Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE SANCTUARY FOR CHIMPANZEE ORPHANS IN CAMEROON WHILE SPEARHEADING AND SUPPORTING HABITAT PROTECTION, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
- Income
- $488,181
- Spending
- $537,080
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 81%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 11
- Highest pay
- $73,958, exec director/pres.
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: 64 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 87 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (3)
- $414,624 spent. CHIMPANZEE RESCUE: LOCATED IN CAMEROONS REMOTE MBARGUE FOREST, SANAGA-YONG CHIMPANZEE RESCUE PROVIDES SANCTUARY IN A NATURAL HABITAT ENVIRONMENT FOR CONFISCATED CHIMPANZEES. THE SANCTUARY RESIDENTS HAVE ALL BEEN ORPHANED BY POACHERS SUPPLYING THE ILLEGAL BUSHMEAT AND LIVE ANIMAL TRADES. WHEN A POACHER KILLS A MOTHER CHIMPANZEE, HER NURSING INFANT CAN BE SOLD ALIVE AS A PET IN CAMEROON OR SMUGGLED OUT TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR AFRICAN WILDLIFE IN ASIAN ZOOS. SOME OF THE EIGHTY RESIDENT CHIMPANZEES AT THE CENTER HAVE BEEN CONFISCATED AS INFANTS FROM POACHERS OR DEALERS, AND OTHERS HAVE SUFFERED ON CHAINS OR IN SMALL CAGES FOR DECADES BEFORE THEIR RESCUE. AT OUR SANCTUARY, WHICH IS COMMITTED TO LIFELONG CARE, THE EMOTIONALLY DAMAGED CHIMPANZEES EVENTUALLY FIND FRIENDSHIP AND JOY IN ADOPTIVE SOCIAL GROUPS. THEY ENJOY LARGE ENCLOSURE COMPLEXES THAT INCLUDE TRACTS OF NATURAL HABITAT FOREST PROTECTED WITH SOLAR-POWERED ELECTRIC FENCING. IN ADDITION TO OUR NINE CHIMPANZEE ENCLOSURE COMPLEXES, WHICH TOGETHER INCLUDE OVER FORTY ACRES OF ENCLOSED FOREST, THE GROUNDS OF SANAGA-YONG RESCUE CENTER INCLUDE A VET CLINIC, DIAGNOSTIC LAB, STAFF AND VOLUNTEER HOUSING, VISITOR LODGING, KITCHEN AND DINING AREA, OFFICE, FRUIT STORAGE ROOM, AND SHELTER FOR STAFF MEETINGS AND MEALS.
- $14,224 spent. CONSERVATION: SANAGA-YONG CHIMPANZEE RESCUE PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN CONSERVATION THROUGH PROMOTION AND SUPPORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, HABITAT PROTECTION AND EDUCATION/SENSITIZATION. BY PROVIDING A PERMANENT HOME FOR CONFISCATED CHIMPANZEES, AS WELL AS TECHNICAL AND LOGISTICAL ASSISTANCE FOR AUTHORITIES DURING CONFISCATIONS, WE ENABLE ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS AGAINST TRAFFICKING. TO STOP THE POACHING OF ENDANGERED WILDLIFE, SANAGA-YONG CHIMPANZEE RESCUE HAS WORKED FOR YEARS WITH GOVERNMENT PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO CREATE THE WALL-MBARGUE WILDLIFE RESERVE IN THE BEAUTIFUL FOREST SURROUNDING OUR SANCTUARY. WE SPONSOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE/ AGROFORESTRY PROGRAMS AIMED AT REPLENISHING DEPLETED FARMLAND AND DECREASING SLASH AND BURN OF FORESTS FOR SUBSISTENCE AGRICULTURE BY VILLAGE FARMERS. OUR VISITOR AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOCUS ON INCREASING AWARENESS ABOUT CHIMPANZEES' INTELLIGENCE AND EMOTIONAL CAPACITY, THEIR SIMILARITY TO HUMANS, THEIR ENDANGERED STATUS AND THE LAWS AGAINST EXPLOITING THEM. EDUCATING THE CHILDREN OF CAMEROON IS CRITICAL TO CREATING CHANGE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF CHIMPANZEES AND OTHER ENDANGERED ANIMALS. WE PUBLISHED A CHILDRENS BOOK IN 2015, JE PROTG LES CHIMPANZS (I PROTECT THE CHIMPANZEES) AND ARE USING IT IN CAMEROON SCHOOLS AS PART OF A FIVE-DAY CLASSROOM PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO INSTILL AN APPRECIATION OF CHIMPANZEES AS KINDRED BEINGS WHO DESERVE RESPECT AND PROTECTION. THIS PROGRAM WAS PUT ON HOLD IN 2022 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.
- $10,226 spent. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: SANAGA-YONG CHIMPANZEE RESCUES RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IS INTRINSICALLY LINKED TO THE SURVIVAL OF GREAT APES, AND WE WORK TO INCREASE THE ENGAGEMENT OF PEOPLE THROUGH EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND PROGRAMS THAT IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. WE EMPLOY LOCAL RESIDENTS AT THE SANCTUARY; SUPPORT A VILLAGE MARKET ECONOMY, WHICH DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE, WITH OUR PURCHASES OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES; SPONSOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND AGROFORESTRY PROGRAMS THAT SERVE CONSERVATION WHILE KEEPING FARMS PRODUCTIVE AND IMPROVING THE DIETS OF LOCAL CHILDREN; AND PROMOTE CHILDHOOD LITERACY BY CONTRIBUTING TO THE SALARIES OF EIGHT SCHOOL TEACHERS IN SURROUNDING COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2016.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.