WildAid

According to the WildAid consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 1, Organization):

"...WildAid, Inc. (WildAid) is headquartered in San Francisco, with programs in the United States, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Tanzania, Mozambique, Gabon, Zimbabwe, Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, Ecuador, Palau, and the Bahamas...

"In 2013, WildAid formed a wholly owned subsidiary, Biyuan Consulting Co. Ltd. (Biyuan)...in order to facilitate program activity in China. In early 2018, WildAid formed another subsidiary, WildAid Beijing, which took over all activities from Biyuan in June 2019. In 2018, WildAid began the process of dissolving Biyuan and as of December 31, 2020, final government approval for dissolution had not been received. There were no operations for Biyuan in 2020 and none are expected in 2021.

"WildAid also formed a subsidiary, WildAid Hong Kong, Limited (WA HK), to facilitate program activity in Hong Kong. For the purposes of these [audited] consolidated financial statements, the assets of WA HK are not consolidated as they are not material to WildAid's [audited] consolidated financial statements."

According to the WildAid consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 6, Contributed Goods and Services), WildAid reports receiving donated in-kind media during 2020 in China and Vietnam on which it placed a total value of $307,801,799.

In addition, it notes: "...WildAid has over 100 celebrities worldwide who have donated their time to be featured in WildAid's PSAs [public service announcements]. Along with filming, they often participate in campaign launches and other media events as well. No value is booked [on the consolidated financial statements] to reflect their donated time..."

[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 WildAid 2020 tax filing, WildAid reports re: Business Transactions Involving Interested Persons, a transaction in the amount of $164,817 involving Corie Knights, "family member of Peter Knights, president and founder." The transaction is described as: "Employment by WildAid as Senior Director of Major Gifts & Events" (IRS Form 990, Schedule L, Parts IV & V).

According to the WildAid consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 11, Concentration of Risk):

"During the year ended December 31, 2020, grants from two foundations accounted for approximately 38% of total contributions and grants revenue."

According to the WildAid consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 5, Loan Payable - Paycheck Protection Program):

"WildAid received loan proceeds in the amount of $426,340 with a maturity date of May 4, 2022 under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The PPP, established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), provides for loans to qualifying businesses for amounts up to 2.5 times of the average monthly payroll expenses of the qualifying business. The loans and accrued interest may be forgivable as long as WildAid uses the loan proceeds for eligible purposes, including payroll, benefits, rent and utilities, and maintains its payroll and other personnel related levels. The amount of loan forgiveness will be reduced if certain requirements are not met. The unforgiven portion of the PPP loan is payable over two years at an interest rate of 1%, with a deferral of payments for the first 10 months. WildAid intends to use the proceeds for purposes consistent with the PPP. 

"WildAid submitted the application for forgiveness and received full forgiveness in April 2021. WildAid received $376,845 in loan proceeds under the second draw of PPP (PPP 2). The forgiveness process for the PPP 2 loan generally will be done under similar terms and conditions as the first draw PPP."

According to the WildAid consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 12, COVID-19 Pandemic):

"On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization publicly characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. States of emergency were declared in many federal, state, and local jurisdictions and shelter-in-place orders were instituted in many cities and states, including California, which impacted general business operations in most industries and sectors.

"The outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and the measures adopted by governments in countries worldwide to mitigate the pandemic's spread have led to some decline in expected donations and slowdown in implementation of programs. WildAid's 2020 Africa trip was postponed and will be rescheduled for 2022. Payments received in advance for this trip have been deferred and will be recorded as revenue when the trips take place. WildAid's annual gala was held virtually and gross revenues from the event decreased 66% from the previous year. Due to the travel ban, programmatic spending decreased 19% during the year. However, thanks to the support of WildAid's donor base, individual donations only decreased 5% and were within 1% of WildAid's budget. WildAid additionally was able to pivot existing program work to focus more directly on wildlife markets and their risk to the human population. Support of this messaging from state and private media partners in China resulted in an increase in donated media of 29% for 2020."