Charity Impact Media

Home › International, foreign affairs & national security

Heifer Project International

Little Rock, AR · EIN 35-1019477 · 501(c)(3) · Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Latest filing: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 (tax year 2024) · View the filing · Correct or respond

Heifer Project International reported $162.0 million in revenue and $178.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $72.92 went to program services, $5.44 to management and general costs and $21.64 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 102.7% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $506,044 (PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 21 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 30% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.

Where $100 of spending went

The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $179M

For context, the median across 469 covered international, foreign affairs & national security charities: $89.04 programs, $8.28 management, $2.68 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).

Where $100 of revenue came from

The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $162M

Investment income was negative: −$6.0M. The bar shows the positive sources only.

The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades

FY2025 filing. Median across 469 covered charities in this category, from their latest filings.
MeasureFY2025Median
Program services
Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A)
72.9%86.1%
Management & general
Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A)
5.4%8.0%
Fundraising
Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A)
21.6%2.6%
Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions
Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h
$0.23$0.03
Contributions & grants share of revenue
Part VIII 1h ÷ 12
102.7%96.6%
Government grants share of revenue
Part VIII 1e ÷ 12
1.8%0.0%
Program service revenue share
Part VIII 2g ÷ 12
0.3%0.0%
Highest reported compensation
Part VII-A, columns D–F
$506,044$341,362
Highest compensation as share of expenses
Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A)
0.28%1.06%
People paid over $100,000
Part VII, line 2
2110
Net assets, in months of expenses
Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses
17.47.5
Independent voting board members
Part VI 1a–1b
18 of 18100.0%

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

FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expense
$95M expenses · 73.2% of program spending · grants $81M

International development: sustainable incomes: Heifer Project International (heifer) provides livestock, agricultural inputs, training and technical support to smallholder farmers as they set up and scale sustainable farming businesses. Farmers practice integrated crop and livestock management to produce healthy, nutritious food while protecting and improving the environment. Heifer works through local staff and organizations, with each family expected to pass on livestock, knowledge and other assets to families locally, multiplying the gift and strengthening communities and local markets

$32M expenses · 24.4% of program spending · revenue $445K

International development: education and awareness: Heifer Project International works to educate people of all ages in the united states and globally about the root causes of hunger and poverty, and how they can be part of the solution. Its programs inspire people to take action and raise awareness of the importance of healthy, nutritious, sustainably produced local food

$3.2M expenses · 2.4% of program spending

International development: agro-ecology: Heifer Project International (heifer) provides gifts of seeds, grains and trees and teaches farmers and families geographically appropriate and resource-sound agricultural practices that enhance and increase crop productivity and are good for the environment. Heifer works with local organizations to increase farmer's access to markets to improve economic benefit and increase personal gain from what they grow. This allows farmers to enhance food security and sovereignty, increase local food options and availability and provide safe and affordable…

Highest reported compensation

FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here
RoleFrom this orgFrom related orgsOtherTotal
PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Officer, 50.00 hrs/week
$468,822$0$37,222$506,044
CHIEF OF MISSION EFFECTIVENESS
Officer, 50.00 hrs/week
$249,748$0$29,143$278,891
SENIOR VP FOR THE AMERICAS
Officer, 50.00 hrs/week
$248,167$0$29,538$277,705
CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER
Officer, 50.00 hrs/week
$238,219$0$32,095$270,314
CFO/TREASURER
Officer, 50.00 hrs/week
$235,850$0$33,797$269,647
SENIOR VP MARKETING & PHILANTHROPY
Officer, 50.00 hrs/week
$234,757$0$33,367$268,124
SENIOR VP BUSINESS DEV & PARTNERSHIPS
Officer, 50.00 hrs/week
$221,387$0$28,298$249,685
VP OF COMMUNICATIONS
Officer, 50.00 hrs/week
$202,608$0$31,154$233,762

21 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Heifer Project International (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $4.2M (Part IX, line 5).

6 years of filings

Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linked
RevenueExpenses
$0$50M$100M$150M$200MFY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025$162M$179M
FilingRevenueExpensesProgramsNet assetsTop pay
FY2025 ⓘ$162M$179M72.9%$260M$506,044
FY2024 ⓘ$150M$159M70.9%$268M$490,216
FY2023 (amended) ⓘ$150M$163M71.0%$264M$596,339
FY2022 ⓘ$162M$168M73.3%$271M$530,628
FY2021 ⓘ$141M$128M64.9%$287M$496,886
FY2020 (amended) ⓘ$125M$124M73.6%$213M$490,330

Governance answers, as filed

FY2025 · 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–1b18 · 18 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 2No
  • 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 18Yes
  • Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
  • Employees Part I, line 5304
  • Volunteers Part I, line 6274

Largest outside contractors

FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only
GIVEBRIDGE INC
Fundraising services
$8,533,728
THE TEACHING SOURCE LLC
Fundraising services
$5,799,169
ASCENTA GROUP US INC
Fundraising services
$2,044,884
ASCENTA SOLUTIONS US INC
Fundraising services
$1,363,256
MDS COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
Telemarketing services
$1,344,754

Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 21 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.

Private foundation grants it received

381 private foundations reported grants to Heifer Project International totaling $4.2M 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 Heifer Project International's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Heifer Project International, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.

Similar-sized charities in this cause

All international, foreign affairs & national security charities · Largest charities in Arkansas

Questions people ask

How much of Heifer Project International's spending goes to programs?

In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Heifer Project International reported that 72.9% of its $178.9 million in expenses went to program services, 5.4% to management and general and 21.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).

How much does Heifer Project International pay its top executive?

The largest total compensation Heifer Project International reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $506,044, for the role of PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).

Where does Heifer Project International get its money?

Of $162.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 102.7% came from contributions and grants (including 1.8% from government grants) and 0.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).

Is Heifer Project International a registered charity?

The IRS lists EIN 35-1019477 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. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.

Sources

  • FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202513219349324266 · read the filing · XML
  • FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202433209349325318 · read the filing
  • FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023 (amended), object 202410579349301371 · read the filing
  • FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202223199349309902 · read the filing
  • FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202123569349301652 · read the filing
  • FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020 (amended), object 202140399349300434 · read the filing

All filings for EIN 35-1019477: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.