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Saola Foundation

EIN 82-3731270 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO PROTECT THE RICH BIODIVERSITY OF THE ANNAMITE MOUNTAINS BY LEADING EFFORTS TO PREVENT UNRECOVERABLE BIODIVERSITY LOSS THROUGH A COMBINATION OF DIRECT INTERVENTIONS, EMPOWERING NATIONAL CONSERVATIONISTS, CONDUCTING APPLIED RESEARCH AND PRIORITY SETTING, AND COLLABORATING WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$910,033
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $764,849 spent. SIGNED THE SAOLA FOUNDATION'S FIRST MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF LAO, ESTABLISHING THE OFFICIAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE SAOLA SEARCH PROGRAM AND STRENGTHENING COLLABORATION AT NATIONAL, PROVINCIAL, AND DISTRICT LEVELS.CONDUCTED THE MOST INTENSIVE SEARCH FOR THE SAOLA EVER UNDERTAKEN, ADVANCING FIELD OPERATIONS, SCIENTIFIC METHODS, AND ECOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE NAM CHOUANNAM XANG (NCNX) LANDSCAPE.INVESTED HEAVILY IN LAO NATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND TECHNICAL CAPACITY; STRENGTHENED ORGANIZATIONAL GOVERNANCE THROUGH THE APPOINTMENT OF TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND THE RECRUITMENT OF THE FOUNDATION'S FIRST FUNDRAISING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR.ESTABLISHED ANNAMITE MOUNTAINS CONSERVATION LTD. (AMC LTD.), A LAO-BASED NOT-FOR-PROFIT SOCIAL ENTERPRISE TO SUPPORT LONG-TERM NATIONAL CONSERVATION DELIVERY.CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY, GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIPS, SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION, AND NATIONAL LEADERSHIP, POSITIONING THE FOUNDATION FOR LONG-TERM, MULTI-SPECIES CONSERVATION IMPACT IN THE ANNAMITE MOUNTAINS.

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 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 December 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 March 2018.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Sams Foundation (Washington, DC), EIN 16-1717058. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.