International Crane Foundation
International Crane Foundation reported $17.7 million in revenue and $15.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. Of every $100 it spent, $82.12 went to program services, $8.18 to management and general costs and $9.70 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 89.1% of the total. Government grants made up 7.3%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $290,298 (PRESIDENT/CEO/DIRECTOR). 8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 14% 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 $16MFor 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 $18MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2026 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.1% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.2% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.7% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 89.1% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 7.3% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.9% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $290,298 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.85% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 8 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 53.3 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 26 of 28 | 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 expenseIcf center for conservation leadership - icf's headquarters includes a global center for conservation leadership, providing training and programs in: conservation science and management; wetland and grassland restoration and ecology; captive crane management and care; environmental education; and conservation communications. Icf's international and regional programs integrate leadership training and mentoring into each project, focusing on developing leaders in the communities that share waters and landscapes with cranes. Icf's center for conservation leadership identifies, trains, mentors…
Sub-saharan africa - sub-saharan africa is home to six crane species, including four highly threatened resident species: endangered grey crowned cranes and vulnerable black crowned, wattled, blue cranes, and wintering demoiselle and eurasian cranes. The International Crane Foundation is active in many countries across africa, focused on understanding and resolving threats to cranes. Grey and black crowned cranes are in serious decline due to capture for illegal domestication and trade, and loss of vital breeding wetlands. Wattled cranes are most threatened by large dams and water diversions…
North america - north america is home to two crane species, including the world's rarest cranes - endangered whooping cranes and the most abundant cranes - sandhill cranes. Whooping cranes face critical threats on their wintering grounds in and around aransas national wildlife refuge in texas, and along their long migratory flyway to their breeding grounds in wood buffalo, canada. Foundation programs focus on conserving the aransas- wood buffalo whooping crane flock; establishing a separate flock of whooping cranes through reintroductions in the eastern united states; captive crane population…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT/CEO/DIRECTOR Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $168,866 | $0 | $121,432 | $290,298 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $143,506 | $0 | $16,357 | $159,863 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $116,173 | $0 | $27,074 | $143,247 |
| COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $0 | $114,918 | $27,976 | $142,894 |
| DIR. OF CONSERVATION MEDICINE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $114,041 | $0 | $15,324 | $129,365 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF GLOBAL HR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $103,408 | $0 | $24,863 | $128,271 |
| VP OF HEADQUARTER OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $113,744 | $0 | $13,796 | $127,540 |
| VICE PRESIDENT, ASIA PROGRAMS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $124,314 | $0 | $2,720 | $127,034 |
8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from International Crane Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $545K (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–1b28 · 26 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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5122
- Volunteers Part I, line 6218
Largest outside contractors
FY2026 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| A THRU Z CONSULTING & DIST INC Constr. Of re-engineered netting | $198,286 |
| FREE RANGE STUDIOS LLC Marketing, comms and digital strategy | $169,774 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
74 private foundations reported grants to International Crane Foundation totaling $1.8M 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 International Crane Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for International Crane Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 International Crane Foundation spent in FY2026, $82.12 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Operation KindnessCarrollton, TX · revenue $18M · programs 79.9% · FY2025
- Atlanta Humane Society & Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsAtlanta, GA · revenue $18M · programs 78.0% · FY2025
- Friends of Tracy AviarySalt Lake City, UT · revenue $17M · programs 89.2% · FY2025
- Kentucky Humane Society - Animal RescueLouisville, KY · revenue $18M · programs 83.6% · FY2025
- Morris Animal FoundationDenver, CO · revenue $17M · programs 69.8% · FY2025
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Wisconsin
Questions people ask
How much of International Crane Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, International Crane Foundation reported that 82.1% of its $15.7 million in expenses went to program services, 8.2% to management and general and 9.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does International Crane Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation International Crane Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026 was $290,298, for the role of PRESIDENT/CEO/DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does International Crane Foundation get its money?
Of $17.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, 89.1% came from contributions and grants (including 7.3% from government grants) and 0.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is International Crane Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 39-1187711 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), 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 202602239349300315 · read the filing
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, object 202532259349302103 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, object 202422269349300622 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, object 202312269349301486 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, object 202212149349301101 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, object 202132149349301653 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020, object 202022739349301512 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 39-1187711: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.