assets $779K
- EIN
- 88-0579271
- Address
- 1096 WOODS RD, NICHOLASVILLE, KY 40356-9749
- Website
- www.uswep.org
- NTEE code
- B90
- Exempt type
- 501(c)(3): charitable, religious, educational, scientific or literary (corporation)
- Ruling date
- April 2022 (when the IRS recognized its exemption)
- IRS status
- Exempt (unconditional) (IRS Business Master File) IRS data ↗
- Tax-deductible donations
- Yes: listed in IRS Publication 78 (public charity) Pub 78 ↗
- Foundation status
- Public charity supported by the public (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))
- Cross-check
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Mission
The mission of the Wilderness Education Project is to develop and offer a research-based, data-informed approach to effective solutions for school districts and other educational organizations in providing a transformation in their educational systems.
Each tax year counts once: when a return was amended, only the latest return for that period is used below (superseded returns stay listed, greyed, under Finances).
People paid by the organization
1 person paid across every filing: current people first, then by total pay from this organization. Organizations counts every nonprofit each person appears on.
| Name | Latest title | Years | Latest year pay | Total pay from here | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clabe Slone | Executive Director | 2022-2024 | $172,096 | $405,400 | 2 |
Officers and directors, no compensation reported
4 people listed on the returns with $0 (or no amount) in every compensation column: current people first. Hours are as filed on the latest return each person appears on.
| Name | Latest title | Years | Hrs/wk (latest) | Compensation | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Erwin | Board Member | 2024 | 5 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Randy Hatfield | Board Member | 2023-2024 | 5 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Michael Kelly (former) | Board Member | 2022-2023 | 5 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Timothy Hatfield (former) | Board Member | 2022 | 5 | $0 reported | 1 |
People by year
2024 · 3 people listed · 1 paid, $172K · 3 employees · 0 volunteers
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clabe Slone | Executive Director | 40 | $47,094 | $125,002 | $0 | $172,096 | 2 |
| Travis Erwin | Board Member | 5 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| Randy Hatfield | Board Member | 5 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
2023 · 3 people listed · 1 paid, $192K · 0 employees · 0 volunteers
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clabe Slone | Executive Director | 40 | $44,598 | $146,990 | $0 | $191,588 | 2 |
| Michael Kelly | Board Member | 5 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| Randy Hatfield | Board Member | 5 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
2022 · 3 people listed · 1 paid, $42K · 0 employees · 0 volunteers
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clabe Slone | Executive Director | 40 | $17,516 | $24,200 | $0 | $41,716 | 2 |
| Michael Kelly | Board Member | 5 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| Timothy Hatfield | Board Member | 5 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
Highest-paid independent contractors
2024 · 1 contractor · $193K
| Name | Location | Service | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Evaluation Group | Lexington, KY | Evaluation and consultation for grant services | $192,600 |
2023 · 1 contractor · $126K
| Name | Location | Service | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Evaluation Group | Lexington, KY | Evaluation and consultation for grant services | $126,000 |
Federal grants and contracts
Awards from USAspending.gov to a recipient with this organization's name and zip code. Obligations by federal fiscal year (October to September); each award links to its page on usaspending.gov.
| Fiscal year | Grants and other assistance | Contracts | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $10,818,347 | $0 | 3 |
| 2025 | $10,507,822 | $0 | 5 |
| 2024 | $2,818,393 | $0 | 3 |
| 2022 | $5,999,450 | $0 | 2 |
Largest awards · 11 shown
| Year | Agency | Kind | Program | Description | Obligated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Department of Education | Grant or other assistance | INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO LITERACY; PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS; FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS; AND CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMUNITY PROJECTS 84.215 | PROJECT EMPOWER WILL IMPLEMENT AND SUSTAIN FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS WITH TWO LEAS THAT ARE RURAL AND LOW-INCOME AND UNDER ABSOLUTE PRIORITY 2 - TITLE IA S | $9,600,000 |
| 2026 | Department of Education | Grant or other assistance | AMERICAN HISTORY AND CIVICS EDUCATION 84.422 | PROJECT TRAILS IS A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, GRADES K-12, PART OF THE AHC PRESIDENTIAL AND CONGRESSIONAL ACADEMIES. | $1,218,347 |
| 2025 | Department of Education | Grant or other assistance | INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO LITERACY; PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS; FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS; AND CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMUNITY PROJECTS 84.215 | PROJECT EMPOWER WILL IMPLEMENT AND SUSTAIN FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS WITH TWO LEAS THAT ARE RURAL AND LOW-INCOME AND UNDER ABSOLUTE PRIORITY 2 - TITLE IA S | $2,975,000 |
| 2025 | Department of Education | Grant or other assistance | AMERICAN HISTORY AND CIVICS EDUCATION 84.422 | PROJECT SPARK IS A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS, GRADES K-12, PART OF THE AHC-SEMINARS. | $2,904,000 |
| 2025 | Department of Education | Grant or other assistance | AMERICAN HISTORY AND CIVICS EDUCATION 84.422 | PROJECT APEX IS A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS, GRADES K-12, PART OF THE AHC NATIONAL ACTIVITIES - SEMINARS. | $2,867,541 |
| 2025 | Department of Education | Grant or other assistance | AMERICAN HISTORY AND CIVICS EDUCATION 84.422 | PROJECT EXCEL IS A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS, GRADES K-12, PART OF THE AHC NATIONAL ACTIVITIES. | $999,968 |
| 2025 | Department of Education | Grant or other assistance | AMERICAN HISTORY AND CIVICS EDUCATION 84.422 | PROJECT TRAILS IS A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, GRADES K-12, PART OF THE AHC PRESIDENTIAL AND CONGRESSIONAL ACADEMIES. | $761,313 |
| 2024 | Department of Education | Grant or other assistance | AMERICAN HISTORY AND CIVICS EDUCATION 84.422 | PROJECT TRAILS IS A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, GRADES K-12, PART OF THE AHC PRESIDENTIAL AND CONGRESSIONAL ACADEMIES. | $1,909,226 |
| 2024 | Department of Education | Grant or other assistance | AMERICAN HISTORY AND CIVICS EDUCATION 84.422 | PROJECT EXCEL IS A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS, GRADES K-12, PART OF THE AHC NATIONAL ACTIVITIES. | $909,167 |
| 2022 | Employment and Training Administration | Grant or other assistance | APPRENTICESHIP USA GRANTS 17.285 | AWARD PURPOSE THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO ENROLL NEW PARTICIPANTS (HIGH SCHOOL AND OPPORTUNITY YOUTH) INTO APPROVED REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND | $4,999,450 |
| 2022 | Office of Justice Programs | Grant or other assistance | STOP SCHOOL VIOLENCE 16.839 | THE WILDERNESS EDUCATION PROJECT (WEP), A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, PROPOSES, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH JOHNSON COUNTY SCHOOLS (JCS), TO IMPLEMENT PROJECT SOAR. WEP R | $1,000,000 |
Who gave
Contributor names are not public for this form type.
Public charities filing Form 990 or 990-EZ report large donors on Schedule B, but the IRS withholds their names and addresses from public copies. Private foundations (990-PF) are different: their contributors are public.
Finances
Newest first. Each filing: its name on one row, its figures on the row beneath. Greyed filings are superseded by a later return for the same period and are left out everywhere else on this page.
| Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Net assets | Contributions | Program revenue | Officer pay | Employees | Volunteers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $6,217,455 | $6,038,656 | $778,856 | $404,041 | $6,217,455 | $0 | $172,096 | 3 | 0 |
| 2023 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $4,124,727 | $3,907,505 | $1,166,162 | $225,242 | $4,124,727 | $0 | $157,868 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $379,884 | $371,864 | $242,836 | $8,020 | $379,884 | $0 | $37,821 | 0 | 0 |
Connected to
Organizations that list some of the same people on their returns (officers, directors, key employees on this organization’s latest return), and related organizations it lists on Schedule R.
- NATIONAL PERFORMANCE FOR EDUCATION Nicholasville, KY · 1 person in common (Clabe Slone)
Funders of this organization
Not reported: no grants to this organization appear in the filings we have (tax years 2010 to 2025).
Similar organizations
Ranked without any AI: same NTEE code first, then the same NTEE group; then revenue within 2x, 5x or 10x; then the same state; then similar name and mission text. Same state only · More (100)
| Organization | State | NTEE | Latest revenue | Latest expenses | Top-paid title | Top pay | Why similar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL SAM INNOVATION PROJECT INC | KY | B90 | $3,526,124 | $4,290,475 | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | $288,772 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x, same state |
| CENTRAL KENTUCKY SPECIAL EDUCATION CO-OPERATIVE | KY | B90 | $3,726,462 | $3,517,457 | CEO | $168,426 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x, same state |
| KENTUCKY VALLEY EDUCATIONAL COOPERATIVE | KY | B90 | $5,046,909 | $5,335,740 | EXECUTIVE DI | $173,492 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x, same state |
| JOBS FOR KENTUCKYS GRADUATES INC | KY | B90 | $7,899,762 | $5,895,347 | PRESIDENT | $158,045 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x, same state |
| BLUEPRINT EDUCATION IN | AZ | B90 | $7,180,517 | $6,817,572 | CEO | $248,102 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
| EDUCATION EXPLOSION INC | LA | B90 | $3,357,525 | $2,889,370 | Chairman | $0 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
| PLAYLAB EDUCATION INC | CA | B90 | $3,876,292 | $1,685,113 | President | $215,000 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
| YELLOWSTONE EDUCATION FOUNDATION | TX | B90 | $4,659,394 | $4,776,568 | SUPERINTENDENT | $110,000 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
| NYSUT EDUCATION AND LEARNING TR | NY | B90 | $5,965,929 | $5,098,581 | TRUSTEE | $470,609 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
| MEMPHIS EDUCATION FUND INC | TN | B90 | $5,029,348 | $5,629,344 | CEO | $281,112 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
| TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION FOUNDATION | TX | B90 | $3,862,207 | $2,638,806 | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | $280,801 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
| VOICES FOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS & EDUCATION | LA | B90 | $5,765,804 | $6,569,319 | HEAD OF SCHOOL | $161,280 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
| STARFALL EDUCATION FOUNDATION | CO | B90 | $6,944,585 | $6,854,505 | PRESIDENT | $226,231 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
| NORTHWEST EDUCATION ACCESS | WA | B90 | $3,920,853 | $3,165,135 | CO-ED UNTIL 1/6/25, PROGRAM DIR. REST OF YEAR | $133,020 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
| WALLIN EDUCATION PARTNERS | MN | B90 | $9,940,243 | $10,744,526 | PRESIDENT & CEO | $240,337 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
| ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURES IN EDUCATION | MA | B90 | $11,007,254 | $17,393,133 | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | $294,148 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
| PROJECT TOMORROW | CA | B90 | $4,165,976 | $3,677,690 | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | $213,922 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
| WELLSPRING EDUCATIONAL SERVICES INC | CA | B90 | $4,954,905 | $4,053,968 | Secretary | $160,379 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
| NOBLE EDUCATION INITIATIVE INC | FL | B90 | $4,329,665 | $3,931,163 | CHIEF OF POLICY, PERFORMANCE, GROWTH | $292,628 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
| NEW HORIZON EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | CA | B90 | $7,085,033 | $932,259 | CHAIR | $0 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
| EDUCATION EVOLVING | MN | B90 | $4,120,600 | $1,649,026 | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | $105,218 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
| NORTH CAROLINA EDUCATION CORPS | NC | B90 | $6,822,291 | $6,524,284 | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | $222,768 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
| FLINT CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE | MI | B90 | $9,942,250 | $9,758,096 | PRESIDENT & CEO | $266,569 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
| MILITARY CHILD EDUCATION COALITION | TX | B90 | $4,679,918 | $4,247,222 | FORMER PRESIDENT/CEO & BOARD EMERITUS | $156,693 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
| GRAUER FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION | CA | B90 | $7,122,026 | $6,994,175 | HOS EMERITUS | $296,750 | Same NTEE code B90, revenue within 2x |
Who funds organizations like this
Grantors that funded the 100 most similar organizations. Ranked by total given to them. Foundations (990-PF) and donor-advised fund sponsors only. Same matching as Funders above (by EIN, or by name for foundations).
The full list · all similar organizations
Where the money went
Every expense line on each return, biggest first: Form 990 Part IX (with its program, management and fundraising columns), 990-EZ Part I, or 990-PF Part I. Event marks lines the organization itself describes as events. “Events” in each summary adds those lines, conferences and meetings, and the direct costs of fundraising events. Unusual is not the same as improper. Many of these patterns have ordinary explanations. Check the filing.
2024 · Form 990 · $6,038,656 spent · pay $348,137 · grants $0 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other (as described) | Contractual Cost | $4,714,975 | $4,714,975 | $0 | $0 | 78.1% |
| Travel | $419,147 | $419,147 | - | - | 6.9% | |
| Other (as described) | Stipends | $397,259 | $397,259 | $0 | $0 | 6.6% |
| Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees | $172,096 | $172,096 | - | - | 2.8% | |
| Other salaries and wages | $120,834 | $120,834 | - | - | 2.0% | |
| Office expenses | $100,529 | $100,529 | - | - | 1.7% | |
| Other employee benefits | $45,963 | $45,963 | - | - | 0.8% | |
| Benefits paid to members | $33,424 | $33,424 | - | - | 0.6% | |
| Fees: accounting | $16,283 | $16,283 | - | - | 0.3% | |
| Payroll taxes | $9,244 | $9,244 | - | - | 0.2% | |
| Insurance | $4,780 | $4,780 | - | - | 0.1% | |
| Other (as described) | Miscellaneous | $4,122 | $4,122 | $0 | $0 | 0.1% |
| Total | $6,038,656 | 100% |
2023 · Form 990 · $3,907,505 spent · pay $186,363 · grants $0 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other (as described) | Contractual Cost | $3,535,879 | $3,535,879 | $0 | $0 | 90.5% |
| Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees | $157,868 | $157,868 | - | - | 4.0% | |
| Travel | $62,744 | $62,744 | - | - | 1.6% | |
| Office expenses | $44,775 | $44,775 | - | - | 1.1% | |
| Benefits paid to members | $33,720 | $33,720 | - | - | 0.9% | |
| Other employee benefits | $28,495 | $28,495 | - | - | 0.7% | |
| Fees: accounting | $23,304 | $23,304 | - | - | 0.6% | |
| Other (as described) | Stipends | $10,580 | $10,580 | $0 | $0 | 0.3% |
| Other (as described) | Miscellaneous | $10,140 | $9,181 | $959 | $0 | 0.3% |
| Total | $3,907,505 | 100% |
2022 · Form 990 · $371,864 spent · pay $50,020 · grants $0 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other (as described) | Contractual Cost | $298,076 | $298,076 | $0 | $0 | 80.2% |
| Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees | $37,821 | $37,821 | $0 | $0 | 10.2% | |
| Office expenses | $12,262 | $12,262 | $0 | $0 | 3.3% | |
| Other employee benefits | $12,199 | $12,199 | $0 | $0 | 3.3% | |
| Travel | $7,611 | $7,611 | $0 | $0 | 2.0% | |
| Benefits paid to members | $3,895 | $3,895 | - | - | 1.0% | |
| Total | $371,864 | 100% |
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