Conservation International Foundation

CharityWatch's rating of Conservation International Foundation (CI) also includes the operations of 14 CI affiliates: CI-Aotearoa in New Zealand, CI-Australia Ltd., CI-Brazil, CI-Europe in Belgium, CI-Guyana, CI-Hong Kong, CI-Japan, CI-Mexico, CI-Philippines, CI-Singapore, CI-Suriname, CI-UK, Conservation South Africa, and Yayasan Konservasi Cakrawala Indonesia. These affiliates are consolidated in CI's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.

According to the CI fiscal 2023 consolidated audit (Note 1, Nature of Activities): "...All of the aforementioned [affiliated] organizations are separately incorporated in their respective countries. Due to the significant amount of oversight and support (financial and programmatic) provided by CI, their financial activities have been consolidated with CI's financial activities." All transactions between CI and its affiliates have been eliminated in the audit consolidation.

According to the Conservation International Foundation (CI) consolidated audit of June 30, 2023 (Note 4, Contributions of Nonfinancial Assets):

CI received contributions of nonfinancial assets during the fiscal year-ended June 30, 2023, on which it placed a total value of $1,481,000. Of this amount, $967,000 and $353,000 was attributed to "Professional services" and "Travel," respectively.

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]

According to the Conservation International Foundation (CI) consolidated audit of June 30, 2023 (Note 6, Grants and Promises to Give Receivable):

"...CI's ten largest contributors during the year ended June 30, 2023, comprised approximately 44% or $107,653,000 of total support and revenue..."

According to the Conservation International Foundation (CI) consolidated audit of June 30, 2023 (Note 7, Project Advances to Partners):

"As an accredited implementing agency of the Global Environment Fund (the GEF), CI has entered into a limited partnership in an impact investment fund. The investment objectives of the fund are (1) to generate measurable social and environmental outcomes and provide reasonable financial returns for investors by making debt and equity investments in fishing and seafood-related enterprises and (2) to demonstrate the effectiveness of private capital investment as a catalyst to help coastal fisheries to achieve economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

As of the year ended June 30, 2021, CI committed and paid $6,000,000 to the fund, of which $1,763,000 had been deployed as a capital contribution, leaving a balance of $4,237,000 as a project advance to the partner. During the year ended June 30, 2022, an additional $1,563,000 was deployed, resulting in $2,674,000 remaining as a project advance to the partner. During the year ended June 30, 2023, an additional $1,540,000 was deployed, resulting in $1,134,000 remaining as a project advance to the partner. 

In addition, CI Ventures also provided a project advance to an investment partner of $950,000 and $200,000 as of June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively."

According to the Conservation International Foundation (CI) tax filing for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, CI reports re: Compensation, Supplemental Information (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part III):

Regarding severance and supplemental nonqualified retirement plan payments to officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees (Schedule J, Part I, Line 4a-b):

"...Sanjayan Muttulingham, CEO, received $150,000 in deferred compensation this year. Each company contribution plus interest are subject to a three-year cliff vesting schedule.

A CI employee received a severance payment in the amount of $69,058..."

Regarding nonfixed payments to officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees (Schedule J, Part I, Line 7):

"CI's variable pay plan seeks to drive executive performance by linking a portion of their compensation to meeting established achievement measures. CI determines executive compensation based on annual market analysis performed by a firm specializing in non-profit compensation. Base salaries are set net of anticipated variable pay. Executives receive the balance of their compensation, in the form of variable pay, based upon the organization's documented performance against its approved annual goals, as well as their individual performance against their approved deliverables. A committee of CI's Board of Directors reviews and approves executive compensation levels including annual variable pay."

CI reports "Bonus & incentive compensation" payments to ten individuals in calendar year 2022, including $231,231 paid to Sanjayan Muttulingham, Chief Executive Officer, who had total reported compensation of $1,041,355. The other nine individuals have reported "Bonus & incentive compensation" amounts that range from $45,280 to $89,878, with associated reported total compensation that ranges from $355,259 to $648,255 (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part II).

According to the Conservation International Foundation (CI) consolidated audit of June 30, 2023 (Note 16, Related-Party Transactions):

"During the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, CI continued to support a related party under a services agreement to provide technical and programmatic services. This organization's mission, which CI shares, places a specific focus on ensuring Indigenous people have the economic power and cultural independence to steward, support, and protect their livelihoods and territories. At June 30, 2023 and 2022, there was a remaining related-party net receivable balance of $1,125,000."

According to the Conservation International Foundation tax filing of June 30, 2023, IRS Form 990, Schedule L, Part IV, Business Transactions Involving Interested Persons:

The "Name of Interested Person" is reported as "Christopher White."

The "Relationship between Interested Person and the Organization" is reported as "Board Family Member."

The "Amount of Transaction" is reported as "$92,700."

The "Description of Transaction" is "Salary."

According to the Conservation International Foundation tax filing of June 30, 2023, IRS Form 990, Schedule L, Part V, Supplemental Information:

Regarding Schedule L, Part II, Loans to and from Interested Persons:

"(A) Name of Person: Mark Ferguson

(B) Relationship with Organization: Board Member

(C) Purpose of Loan: Maasai Mara Conservancies

Schedule L, Part II, Loans to and from Interested Persons continuation: Conservation International Foundation is the sole member of the African Conservancies Fund LLC. This fund is a loan facility created to support conservancies in Africa, such as the Maasai Mara Landscape in Kenya, in order to preserve these vital ecosystems, which are under constant threat especially when the ecotourism industry struggles. In August 2021, CI received a $250,000 loan from Mark Ferguson, Board Member, to provide lending capital to fund the program."