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Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research Education & Conservation

EIN 94-2474731 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO UNDERSTAND AND PROTECT CHIMPANZEES, OTHER APES, AND THEIR HABITATS, AND TO WORK TOWARDS CREATING AN INFORMED AND COMPASSIONATE CRITICAL MASS OF PEOPLE WHO WILL HELP TO CREATE A BETTER WORLD FOR PEOPLE, OTHER ANIMALS, AND OUR SHARED ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$30.6 million
Spending
$29.7 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
43
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$452,837, executive director

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 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, 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)
  1. $19.1 million spent. ANIMAL WELFARE AND CONSERVATION: THE INSTITUTE PRODUCES HIGH-IMPACT CONSERVATION WORK IN AFRICA AND IS A LEADER IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND RESEARCH. EXPENSES RELATE TO ACTIVITIES IN WHICH THE INSTITUTE IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND GOVERNMENTS TO PROTECT GREAT APES AND THEIR HABITATS, IMPROVE THE WELL-BEING OF HUMAN COMMUNITIES IN AND NEAR THESE HABITATS, ADVANCE CONSERVATION RESEARCH, AND APPLY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TO CONSERVATION CHALLENGES. BY SKILLFULLY INTEGRATING THESE CRITICAL COMPONENTS, THE INSTITUTE IS USING A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ACHIEVE DR. JANE GOODALL'S VISION FOR OUR PLANET-A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE, OTHER ANIMALS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT COEXIST IN SUSTAINABLE HARMONY.
  2. $2.5 million spent. EDUCATION: SOLVING THE CHALLENGES FACING OUR PLANET REQUIRES A GLOBAL MOVEMENT-AND THAT MEANS EMPOWERING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THROUGH THE LNSTITUTE'S ROOTS & SHOOTS PROGRAM, THE INSTITUTE IS ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE ACTION IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES WHICH CREATES A RIPPLE EFFECT OF POSITIVE IMPACT AROUND THE WORLD. EXPENSES RELATE TOACTIVITIES INCLUDED IN THE ROOTS & SHOOTS PROGRAM, AS WELL AS DR. JANE GOODALL'S TOURS IN THE UNITED STATES TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE FUTURE CHANGEMAKERS..
  3. $2.1 million spent. COMMUNICATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS: THROUGH COMMUNICATION AND MEMBERSHIP EFFORTS, THE INSTITUTE PROMOTES THEIR WORK AND IMPACT ON THE WORLD TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. BY INFORMING EXTERNAL AUDIENCES ON THE SUCCESSFUL WORK BEING DONE IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE, WILDLIFE RESEARCH, COMMUNITY-LED CONSERVATION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, THE INSTITUTE CONTINUES TO INCREASE VISIBILITY AND THOUGHT LEADERSHIP IN THE INDUSTRY. EXPENSES RELATE TO PROVIDING REGULAR UPDATES ON PROGRESS AND OUTCOMES OF THE LNSTITUTE'S WORK, CREATING AND DISTRIBUTING EDUCATION MATERIALS THROUGH THE WEBSITE, PRINT MATERIALS, VIDEOS AND DIGITAL PROMOTION, AND MEDIA APPEARANCES.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 April 1978.

    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.

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