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Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International

CharityWatch rating issued
September 2022

Top-Rated Charity
A
CharityWatch Rating
Our independent rating based
on a number of factors.
 
85%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$4
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International
800 Cherokee Avenue SE
Atlanta, GA 30315

Other Names

None

Tax Status

501(c)3

Stated Mission

Dedicated to the conservation of gorillas and their habitats in Africa. Committed to promoting continued research on their threatened ecosystems and education about their relevance to the world in which we live.

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Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 09/30/2021

Program Percentage: 85%

The percentage of Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$5,100,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $4

How many dollars Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$11,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International IRS Form 990 52-1118866
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International Audited Financial Statements 52-1118866
Entity: Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 52-1118866
Entity: Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International
Document Type: Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: 52-1118866

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Opt-Out Policy  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Tara Stoinski President/CEO $244,675
2 Shari Henning Chief Advancement Officer $170,385
1
Name: Tara Stoinski
Title: President/CEO
Compensation: $244,675
2
Name: Shari Henning
Title: Chief Advancement Officer
Compensation: $170,385

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

According to The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International audit of September 30, 2021 (Note 10, Paycheck Protection Program Loan):

"During the year ended September 30, 2020, the Fund received a Paycheck Protection Program ('PPP') loan in the amount of $155,205 from the Small Business Administration ('SBA'). The loan accrued interest at 1.0% per annum, with no required payments for ten months after funding of the loan. The Fund is eligible for loan forgiveness up to 100% of the loan proceeds upon meeting certain requirements. During the year ended September 30, 2021, the Fund received a second PPP loan for $150,000 from the SBA with identical terms to the PPP loan received in the prior year.

"The Fund received notice of full forgiveness of the PPP loans from the SBA during the year ended September 30, 2021 and recorded $305,205 as contributions in the [audited] Statements of Activities and Net Assets."

According to The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International audit of September 30, 2021 (Note 1-J re: In-kind Contributions), the Fund received in-kind contributions in fiscal 2021 on which it placed a total value of $543,225.

[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 Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International audit of September 30, 2021 (Note 2, Capital Project):

"The Fund initiated a major project to construct a new facility in Rwanda to expand its research, education, community outreach activities and visitor engagement (the 'Project'). The Project secured major funding through the Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Fund (the 'Ellen Fund') and other donors, and is named the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. The Fund previously acquired approximately twenty-eight acres of land for the Project. Construction of the Project commenced in October 2019 and was completed in early January 2022. The Project will replace the currently leased facility in Musanze, Rwanda."


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