African Hope Fund
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF AFRICA HOPE FUND IS TO PROMOTE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN SOUTHERN AFRICA BY SUPPORTING ORANIZATIONS ON THE GROUND THAT ARE DEDICATED TO ANTI-POACHING EFFORTS, CONSERVATION EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN, WILDLIFE DAMAGE MITIGATION, AND CONTINUED EDUCATION FOR LOCAL CHILDREN TO ENSURE THEIR ECONOMIC FUTURES.
- Income
- $300,697
- Spending
- $242,822
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 6.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 42
- Highest pay
- $35,500, operations manager
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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)
- $2,398 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMSULTIMATELY, STEVE AND CAROL FELL IN LOVE WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE REGION AND RECOGNIZED THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THE PEOPLE BY BUILDING SCHOOLS AND LITERACY CENTERS WHICH WERE BADLY NEEDED. THE FIRST PROJECT WAS TO REBUILD AN EXISTING SCHOOL BUILDING AND ADD TWO CLASSROOMS. CLASS SIZES ARE OFTEN 80 TO 100 STUDENTS.CULTURALLY, THE INCREASED OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION HAVE HAD A HUGE IMPACT UPON THE COMMUNITY. ALTHOUGH ENGLISH IS NOT TAUGHT IN ZAMBIAN SCHOOLS UNTIL THE 4TH GRADE, THE STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE THEIR EXAMS IN 7TH GRADE IN ENGLISH. THE AFRICAN HOPE FUND HELPS FILL THE THREE GAP YEARS WITH INTERACTIVE LITERACY TRAINING. 1.) LITERACY CENTERSDEBBY LOTT, A MEMBER OF THE AHF BOARD OF DIRECTORS, HAS TRAVELED TO ZAMBIA FOR EIGHT YEARS, SPENDING TWO-TO-THREE MONTHS EACH SUMMER PROVIDING EXPERT LITERACY TRAINING TO SEVERAL ZAMBIAN WOMEN AND MEN WHO BECOME READING ASSISTANTS. DEBBY'S CAREER AS A LITERACY DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL IN CALIFORNIA PROVIDED HER WITH THE SKILLS SHE NEEDED TO ASSESS WHAT THE CHILDREN NEEDED AND THE BEST WAY TO HELP THEM LEARN. AFTER PERSONALLY BEING INVOLVED WITH THE ACTUAL PHYSICAL BUILDING OF A LITERACY CENTER, DEBBY REMEMBERS THE FIRST REACTIONS OF STUDENTS. ZAMBIAN CHILDREN MOST OFTEN LIVE IN HUTS WITH DIRT OR CONCRETE FLOORS AND COMMUNITY BATHROOM FACILITIES. THEY DO NOT HAVE TOYS, BOOKS TO READ, PUZZLES, OR COLORING BOOKS. THE VERY FIRST CLASSES HELD FOCUSED ON TEACHING THE CHILDREN HOW TO TREAT BOOKS-TO WASH THEIR HANDS BEFORE THEY ENTERED THE LITERACY CENTERS, TO OPEN THE BOOK CAREFULLY TO PROTECT THE BINDING, TO CAREFULLY TURN THE PAGES SO TO NOT TEAR THEM. AS DEBBY EXPLAINED, "THE CENTERS ARE SACRED SPACE TO ME-TO WATCH THE CHILDREN LEARN THEIR COLORS BY PLAYING SORTING GAMES, TO SEE THEM LEARN THE CONCEPT OF PUTTING PUZZLES TOGETHER, TO WATCH AS THEY SEE THEIR IMAGE IN THE MIRROR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES OR PLAYED WITH DOLLS FOR THE FIRST TIME IS ALL MAGICAL." THE WALLS OF THE CENTERS ARE COVERED WITH COLORFUL PICTURES OF CHILDREN PLAYING GAMES, OF ANIMALS, AND THERE ARE RUGS ON THE FLOORS FOR THE CHILDREN TO GATHER FOR STORYBOOK TIME. THESE DECORATIONS AND COMFORTS ARE ROUTINE IN US SCHOOLS BUT ARE COMPLETELY NEW TO ZAMBIAN CHILDREN.THE FIRST HAPPY READERS WERE INTRODUCED IN 2015, AND SINCE THEN THE READING PROGRAM HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY TO INCLUDE SIX LITERACY CENTERS LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH LUANGWA VALLEY. CURRENTLY, AFRICA HOPE FUND PAYS THE SALARIES OF TWENTY TWO READING ASSISTANTS, WHICH AMOUNTS TO ABOUT $3,500 USD A MONTH. THE SIX READING CENTERS CURRENTLY TEACH OVER 2,000 STUDENTS EVERY WEEK! EACH GRADE HAS A DEDICATED TIME SLOT FOR THE LIBRARY, WHICH USUALLY LASTS FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR. THE CHILDREN ARE DIVIDED UP INTO A SMALL GROUPS (6-8 STUDENTS) TO WORK ON READING ALOUD, GRAMMAR, AND MORE. TEST SCORES AMONG THE SCHOOLS IN THE VALLEY HAVE INCREASED DRAMATICALLY AS A RESULT OF THE PRESENCE OF THE READING PROGRAMS AND LITERACY CENTERS.IN 2020, THE SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, SO JENNY WATERHOUSE AND DEBBY LEAD THE PROJECT OF BUILDING A LIBRARY SEPARATE FROM EXISTING SCHOOLS. DEBBY ALSO HELD TRAINING SESSIONS FOR MULTIPLE ADULT WOMEN AND MEN TO BE READING ASSISTANTS. FOR TWO WEEKS, DEBBY HELD EXTENSIVE SESSIONS FOR GROUPS OF EIGHT PEOPLE AT A TIME TO LEARN THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO TEACH ENGLISH TO THE CHILDREN, AGAIN THROUGH GAMES, PUZZLES, USING COLORED MARKERS ON WHITE BOARDS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL TOOLS. 2.) VOLUNTEER PROGRAMSEACH SUMMER, AHF ORGANIZES VOLUNTEER TRIPS. VOLUNTEERS TRAVEL TO SPEND TWO WEEKS IN MFUWE, A TOWN OF ABOUT 55,000 PEOPLE WHICH IS THE LARGEST SETTLEMENT IN THE MAMBWE DISTRICT. SINCE 2019, SIXTY VOLUNTEERS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM. THESE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ALSO BRING SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND GAMES FOR THE CHILDREN. THEY SPEND HALF OF EACH DAY WORKING WITH AND PLAYING INTERACTIVE GAMES WITH THE CHILDREN HELPING THEM PRACTICE THEIR ENGLISH, AND THE OTHER HALF-DAY GOING FOR GAME DRIVES. SOCCER IS A POPULAR SPORT AMONG THE BOYS, BUT SOCCER BALLS WERE OFTEN IN SHORT SUPPLY OR NEEDED AIR. THE VOLUNTEERS HAVE MADE IT A HABIT TO ARRIVE WITH SOCCER BALLS AND AIR PUMPS! THE AMERICAN CHILDREN WHO COME WITH THEIR PARENTS EAGERLY JOIN IN THE SOCCER GAMES AND THE ZAMBIAN CHILDREN ARE DELIGHTED TO MEET AMERICAN CHILDREN AND TEENS. JUMP ROPES ARE POPULAR AMONG THE GIRLS. A QUOTE FROM ONE OF OUR SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD VOLUNTEERS, "I'VE NEVER TRULY APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ME UNTIL I TRAVELED WITH AFRICA HOPE FUND TO ZAMBIA. I LEARNED THE POWER OF EDUCATION AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT EVERYONE HAS THE CHANCE TO GET ONE".3.) COMMUNITY PROGRAMSAHF IS INVOLVED WITH MANY COMMUNITIES' PROJECTS AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE SOUTH LUANGWA VALLEY. A) PROJECT LUANGWA (PL)IN 2023 AFRICA HOPE FUND PARTNERED WITH PROJECT LUANGWA ON OUR LITERACY CENTERS. WITH THE PLAN TO EXPAND AND OPEN UP ADDITIONAL LITERACY CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH LUANGWA VALLEY. PL IS A DEDICATED NONPROFIT IN THE HEART OF MFUWE, WITH THEIR FOCUS ON STUDENT SPONSORSHIP, AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. IN 2024 AFRICA HOPE FUND HELPED RAISE MONEY FOR OUR READING PROGRAM THROUGH NUMEROUS ONLINE CAMPAIGNS. PROJECT LUANGWA HAS A VARIETY OF OTHER PROGRAMS THEY SUPPORT SUCH AS: DISTRIBUTING MENSTRUAL PADS OUT TO GIRLS IN THE NEARBY VILLAGES, AS WELL AS MENTOR AND EDUCATE THEM ON QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE, DIGITRUCK' WHICH IS A MOBILE TRUCK OUTFITTED WITH ELECTRONIC TABLETS, THAT WOULD MOVE AROUND TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, BRINGING AN ALTERNATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TO THE LOCAL CHILDREN OF THE LUANGWA VALLEY, WHILE HELPING TO IMPROVE THE TEACHER-TO-STUDENT RATIO, AMONGST OTHER CLASSROOM RESOURCES, AND ECO STOVES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO USE SMALL TWIGS THAT CAN BE GATHERED AROUND THE HOME INSTEAD OF USING LARGE CUT LOGS, HELPING TO REDUCE SMOKE EMISSIONS AND PULMONARY ILLNESS. B) MIMBULU FOOTBALL (SOCCER) TEAMIN 2017, DURING HER ANNUAL TRIP TO ZAMBIA, OUR CEO CAROL VAN BRUGGEN SPENT TIME WI
- $182,617 spent. WILDLIFE CONSERVATIONTHE AFRICAN HOPE FUND (AHF) NON-PROFIT HAS BEEN A PRESENCE IN THE SOUTH LUANGWA VALLEY FOR OVER 20 YEARS. CAROL VAN BRUGGEN AND STEVE KUHN ORIGINALLY TRAVELED TO ZAMBIA TO SEE THE ANIMALS, WHICH ARE ABUNDANT. SINCE 2008, THE AHF HAS WORKED WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CONSERVATION SOUTH LUANGWA (CSL), CONSERVATION LOWER ZAMBEZI (CLZ), AND ZAMBIA CARNIVORE PROGRAM (ZCP) TO PROTECT ANIMALS FROM POACHING AND TO TEACH THE CITIZENS HOW TO PEACEFULLY COEXIST WITH THE ANIMALS. THE WILDLIFE IN ZAMBIA IS THE COUNTRY'S GREATEST TOURIST ATTRACTION.1.) CONSERVATION SOUTH LUANGWA (CSL)CSL IS A REMARKABLE INITIATIVE DEDICATED TO PRESERVING THE PRISTINE WILDERNESS AND BIODIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK IN ZAMBIA. WITH ITS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM, CONSERVATION SOUTH LUANGWA PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN SAFEGUARDING THIS UNIQUE ECOSYSTEM. THROUGH THEIR COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDE ANTI-POACHING EFFORTS, HABITAT RESTORATION, AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH, THEY ENSURE THE LONG-TERM SURVIVAL OF ICONIC SPECIES SUCH AS ELEPHANTS, LIONS, AND LEOPARDS. ADDITIONALLY, THEIR COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVES EMPOWER LOCAL COMMUNITIES BY PROMOTING EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS, FOSTERING A HARMONIOUS COEXISTENCE BETWEEN HUMANS AND WILDLIFE. CONSERVATION SOUTH LUANGWA'S TIRELESS DEDICATION TO PRESERVING THE NATURAL HERITAGE OF SOUTH LUANGWA IS TRULY COMMENDABLE, AND THEIR WORK SERVES AS A BEACON OF HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF CONSERVATION IN AFRICA. 2.) CONSERVATION LOWER ZAMBEZI (CLZ) CLZ IS A REMARKABLE ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO THE PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION OF THE LOWER ZAMBEZI NATIONAL PARK IN ZAMBIA. WITH ITS STRONG FOCUS ON CONSERVATION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, CONSERVATION LOWER ZAMBEZI PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN SAFEGUARDING THIS PRISTINE WILDERNESS AND ITS RICH BIODIVERSITY. THROUGH THEIR CONSERVATION EFFORTS, SUCH AS ANTI-POACHING PATROLS, WILDLIFE MONITORING, AND HABITAT RESTORATION, THEY ENSURE THE CONTINUED EXISTENCE OF ICONIC SPECIES LIKE ELEPHANTS, HIPPOS, AND CROCODILES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO ACTIVELY INVOLVES LOCAL COMMUNITIES, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEM TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS, EDUCATION, AND HEALTHCARE. BY FOSTERING A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY AMONG THE LOCAL POPULATION, CONSERVATION LOWER ZAMBEZI FOSTERS A HARMONIOUS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUMANS AND WILDLIFE. 3.) ZAMBIAN CARNIVORE PROGRAM (ZCP)ZCP IS A REMARKABLE INITIATIVE DEDICATED TO THE CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF CARNIVORES IN ZAMBIA. WITH A PRIMARY FOCUS ON ICONIC SPECIES SUCH AS LIONS, LEOPARDS AND WILD DOGS, THE PROGRAM AIMS TO MITIGATE THREATS TO THEIR POPULATIONS AND ENSURE THEIR LONG-TERM SURVIVAL. THROUGH A COMBINATION OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION, THE ZAMBIAN CARNIVORE PROGRAM WORKS TIRELESSLY TO ADDRESS ISSUES SUCH AS HABITAT LOSS, HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT, AND ILLEGAL HUNTING. THEY EMPLOY INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES LIKE GPS TRACKING, CAMERA TRAPPING, AND ECOLOGICAL MONITORING TO GATHER CRUCIAL DATA ON CARNIVORE POPULATIONS AND THEIR BEHAVIOR, CONTRIBUTING TO A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR ECOLOGICAL ROLES AND NEEDS. MOREOVER, THE PROGRAM ACTIVELY COLLABORATES WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES, INVOLVING THEM IN CONSERVATION INITIATIVES AND PROVIDING ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES THAT REDUCE CONFLICTS WITH CARNIVORES. AHF SUPPORTED THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRAM, BY HELPING TO FINANCE SOFTWARE PURCHASES, SUCH AS A CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CRM).
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 October 13, 2026.
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 November 6, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2009.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 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.