Conservation International Foundation

CharityWatch's rating of Conservation International Foundation (CI) also includes the operations of 12 CI affiliates: CI-Brazil, CI-Europe in Belgium, CI-Guyana, CI-Hong Kong, CI-Japan, CI-Mexico, CI-New Zealand, CI-Philippines, CI-Singapore, CI-Suriname, CI-UK and Conservation South Africa. These affiliates are consolidated in CI's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.

According to the CI fiscal 2020 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, 2020 (Note 5, Grants and Promises to Give Receivable):

"...CI's ten largest contributors during the year ended June 30, 2020, comprised approximately 39% or $63,777,000 of total support and revenue..."

According to the Conservation International Foundation (CI) consolidated audit of June 30, 2020 (Note 6, Project Advances to Partners):

"As an accredited implementing agency of the Global Environment Fund (the GEF), CI has entered into a limited partnership agreement 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, 2019, CI committed and paid $6,000,000 to the fund, of which $731,000 had been deployed as a capital contribution, leaving a balance of $5,269,000 as a project advance to the partner. During the year ended June 30, 2020, an additional $402,000 was deployed, resulting in $4,867,000 remaining as a project advance to the partner."

According to the Conservation International Foundation (CI) consolidated audit of June 30, 2020 (Note 14, Related Party Transactions):

"During the year ended June 30, 2020, CI continued to support a related party under a services agreement to provide technical and programmatic services while the related party built its capacity as an independent organization. This organization's mission, which CI shares, places a specific focus on ensuring indigenous peoples have the economic power and cultural independence to steward, support, and protect their livelihoods and territories. For the year ended June 30, 2020, CI received $150,000 in contract revenue for services provided, and $2,150,000 in grant revenue for work with indigenous people..." 

According to the Conservation International Foundation (CI) consolidated audit of June 30, 2020 (Note 16, COVID-19):

"On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and on March 11, 2020, declared it to be a pandemic. The coronavirus and actions taken to mitigate the spread of it have had and are expected to continue to have an adverse impact on the economies and financial markets of many countries, including the geographical area and sectors in which CI operates.

"It is unknown how long the adverse conditions associated with the coronavirus will last and what the complete financial effect will be to CI. The extent of the impact of COVID-19 on CI's operations and financial performance are uncertain and cannot be predicted. Management is continually monitoring the impact of COVID-19."

According to the Conservation International Foundation (CI) tax filing for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, CI reports re: Compensation, Supplemental Information (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part III):

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 14 individuals in calendar year 2019, including $169,133 and $157,333 paid to Sanjayan Muttulingam, Chief Executive Officer, and Jennifer Morris, President, respectively. Their reported total compensation in 2019 is $685,506 and $619,352, respectively. The other 12 individuals have reported "Bonus & incentive compensation" amounts that range from $54,083 to $13,079, with associated reported total compensation that ranges from $501,996 to $292,589 (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part II).