Form 990 for tax year 2024

Totals

Total revenue

$4,996,049

Total expenses

$3,270,057

Contributions and grants received

$2,509,315

Grants paid

$1,366,604

Program service revenue

$2,170,737

Investment income

$289,877

Other revenue

$26,120

Total assets, end of year

$7,704,884

Total liabilities, end of year

$129,476

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$7,575,408

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$2,774,975

Management and general expenses

$418,844

Fundraising expenses

$76,238

Program service expenses (Part III)

$2,774,975

Program services were 84.9% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Mission and programs · 2024

• BIODIVERSITY (PREVIOUSLY FEMALE RANGERS)IN 2021 TO ADDRESS GENDER INEQUALITY THE FOUNDATION LAUNCHED AN INITIATIVE TO TRAIN AND EMPLOY FEMALE RANGERS. THE FEMALE RANGERS INITIATIVE REMAINS A VITAL PART OF OUR WORK IN BOTH BOTSWANA AND ZIMBABWE. WHILE INITIALLY LAUNCHED AS A STANDALONE PROJECT FOCUSED ON TRAINING AND INTEGRATING WOMEN INTO NATURAL RESOURCE MONITORING ROLES, THE SCOPE AND IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM HAVE EVOLVED SIGNIFICANTLY. TODAY, FEMALE RANGERS FORM AN ESSENTIALPART OF THE OPERATIONAL WORKFORCE ACROSS SEVERAL DIVISIONS, CONTRIBUTING DIRECTLY TO BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION, ECOSYSTEM MONITORING, AND SPECIFIC CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES. AS SUCH, THE INITIATIVE HAS TRANSITIONED FROM BEING A STAND-ALONE CATEGORY TO FORMING A FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT OF OUR BROADER BIODIVERSITY EFFORTS. ALTHOUGH WE CONTINUE TO REPORT ON PROGRESS WITHIN THE FEMALE RANGERS PROJECT AS A DISTINCT AREA OF IMPACT, THEIR ROLES ARENOW DEEPLY EMBEDDED ACROSS MULTIPLE BIODIVERSITY-LINKED PROGRAMS. THIS NECESSITATED THE RECLASSIFICATION OF THE ASSOCIATED GRANT UNDER BIODIVERSITY TO MORE ACCURATELY REFLECT HOW THE FUNDING SUPPORTS CROSS-CUTTING CONSERVATION OUTCOMES.PROJECTS INCLUDE: FEMALE RANGER FIELD DEPLOYMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING IN BOTSWANA AND ZIMBABWE BIODIVERSITY (ECOSYSTEM) MONITORING AND PROTECTION PATROLS, INCLUDING SPECIES-SPECIFIC DATA COLLECTION ON RHINO, ELEPHANTS, GROUND HORNBILLS, WATTLED CRANES, AND CROCODILES CONSERVATION EDUCATION & OUTREACH, INCLUDING KIDS CAMP, CONSERVATION GOALS, CAREER FAIRS AND EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP SUPPORT SUCH AS WITH WCA. CONSERVATION DEVELOPMENT, WITH A FOCUS ON SPECIALISED SKILLS TRAINING FOR OUR RANGER FORCE AND SUPPORT FOR TERTIARY-LEVEL STUDENTS AT NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS ORI AND CUT. PROJECT REWILD WITH FEMALE RANGERS FORMING THE TEAMS THAT CONDUCT POST-TRANSLOCATION MONITORING.

  Expenses $653,695 · Grants $99,809

• PROJECT REWILDIN ZIMBABWE, GREAT PLAINS IS SECURING THE SAPI RESERVE, AN EXPANSIVE AND FRAGILE LANDSCAPE THAT FORMS THE HEART OF A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE AND THE MIDDLE-ZAMBEZI BIOSPHERE RESERVE. THE GOAL OF THE SAPI RESTORATION INITIATIVE IS TO RESTORE THIS DEPLETED LANDSCAPE THROUGH A COMBINATION OF STRATEGIC PROTECTIONS, A COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN, SPECIES REINTRODUCTION, AND CONSERVATION TOURISM.IN LATE 2016 GREAT PLAINS CONSERVATION WAS AWARDED THE 290,000-ACRE SAPI RESERVE TO CONSERVE AND MANAGE. WORKING WITH TEAMS OF WORLD-RENOWNED EXPERTS, THE GREAT PLAINS STRATEGY FOR THE SAPI RESTORATION INITIATIVE INCLUDES DEVELOPING BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, A STRATEGIC WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PLAN, WILDLIFE MONITORING TEAMS, SUPPORT FOR ZIMPARKS, SPECIES REINTRODUCTION, ON-GOING FLORA AND FAUNA SURVEYS, AND PHOTOGRAPHIC TOURISM; ALL WITH A SINGLE GOAL IN MIND: TO RESTORE AND PROTECT THIS ESSENTIAL ECOSYSTEM. IN 2022 THE FOUNDATION LAUNCHED PROJECT REWILD WHICH IS A DEDICATED FUNDING INITIATIVE TO COVER THE COST OF RESTORING SAPI INCLUDING THE TRANSLOCATION OF ANIMALS. WE ARE ACTIVELY SEEKING SUPPORT FOR EVERYTHING FROM THE COST TO TRANSLOCATE ANIMALS, TO BOLSTERING ZIMPARKS PRESENCE IN SAPI, TO HIRING AND TRAINING OUR OWN WILDLIFE AND NATURAL RESOURCEMONITORING TEAMS (INCLUDING FEMALE RANGER UNITS) TO BE BASED IN SAPI. PROJECT REWILD HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO COVER THE TRANSLOCATION OF WILDLIFE TO AREAS OTHER THAN SAPI AND IN 2024 THE FOUNDATION RELOCATED GIRAFFE AND ZEBRA TO AN AREA ADJACENT TO THE HWANGA NATIONAL PARK.

  Expenses $590,034

• RHINO MONITORING (PREVIOUSLY RHINOS WITHOUT BORDERS)IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SOUTH AFRICAN AND BOTSWANA GOVERNMENTS, RHINOS WITHOUT BORDERS PROJECT, OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, ESTABLISHED A SUBSTANTIAL NEW WILD POPULATION OF RHINOS IN BOTSWANA. THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT IS EVIDENT IN THE NUMBER OF RHINOS SUCCESSFULLY RELOCATED AND THE SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CALVES THAT HAVE BEEN BORN IN THE WILD. THIS NEW POPULATION OF WILD RHINOS IS GIVING HOPE FOR THIS ICONIC SPECIES ACROSS AFRICA. THE FOCUS IS ONTHE SECURITY OF THESE ANIMALS.WITH THE PROGRAM TRANSITIONING ITS FOCUS TO PROTECTION AND WE HAVE INCREASED THE SECURITY AND MONITORING COMPONENT OF THE OPERATION, VIA A TEAM OF DEDICATED RANGERS. AS WE HAVE EVOLVED WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE BIODIVERSITY OF THE MONITORING TEAM AND NOW EMPLOY FEMALE RANGERS IN THIS PROGRAM. IN ORDER TO REFLECT THE TRANSITION IN FOCUS WE HAVE REBRANDED RHINOS WITHOUT BORDERS TO RHINO MONITORING.AS WE MOVE INTO THE FUTURE, OUR RHINO WORK WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE SAFETY OF WILD RHINOS - BOTH IN BOTSWANA AND IN OTHER COUNTRIES - IN COLLABORATION WITH THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL CONSERVATION COMMUNITY AND ON COMBATTING THE GROWING THREATS OF WILDLIFE CRIME. DONOR FUNDING THAT IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED FOR RHINO MONOTORING IS RINGFENCED AS UNUTILSED FUNDS WITH DONOR RESTRICTIONS.

  Expenses $414,451 · Grants $150,000

• PROJECT RANGERPROJECT RANGER BEGAN AS AN EMERGENCY INTERVENTION IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. IN 2020 AS TRAVELAND TOURISM ' WERE BROUGHT TO A STANDSTILL, WILDERNESS AREAS AND LODGES WERE LEFT EMPTY AND NATIONAL PARKSAND PROTECTED AREAS FACED A SEVERE DROP IN TOURISM REVENUE. RANGERS WERE LEFT UNCERTAIN ABOUT THEIR NEXTPAYCHECK AND WITHOUT THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES THEY NEEDED TO PROTECT WILDLIFE. THIS "PERFECT STORM" OFCONDITIONS LEFT MANY ENDANGERED ANIMALS HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO WILDLIFE CRIME.PROJECT RANGER AIMS TO SUPPORT THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES OF CONSERVATION. BECAUSE POACHING AND TRAFFICKINGCONTINUES TO THREATEN WILDLIFE ACROSS AFRICA AND MANY RANGERS CONTINUE TO BE WOEFULLY UNDER-RESOURCED.PROJECT RANGER CONTINUES, POST-PANDEMIC, TO ADDRESS SHORT-TERM EMERGENCY NEEDS AND ADOPT A LONGER TERM FOCUS. IN THAT SPIRIT, PROJECT RANGER'S WORK AND GRANT-MAKING EMPHASIZES ENSURING RANGERS HAVE THE RESOURCESTHEY NEED TO DO THEIR BEST WORK IN CONSERVATION AND TRAFFICKING HOTSPOTS.BIG CATSCOMMUNITIES AND BIG CATS LIVING TOGETHER IS KEY TO CONSERVATION. THE FOUNDATION FUNDS MULTIPLE PROJECTSAIMED AT PRESERVING LAND FOR BIG CATS AND REDUCING HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT. WORKING WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIESAND WILDLIFE EXPERTS, THESE PROGRAMS SUPPORT STRATEGIES FOR HUMANS AND WILDLIFE TO COEXIST.THE GREAT PLAINS BIG CATS INITIATIVE (BCI) SUPPORTS PROJECTS AIMED AT PREVENTING AND REVERSING THE DECLINE OFBIG CATS. PAST GRANTEES OF BCI HAVE INCLUDED INITIATIVES LIKE THE MAASAI OLYMPICS AND COMMUNAL CATTLE HERDINGWORKSHOPS WHICH TACKLE HUMAN- LION CONFLICT AND BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN COMMUNITIES AND WILDLIFE. PROJECTSCAN BE IN ANY BIG CAT POPULATION RANGE LAND INSIDE PROTECTED AREAS OR OUTSIDE. THE OBJECTIVE IS CLEAR - REVERSETHE DOWNWARD TREND OF BIG CATS.EMPOWER COMMUNITIESCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS A CORNERSTONE OF SUSTAINABLE PROGRESS ACROSS AFRICA, OFFERING LONG-TERM BENEFITSNOT ONLY TO INDIVIDUALS BUT TO ENTIRE REGIONS. IN RURAL AREAS, ESPECIALLY THOSE NEAR VITAL ECOSYSTEMS, COMMUNITYLEDINITIATIVES FOSTER STEWARDSHIP OF NATURAL RESOURCES, IMPROVE LIVELIHOODS AND STRENGTHEN SOCIAL COHESION.GREAT PLAINS IS SUPPORTING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT TRAINING AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORT TO IMPROVE RESILIENCE TOENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES.

  Expenses $1,116,795 · Grants $1,116,795 · Revenue $2,170,737

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

• DERECK JOUBERT

  PRESIDENT

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  15

• SARAH BOECKMANN

  EXEC DIR AND SECRETARY

  Total calculated

  $50,700

  From this org

  $50,700

  From related orgs

  $0

  Other

  $0

  Hours/week

  30

• BEVERLY JOUBERT

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  29

• PETRU EBERSOHN

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  8

• JEFFERY FLOCKEN

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  8

• JACQUELINE USHER

  TREASURER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  12

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those.

Grants on this return

• BRIDGE THE GAP AFRICA LTD

  $50,000

  COMMUNITY UPLIFTMENT - MARA BRIDGES

• UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

  $33,000

  BIG CATS INITIATIVE GRANT

• VISIONHAWK FILMS LLC

  $31,300

  BIG CATS INITIATIVE GRANT FOR WORK WITH BENGAL TIGERS IN NEPAL

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2024

Filed

13 November 2025

IRS schema version

2024v5.2

Source object

202513179349308246

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