Chengeta Wildlife
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE BELIEVE IN LONG-LASTING SOLUTIONS FOR EFFECTIVE NATURE CONSERVATION. CHENGETA MEANS 'TO LOOK AFTER' IN SHONA. WE WORK TO END POACHING ACROSS THE GLOBE, BUILDING LONG-LASTING SOLUTIONS FOR PROTECTED AREAS AT GOVERNMENT, PROTECTED AREA (SEE SCHEDULE O) MANAGEMENT AND RANGER LEVELS.OUR BLUEPRINT IS LOCALLY LED, HARMONIZED WITH ALL OTHER EXISTING WILDLIFE PROTECTION EFFORTS, AND RECOGNIZES COMMUNITIES AS PART OF THE ECOSYSTEM.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $996,016
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 9.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 83%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 9
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 64% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 64% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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.
Independent check of accounts
0 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 (1)
- $829,354 spent. CHENGETA WILDLIFE PROVIDES TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT TO HELP TRAIN AND BUILD CAPACITY WITHIN EXISTING LOCAL SOLUTIONS. IN SIMPLE TERMS, TRAINING RANGERS TO PROTECT WILDLIFE. WE ALSO PROVIDE ANALYTICAL SERVICES TO IMPROVE THE COLLECTION, ANALYSIS AND DISSEMINATION OF ALL FIELD DATA. THE INTENTION IS TO AID DECISION MAKING AND FOCUS LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVENTIONS. WE PROVIDE CONSULTANCY SUPPORT TO NGOS AND NATIONAL PARTNERS TO DEVELOP LAW ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY AND OPERATIONAL DESIGN TO HELP THE ATTAINMENT OF CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES.CHENGETA WILDLIFE IS NOW ROUTINELY PROVIDING SUPPORT IN GREATER DEPTH. WHEREAS WE ONCE FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING RANGERS ON THE FRONTLINE OF CONSERVATION WE ARE NOW WORKING WITHIN MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES TO BETTER PREPARE AND COORDINATE ACTIVITY AND AT THE STRATEGIC (SEE SCHEDULE O) LEVEL WHERE WE PARTNER AND ADVISE NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.WE PROVIDED LAW ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY BUILDING AND ANALYTICS IN SALONGA NATIONAL PARK IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO; DZANGA SANGHA PROTECTED AREA & BAMINUI-BANGORAN NATIONAL PARK IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC AND NOUBALE-NDOKI NATIONAL PARK IN THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO.WE PROVIDED STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL CONSULTANCY SUPPORT TO: SAVE VALLEY CONSERVANCY IN ZIMBABWE; YAWANAWA INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY IN BRAZIL AND SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK IN ETHIOPIA.
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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2017 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 March 2016.
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 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.