The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA
Also known as Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA reported $22.8 million in revenue and $18.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. Of every $100 it spent, $95.95 went to program services, $3.86 to management and general costs and $0.19 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 98.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $305,420 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 1 person received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 253% between FY2020 and FY2026. Source: Form 990, FY2026.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending March 31, 2026 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $19MFor context, the median across 245 covered animal-related charities: $83.96 programs, $9.42 management, $6.62 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending March 31, 2026 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $23MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2026 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 95.9% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 3.9% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.2% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 98.4% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $305,420 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.61% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 1 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 15.2 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 6 of 6 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2026 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseThe organization's most important program effort is funding the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust ("dswt") (dba Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (swt)) which, to-date, has successfully hand-raised over 250 infant elephants, along with accomplishing its long-term conservation priority by effectively reintegrating orphans back into the wild. Dswt focuses on the preservation and protection of wildlife through anti-poaching efforts, surveilling and safe guarding the natural environment, enhancing community awareness, addressing animal welfare issues, providing veterinary assistance to animals in need, and…
Highest reported compensation
FY2026 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 50.0 hrs/week | $290,083 | $0 | $15,337 | $305,420 |
1 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $315K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2026 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b6 · 6 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 55
- Volunteers Part I, line 610
Private foundation grants it received
136 private foundations reported grants to The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA totaling $2.0M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA spent in FY2026, $95.95 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Washington Humane SocietyWashington, DC · revenue $23M · programs 72.8% · FY2025
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- Alley Cat AlliesBethesda, MD · revenue $22M · programs 89.8% · FY2025
- Clearwater Marine AquariumClearwater, FL · revenue $23M · programs 75.1% · 2024
- The Humane LeagueRockville, MD · revenue $22M · programs 67.4% · 2025
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA reported that 95.9% of its $18.9 million in expenses went to program services, 3.9% to management and general and 0.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA reported for one person in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026 was $305,420, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA get its money?
Of $22.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, 98.4% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 30-0224549 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2026: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, object 202642189349302024 · read the filing
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, object 202542209349301134 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, object 202411979349300811 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, object 202302359349301600 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, object 202242229349301324 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, object 202121739349300937 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020, object 202041839349301404 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 30-0224549: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.