Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Giraffe Conservation Foundation USA

EIN 81-2749463 · Orlando, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GIRAFFE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION USA (GCF-USA) IS DEDICATED TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR ALL GIRAFFE IN AFRICA BY PROVIDING SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO CONSERVE GIRAFFE AND THEIR HABITAT. GCF-USA SELECTS PARTNERS THAT ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN GIRAFFE CONSERVATION IN AFRICAN RANGE STATES AND THAT WORK TOGETHER IN A COLLABORATIVE MANNER. THESE PARTNERS INCLUDE GOVERNMENTS, NGOS, RESEARCHERS, CONSERVATIONISTS, AND WILDLIFE MANAGERS THROUGHOUT AFRICA AND INTERNATIONALLY; THEY ARE WORKING TO IDENTIFY AND PROVIDE LONG-TERM CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS FOR ALL GIRAFFE POPULATIONS IN THE WILD. GIRAFFE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION TRUST (GCF-T) IN NAMIBIA HAS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING OUR PRIMARY PARTNER OF CHOICE. GCF-T IS A STRATEGIC NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUSES SOLELY ON THE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF GIRAFFE IN THE WORK THROUGHOUT AFRICA. GCF-USA WILL ASSIST ITS PARNERS BY: -RAISING FUNDS IN THE UNITED STATES AND INTERNATIONALLY FOR GIRAFFE CONSERVATION PROJECTS, ED

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
40.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
2
Highest pay
$73,473, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 40.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 8 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 February 28, 2026, 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)
  1. $1.3 million spent. THE GIRAFFE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION USA (GCF-USA) IS DEDICATED TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR ALL GIRAFFE IN AFRICA BY PROVIDING SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO CONSERVE GIRAFFE AND THEIR HABITAT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2026, 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 February 2026.

    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 August 2016.

    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.