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Mgvp Inc

EIN 06-1752363 · Davis, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The non-profit MGVP, Inc., is an international veterinary team dedicated to saving the lives of Central Africas endangered mountain and Grauers gorillas through veterinary medicine and science using a One Health approach. MGVP, Inc. treats wild human-habituated gorillas suffering from life-threatening injury and illness, conducts gorilla health, emerging infectious and zoonotic disease research, facilitates preventive health care for the people who work in the national parks who come into close contact with the gorillas; and raises partner and societal awareness for the importance of the One Health approach to gorilla conservation. Gorilla Doctors implements its mission in Rwanda, DR Congo and Uganda. For more information visit www.gorilladoctors.org.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
-2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
3
Highest pay
$171,306, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 53% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $1.8 million spent. Mountain and Grauers gorilla veterinary care MGVP, Inc. staff is comprised of 13 veterinarians and several additional technical and administrative support staff. Our veterinarians perform routine health checks, veterinary monitoring visits and clinical interventions to treat ill and injured human-habituated mountain and Grauers gorillas living in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Gorilla rescue MGVP, Inc. also assists wildlife authorities with provision of emergency care to infant gorillas and other primates confiscated from poachers and manages the health of orphaned mountain gorillas in captivity.Research and surveillance The organization maintains a comprehensive database on gorilla health, and conducts wildlife health surveillance and research on eastern gorillas and sympatric wildlife and emerging infectious diseases at the gorilla/human interface.
  2. EMERGING WILDLIFE ZOONOTIC PATHOGEN SURVEILLANCE - MGVP IS A SUBRECIPIENT ON A USAID GRANT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EMERGING PANDEMIC THREATS (PREDICT) PROJECT, THE OBJECTIVES OF PREDICT ARE TO DETECT AND DESCRIBE VIRUSES IN WILDLIFE, PRIMARILY PRIMATES, BATS AND RODENTS, THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO INFECT PEOPLE, AND TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE ECOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL DRIVERS OF SPILLOVER OF VIRUSES FROM WILDLIFE TO PEOPLE. MGVP, INC. IMPLEMENTS PREDICT IN RWANDA, UGANDA AND EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. OUR VETERINIANS CAPTURE LIVE WILDLIFE TO OBTAIN SAMPLES AND WORK WITH LABORATORY PARTNERS TO SCREEN SAMPLES FOR VIRUSES. MGVP, INC. IS ALSO A RECIPIENT OF US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE FUNDING TO STUDY PARASITES CAUSING GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASE IN MOUNTAIN GORILLAS IN RWANDA, AND A US EMBASSY RWANDA GRANT TO IMPROVE HYGIENE INFRASTRUCTURE AND PRACTICES AROUND VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, RWANDA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2006.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.