The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee
The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee reported $10.7 million in revenue and $8.1 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $89.91 went to program services, $6.32 to management and general costs and $3.77 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 89.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $176,445 (PRESIDENT / CEO). 4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 83% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $8.1MFor 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
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $11MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 89.9% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.3% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.8% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 89.6% | 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 | $176,445 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.17% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 4 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 164.1 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 5 of 5 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseShelter & care program- the organization provides elephants with the opportunity to live out their lives in a safe haven dedicated to their well being. Individualized care has been enhanced by adding laser therapy, new digital radiography equipment, allergy testing and other diagnostic tests. There were a total of 14 elephants inhabiting the facilities during the year
Education program- the organization seeks to raise public awareness of the complex needs of elephants and the crisis facing elephants in the wild by providing education opportunities for the public relating to elephant care and habitat, including materials and programs within the elephant discovery center and on-line distance learning.these education opportunities resulted in:*12,615 students in 40 states and 6 countries participated in distance learning programs; 121 volunteers onsite which included 2 college alternative spring breaks and 12 volunteer days.*3,100 visitors came to the…
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $170,000 | $0 | $6,445 | $176,445 |
| COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $132,905 | $0 | $26,097 | $159,002 |
| VETERINARIAN Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $116,769 | $0 | $14,863 | $131,632 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $111,819 | $0 | $14,660 | $126,479 |
4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $462K (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
2025 · 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–1b5 · 5 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 573
- Volunteers Part I, line 6200
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| DFCHASE Construction | $2,512,485 |
| LEE RESTORATION Construction | $390,543 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
85 private foundations reported grants to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee totaling $804K 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 Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee'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 Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee spent in 2025, $89.91 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Nevada Humane SocietyReno, NV · revenue $11M · programs 79.0% · 2024
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- The Oregon Zoo FoundationPortland, OR · revenue $11M · programs 79.0% · FY2025
- MuttvilleSan Francisco, CA · revenue $11M · programs 67.5% · 2024
- Humane Society of Broward CountyFort Lauderdale, FL · revenue $11M · programs 76.8% · FY2025
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Tennessee
Questions people ask
How much of The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee reported that 89.9% of its $8.1 million in expenses went to program services, 6.3% to management and general and 3.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $176,445, for the role of PRESIDENT / CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee get its money?
Of $10.7 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 89.6% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 62-1587327 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
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202641819349300104 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202502109349301325 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202421629349300432 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202321649349301417 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202231689349300448 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202121829349300047 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202031779349300413 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 62-1587327: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.