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Elephant Aid International

EIN 27-2243265 · Ojai, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ELEPHANT AID INTERNATIONAL IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CREATING INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO ELEPHANT CARE AND REHABILITATION WORLDWIDE THROUGH EDUCATION, COLLABORATION, AND HANDS-ON ASSISTANCE. EAI ALSO PROVIDES A NATURAL HABITAT REFUGE FOR RETIRED ELEPHANTS IN THE U.S., WORKING TO END ELEPHANT SUFFERING ONE ELEPHANT AT A TIME.

Income
$939,269
Spending
$476,489
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
49.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
5
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$55,000, president/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 49.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 49% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 61% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    2 of 3 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

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 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 (3)
  1. $14,165 spent. WE PROVIDED A VARIETY OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO DOZENS OF SCHOOLS, CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND ASIA, INCLUDING PROVIDING EXPERT CONSULTING AND ADVICE ON ELEPHANT BEHAVIOR AND BIOLOGY TO STUDENTS, TEACHERS, GOVERNMENTS, AND OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, INTERNATIONALLY. WE PROVIDED PRINTED MATERIALS USED IN SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES, INDIA, SRI LANKA, THAILAND, AND NEPAL, AND ALSO PROVIDED VOLUNTEER AND INTERN OPPORTUNITIES TO MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE.
  2. $372,928 spent. IN 2016, WE ESTABLISHED ELEPHANT REFUGE NORTH AMERICA ON 850 RURAL ACRES IN SOUTH GEORGIA, USA, TO BENEFIT OLD, SICK, AND NEEDY ELEPHANTS RETIRED FROM ZOOS AND CIRCUSES. THIS PROJECT PROVIDES A NATURAL HABITAT ENVIRONMENT WHERE CAPTIVE-HELD ELEPHANTS CAN RECOVER FROM PAST TRAUMAS AND DEVELOP HEALTHY BONDS WITH CAREGIVERS AND OTHER RETIRED ELEPHANTS. THIS PROJECT IMPROVES ELEPHANT WELFARE THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTS, PRIVATE OWNERS, AND ELEPHANT CAREGIVERS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EDUCATION ABOUT CAPTIVE-HELD ELEPHANTS WORLDWIDE AND ADVOCATE FOR IMPROVED STANDARDS AND PRACTICES.
  3. $4,901 spent. PROJECT ASIA. WE ARE UNIQUE IN OUR ABILITY TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE BOTH IN THE IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM. IT IS EFFECTIVE BECAUSE IT STARTS WITH A DEEP RESPECT FOR THE CULTURE AND THE REALITIES OF LIFE FOR ELEPHANTS IN ASIA. BY OFFERING HANDS-ON CARE SUCH AS PEDICURES, TEACHING HUMANE TRAINING METHODS, IMPROVING STABLE HYGEINE, DESIGNING AND BUILDING SOLAR-POWERED CHAIN-FREE CORRALS, AND PROVIDING COATS AND FOOD FOR HUNGRY ELEPHANTS, WE QUICKLY MAKE THE LIVES OF CAPTIVE ELEPHANTS BETTER. WE BUILD SUSTAINABILITY INTO WORK IN TWO WAYS: FIRST BY PARTNERING WITH RESPECTED NGOS AND SECOND, BY ENSURING THAT MAHOUTS AND ELEPAHNT OWNERS HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO MAINTAIN THE IMPROVEMENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2011.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.