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The International Rhino Foundation

EIN 75-2395006 · Fort Worth, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE INTERNATIONAL RHINO FOUNDATION (IRF) ENSURES THE SURVIVAL OF RHINOS THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, TARGETED PROTECTION, AND SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND INTERVENTIONS.

Income
$4.4 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
9
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$237,141, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 46% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 September 30, 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 (5)
  1. $1.9 million spent. ASIA/INDONESIA:IN ASIA, IRF CONTINUED ITS LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO THE RECOVERY OF THE MOST ENDANGERED RHINO SPECIES. IN INDIA AND NEPAL, IRF SUPPORTED GRASSLAND RESTORATION, INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL AND CORRIDOR PROTECTION IN KEY PROTECTED AREAS INCLUDING CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK AND ASSAM'S LAOKHOWA-BURHACHAPORI WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES. THESE EFFORTS RESTORED HUNDREDS OF HECTARES OF HABITAT, SUPPORTED THE NATURAL MOVEMENT AND RETURN OF GREATER ONE-HORNED RHINOS TO HISTORIC RANGE AND ENGAGED LOCAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH EMPLOYMENT AND ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD INITIATIVES LINKED TO CONSERVATION OUTCOMES.IN INDONESIA, IRF SUPPORTED BOTH INTENSIVE PROTECTION AND HABITAT RESTORATION FOR SUMATRAN AND JAVAN RHINOS. AT THE SUMATRAN RHINO SANCTUARY IN WAY KAMBAS NATIONAL PARK, IRF CONTINUED TO SUPPORT EXPERT CARE AND BREEDING EFFORTS FOR THE WORLD'S ONLY MANAGED SUMATRAN RHINO POPULATION WHILE PLANNING ADVANCED FOR A THIRD PHASE OF SANCTUARY EXPANSION TO INCREASE CAPACITY. IN SURROUNDING FOREST LANDSCAPES, IRF FUNDED LARGE-SCALE REFORESTATION AND HABITAT RESTORATION INCLUDING THE PLANTING OF MORE THAN 166,000 SEEDLINGS, RESULTING IN MEASURABLE ECOSYSTEM RECOVERY AND THE RETURN OF MULTIPLE WILDLIFE SPECIES. IRF ALSO WORKED WITH GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO STRENGTHEN SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FOLLOWING POACHING INCIDENTS AFFECTING THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED JAVAN RHINO POPULATION, INCLUDING ASSESSMENTS AND IMPROVED PROTECTION STRATEGIES.
  2. $595,406 spent. ZIMBABWE AND NAMIBIA: IN ZIMBABWE AND NAMIBIA, IRF SUPPORTED LONG-STANDING PARTNERS ENGAGED IN INTENSIVE MONITORING, BIOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT AND ANTI-POACHING OPERATIONS FOR BLACK AND WHITE RHINO POPULATIONS. IN ZIMBABWE, IRF-BACKED PROGRAMS IN THE LOWVELD REGION CONTINUED TO DEMONSTRATE POSITIVE POPULATION GROWTH, WITH LOW POACHING LOSSES AND STRONG CALF RECRUITMENT REPORTED AT KEY CONSERVANCIES. IN NAMIBIA, IRF PROVIDED EMERGENCY SUPPORT TO COUNTER POACHING THREATS INCLUDING FUNDING FOR DETECTION AND MONITORING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT FOR SPECIALIZED CONSERVATION UNITS OPERATING IN REMOTE RHINO RANGE AREAS.IRF ALSO ADVANCED STRATEGIC POPULATION EXPANSION THROUGH ITS AFRICAN RHINO RANGE EXPANSION FUND BY SUPPORTING TECHNICAL STUDIES, SECURITY INTERVENTIONS AND POPULATION MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES. THESE PROJECTS ARE DESIGNED TO ENABLE THE SAFE MOVEMENT AND ESTABLISHMENT OF RHINOS INTO SUITABLE, WELL-PROTECTED HABITATS, HELPING REDUCE PRESSURE ON OVERCROWDED SOURCE POPULATIONS AND STRENGTHEN LONG-TERM SPECIES RESILIENCE.
  3. $766,660 spent. SOUTH AFRICA:IN AFRICA, IRF CONTINUED TO PRIORITIZE RHINO PROTECTION AND POPULATION MANAGEMENT IN REGIONS FACING SUSTAINED POACHING PRESSURE. IN SOUTH AFRICA, IRF PROVIDED SECURITY SUPPORT INCLUDING EQUIPMENT, TRAINING, LEGAL CAPACITY BUILDING AND ADVANCED MONITORING TECHNOLOGY TO 78 RHINO RESERVES COLLECTIVELY HOLDING MORE THAN 5,500 RHINOS. THESE INTERVENTIONS INCLUDED RANGER AND MANAGER TRAINING, DEPLOYMENT OF RHINO MONITORING SYSTEMS, AERIAL SURVEILLANCE AND TARGETED SUPPORT TO RESERVE CLUSTERS IN HIGH-RISK AREAS, CONTRIBUTING TO IMPROVED PROTECTION OUTCOMES AND REDUCED POACHING LOSSES IN SUPPORTED SITES.
  4. $343,720 spent. OTHER AFRICAN REGIONS
  5. $61,056 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 November 6, 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 September 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 December 1997.

    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 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.