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Royal African Foundation Inc

EIN 82-0537124 · Salt Lake City, UT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO CREATE AND NURTURE PROJECTS WHICH BENEFIT COMMUNITIES, WILDERNESS AND WILDLIFE.

Income
$572,766
Spending
$491,387
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
10.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
38
Highest pay
$62,176, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 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 December 31, 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. $46,403 spent. EDUCATION SPONSORSHIPS: THE ROYAL AFRICAN FOUNDATION BELIEVES IN THE POWER OF EDUCATION AND SPONSORS STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS OF FINISHING THEIR SCHOOLING. OVER THE LIFETIME OF THIS PROJECT, MANY OF OUR PREVIOUS STUDENTS HAVE BECOME FORCES FOR POSITIVE CHANGE FOR THEIR RURAL COMMUNITIES AND THE WILDERNESS AREAS THEY COME FROM. IN 2025, 54 STUDENTS WERE SPONSORED AT VARYING LEVELS OF EDUCATION ACROSS KENYA, TANZANIA AND UGANDA THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SPONSOR THESE AND MORE STUDENTS WHO COME TO US FOR HELP TO STAY IN SCHOOL WHEN THEY WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO.
  2. $117,110 spent. THE SAND RIVER REGION: THE ROYAL AFRICAN FOUNDATION FUNDS STRATEGIC PROGRAMS TO PROTECT THE SAND RIVER'S MIGRATION ROUTES THAT LINK THE MARA, SERENGETTI, AND RIFT VALLEY ECOSYSTEMS. AMONG THE MOST BIODIVERSE AREAS ON EARTH, IT FACES GROWING THREATS FROM LAND SUBDIVISION AND UNPLANNED DEVELOPMENT, WHICH DISRUPT WILDLIFE MOVEMENT AND INCREASE HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLCIT. TO ADDRESS THIS, WE SUPPORT COMMUNITY EDUCATION, ENTERPRISE, HEALTH, AND HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT MITIGATION PROJECTS. WE ALSO SUPPORT BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH AND MONITORING, AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO PRESERVE THIS ESSENTIAL LANDSCAPE FOR PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE ALIKE.
  3. $18,610 spent. IN 2025, THE ROYAL AFRICAN FOUNDATION COMPLETED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW KITCHEN AND DINING HALL AT LPUS LELUAI SCHOOL IN WESTGATE, SAMBURU, THE LATEST MILESTONE IN A PARTNERSHIP STRETCHING BACK TO 2008. THE SCHOOL, WHICH SERVES 330 STUDENTS RIGHT ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF SAMBURU NATIONAL PARK, HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED BY SUSTAINED INVESTMENT OVER THE YEARS, AND IS NOW THE BEST-PERFORMING SCHOOL IN ITS SUB-COUNTY AND AMONG THE TOP TEN IN ALL OF SAMBURU COUNTY. THESE NEWEST FACILITIES JOIN A GROWING LIST OF COMPLETED INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING LIGHTS, FENCING, TOLIETS, AND BOARDING HOUSE IMPROVEMENTS, ALL OF WHICH CONTINUE TO IMPROVE DAILY LIFE AND SAFETY FOR THE SCHOOL'S STUDENTS, STAFF, AND THE WILDLIFE THEY LIVE ALONGSIDE.
  4. $221,127 spent. ROYAL AFRICAN FOUNDATION PROVIDED VARIOUS GRANTS TO FOREIGN PARTNER NGOS THAT ALIGNED WITH ROYAL AFRICAN'S MISSION OF SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES AND CONSERVATION. FURTHER DETAIL CAN BE SEEN ON SCHEDULE F. ROYAL AFRICAN FOUNDATION PROVIDED VARIOUS GRANTS TO DOMESTIC PARTNER CHARITIES THAT ALIGNED WITH ROYAL AFRICAN'S MISSION OF SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES AND CONSERVATION. FURTHER DETAIL CAN BE SEEN ON SCHEDULE I.
  5. ROYAL AFRICAN FOUNDATION PROVIDED VARIOUS GRANTS TO FOREIGN PARTNER NGOS THAT ALIGNED WITH ROYAL AFRICAN'S MISSION OF SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES AND CONSERVATION. FURTHER DETAIL CAN BE SEEN ON SCHEDULE F. ROYAL AFRICAN FOUNDATION PROVIDED VARIOUS GRANTS TO DOMESTIC PARTNER CHARITIES THAT ALIGNED WITH ROYAL AFRICAN'S MISSION OF SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES AND CONSERVATION. FURTHER DETAIL CAN BE SEEN ON SCHEDULE I.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2014.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.