African Wildlife Foundation
African Wildlife Foundation reported $37.3 million in revenue and $37.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $83.06 went to program services, $4.33 to management and general costs and $12.61 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 96.0% of the total. Government grants made up 29.0%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $567,681 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 40 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 20% 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 $38MFor 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 June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $37MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.1% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 4.3% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 12.6% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.13 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 96.0% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 29.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $567,681 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.50% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 40 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 13.6 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 31 of 32 | 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
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseNational and landscape level conservation programsin kenya, work focused on rangeland restoration and coexistence. Water security remained central in the tsavomkomazi landscape where awf worked with communities to restore catchments and improve access to freshwater for people and wildlife, while also launching an ambitious partnership with the wildlife clubs of kenya to engage school children in conservation. Additionally, awf supported the government of kajiado county with a sustainable business investment strategy tied to local management of amboseli national park. In rwanda, the…
Pan african programsthrough a collaboration with peacenexus, awf advanced rights-based and conflict-sensitive approaches with indigenous and local communities and wildlife authorities across multiple countries. Governments were supported to develop biodiversity economies through investment frameworks, assessing nature-positive enterprises, and shaping pathways that diversify revenue and direct benefits to communities. Partnerships with the africa protected areas directors (apad) and others contributed to stronger pan-african representation in global conservation planning. Awf increased the…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Director/trustee, officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $495,414 | $0 | $72,267 | $567,681 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $249,430 | $0 | $57,613 | $307,043 |
| CHIEF OF STAFF Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $243,000 | $0 | $51,013 | $294,013 |
| SVP, CONSERVATION STRATEGY, IMPACT, AND LEARNING Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $235,180 | $0 | $56,188 | $291,368 |
| VP, ENTERPRISE & INVESTMENT Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $168,000 | $0 | $79,471 | $247,471 |
| VP, FOUND. RELATIONS (UNTIL 8/2025) Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $212,625 | $0 | $34,674 | $247,299 |
| SVP, BRAND AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $217,708 | $0 | $25,581 | $243,289 |
| VP, SPECIES AND SCIENCE Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $211,229 | $0 | $25,562 | $236,791 |
40 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from African Wildlife Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.9M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance 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–1b32 · 31 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 549
- Volunteers Part I, line 640
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SANKY COMMUNICATIONS INC Fundraising/ advertising | $866,544 |
| PRODUCTION SOLUTIONS INC Fundraising/ advertising | $284,623 |
| EIDOLON COMMUNICATIONS Fundraising/ advertising | $255,911 |
| THE COMPASS GROUP INC Fundraising counsel | $255,000 |
| TPO INC Human resources consulting services | $174,604 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 11 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
123 private foundations reported grants to African Wildlife Foundation totaling $3.0M 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 African Wildlife 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 African Wildlife Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 African Wildlife Foundation spent in FY2025, $83.06 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Florida AquariumTampa, FL · revenue $37M · programs 78.6% · FY2025
- John Ball ZooGrand Rapids, MI · revenue $37M · programs 89.4% · 2024
- Dallas Zoo ManagementDallas, TX · revenue $37M · programs 89.1% · FY2025
- Oregon Humane SocietyPortland, OR · revenue $37M · programs 80.4% · 2025
- American Humane AssociationWashington, DC · revenue $37M · programs 74.6% · FY2025
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of African Wildlife Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, African Wildlife Foundation reported that 83.1% of its $37.8 million in expenses went to program services, 4.3% to management and general and 12.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does African Wildlife Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation African Wildlife Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $567,681, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does African Wildlife Foundation get its money?
Of $37.3 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 96.0% came from contributions and grants (including 29.0% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is African Wildlife Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-0781390 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 (amended), object 202610729349300921 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202540459349302109 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202411319349303776 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202301189349301655 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202231259349301248 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202140759349301129 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-0781390: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.