African Parks Foundation of America
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ENGAGE THE UNITED STATES AND ITS CITIZENS IN THE WORK OF AFRICAN PARKS AND TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO AMERICAN EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE IN THE AFRICAN PARKS ACTIITIES BY 1) RAISING FUNDS FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS, ACTIVITIES, TRAINING, EQUIPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE; 2) SCOURING DONATIONS TOWARDS THE ENDOWMENT OF THE AFRICAN PARKS FOUNDATION TO ENABLE IT TO CONTINUE ITS WORK IN PERPETUITY; 3) FACILITATING GRANT AID FROM THE US GOVERNMENT FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS BY AFRICAN PARKS, AND TO BE THE MANAGER OF SUCH FUNDS; 4) PROMOTING THE WORK OF AFRICAN PARKS IN THE U.S. AND TO BE A SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON ITS PROJECTS.
- Income
- $54.9 million
- Spending
- $54.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $398,380, executive director
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
Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
- $52.6 million spent. RHINO REWILD INITIATIVE:IN 2024, AFRICAN PARKS ADVANCED ONE OF THE MOST AMBITIOUS SPECIES RESTORATION EFFORTS ON EARTH, CONTINUING THE TRANSLOCATION AND REINTRODUCTION OF SOUTHERN WHITE RHINOS THROUGH ITS 10-YEAR RHINO REWILD CAMPAIGN. THE PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED TO PREVENT THE DISPERSAL OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST CAPTIVE RHINO POPULATION AND TO RETURN THESE KEYSTONE ANIMALS TO WELL-MANAGED PROTECTED AREAS ACROSS THE CONTINENT. WITH SUPPORT FROM MULTIPLE PARTNERS, AFRICAN PARKS SUCCESSFULLY MOVED 40 RHINOS TO MUNYAWANA CONSERVANCY IN KWAZULU-NATAL, A RESERVE JOINTLY MANAGED BY COMMUNITY AND PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS. AN ADDITIONAL 120 RHINOS WERE REINTRODUCED TO MEMBER RESERVES OF THE GREATER KRUGER ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOUNDATION IN MPUMALANGA AND LIMPOPO PROVINCESTHE FIRST RHINO RELEASE IN THIS AREA IN 50 YEARS. IN NOVEMBER, AFRICAN PARKS DISCREETLY MOVED ADDITIONAL RHINOS TO DINOKENG GAME RESERVE, WHILE 80 MORE WERE RELOCATED TO PHINDA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE FOR ACCLIMATIZATION AHEAD OF PLANNED REINTRODUCTIONS TO AKAGERA (RWANDA) AND GARAMBA (DRC) IN 2025. THESE EFFORTS REFLECT MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN PARK SECURITY AND READINESS, LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR RESTORING RHINO POPULATIONS ACROSS MULTIPLE REGIONS. THE RHINO REWILD INITIATIVE PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN RESTORING NATURAL HABITATS, SUPPORTING WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, AND PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE TOURISM. THE PROGRAM ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO LOCAL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND HELPS RAISE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS. IN 2025, AFRICAN PARKS WILL FOCUS ON ONGOING ACCLIMATIZATION, HABITAT PREPARATION, AND STRENGTHENED PROTECTION MEASURES IN UPCOMING RECIPIENT PARKS.BOMA AND BADINGILO NATIONAL PARKS, SOUTH SUDAN:IN 2024, AFRICAN PARKS CONTINUED MANAGING BOMA AND BADINGILO NATIONAL PARKS, WHICH ARE HOME TO THE GREAT NILE MIGRATIONAN EXTRAORDINARY NATURAL EVENT INVOLVING NEARLY SIX MILLION ANTELOPE. SPANNING THE BOMA-BADINGILO-JONGLEI LANDSCAPE, THIS IS THE LARGEST LAND MAMMAL MIGRATION ON EARTH. DESPITE REGIONAL INSTABILITY, AFRICAN PARKS HAS REMAINED COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THIS UNIQUE WILDERNESS AND WORKING WITH THE 17 LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHO RELY ON ITS NATURAL RESOURCES. EFFORTS THIS YEAR FOCUSED ON MAINTAINING WILDLIFE MONITORING SYSTEMS AND REINFORCING PROTECTION MEASURES FOR MIGRATING HERDS OF WHITE-EARED KOB, TIANG, AND MONGALLA GAZELLE. AFRICAN PARKS COLLABORATED WITH LOCAL LEADERS AND RANGERS TO STRENGTHEN PATROLS AND IMPROVE EARLY-WARNING SYSTEMS, HELPING SAFEGUARD CRITICAL WILDLIFE CORRIDORS AND ADDRESS ILLEGAL HUNTING. COMMUNITY OUTREACH EXPANDED THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND LIVELIHOOD INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO SUPPORT LOCAL WELL-BEING AND PROMOTE SHARED CONSERVATION VALUES. THESE PROGRAMS AIM TO LINK ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WITH PRACTICAL BENEFITS FOR FAMILIES LIVING IN AND AROUND THE PARKS. LOOKING AHEAD, AFRICAN PARKS PLANS TO INCREASE LOCALLY LED CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES, ENHANCE MONITORING OF WILDLIFE MOVEMENTS, AND BEGIN LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE, PENDING IMPROVEMENTS IN REGIONAL SECURITY.PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT:IN 2024, AFRICAN PARKS MANAGED 22 NATIONAL PARKS ACROSS 12 COUNTRIES, PROTECTING MORE THAN 49 MILLION ACRESEQUIVALENT TO 59% OF THE U.S. NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM. WITH A TEAM OF OVER 5,000 PERSONNEL, AFRICAN PARKS' PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP MODEL DELIVERED EFFECTIVE CONSERVATION WHILE IMPROVING LIVES FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LIVING IN AND AROUND THESE PARKS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AFRICAN PARKS STRENGTHENED PARK INFRASTRUCTURE, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND ECOLOGICAL MONITORING. KEY CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES INCLUDED WILDLIFE SURVEYS, SPECIES REINTRODUCTIONS, ANTI-POACHING PATROLS, AND DATA COLLECTION TO SUPPORT LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT. THESE WERE COMPLEMENTED BY WIDE-REACHING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS. IN MALAWI'S LIWONDE NATIONAL PARK, MORE THAN 4,800 CHILDREN AND 1,000 ADULTS TOOK PART IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES, WHILE LITERACY AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS EXPANDED ACCESS TO LEARNING. SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD PROJECTSSUCH AS BEEKEEPING AND FISH FARMINGPROVIDED NEW SOURCES OF INCOME AND HELPED EASE PRESSURE ON LOCAL NATURAL RESOURCES. IN ZAMBIA'S LIUWA PLAIN NATIONAL PARK, AFRICAN PARKS SUPPORTED COMMUNITY-LED DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS, INCLUDING HEALTH AND SCHOOL FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS. FARMER FIELD SCHOOLS WERE INTRODUCED TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES IN AGRICULTURE, AND SOLAR-POWERED ALARMS WERE INSTALLED TO HELP REDUCE CROP LOSSES FROM WILDLIFE. THESE INTEGRATED PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO BUILD STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES AND PROMOTE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONSERVATION. IN 2025, AFRICAN PARKS WILL CONTINUE INVESTING IN LOCAL STAFF DEVELOPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO ENSURE THAT AFRICA'S PROTECTED AREAS REMAIN SECURE, SUSTAINABLE, AND BENEFICIAL FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
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 May 2004.
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.
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