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Nonprofiteer
← BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA.

Totals

Total revenue
$5,402,583
Total expenses
$4,869,060
Contributions and grants received
$5,323,936
Grants paid
$3,996,065
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$81,006
Other revenue
-$2,359
Total assets, end of year
$4,544,199
Total liabilities, end of year
$27,776
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$4,516,423
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$4,154,566
Management and general expenses
$363,193
Fundraising expenses
$351,301
Program service expenses (Part III)
$4,154,566

Program services were 85.3% 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.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $5,323,936

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $81,231 · excluded $81,231

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $427 · excluded $427

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $3,077,119

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $3,077,344

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities -$225

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total -$225 · excluded -$225

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $11,908

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $15,993

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total -$4,085 · excluded -$4,085

  • 11a · Other revenue: AGENCY FEES

    total $1,000 · excluded $1,000

  • 11b · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS INCOME

    total $299 · excluded $299

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $1,299

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $3,996,065 · program services $3,996,065

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $175,112 · program services $45,154 · management and general $84,804 · fundraising $45,154

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $346,922 · program services $77,129 · management and general $68,514 · fundraising $201,279

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $12,128 · program services $4,043 · management and general $4,043 · fundraising $4,042

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $48,623 · program services $14,744 · management and general $19,135 · fundraising $14,744

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $39,559 · program services $9,172 · management and general $11,493 · fundraising $18,894

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $810 · management and general $810

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $10,806 · management and general $7,706 · fundraising $3,100

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $78,876 · management and general $78,876

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $26,949 · management and general $12,318 · fundraising $14,631

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $29,752 · management and general $7,522 · fundraising $22,230

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $50,493 · program services $4,846 · management and general $29,803 · fundraising $15,844

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $18,291 · program services $898 · management and general $12,172 · fundraising $5,221

  • 17 · Travel

    total $31,351 · program services $2,515 · management and general $22,949 · fundraising $5,887

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $275 · fundraising $275

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $3,048 · management and general $3,048

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,256,080 · end of year $81,766

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $2,554,839 · end of year $4,367,853

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $133,728 · end of year $91,216

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $3,670

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $306

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $3,364

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $8,651 · end of year $27,776

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $3,922,871 · end of year $4,439,348

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $13,125 · end of year $77,075

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

USING INNOVATIVE CONSERVATION STRATEGIES AND COLLABORATING CLOSELY WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES, PARTNER NGOS, NATIONAL PARKS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION)BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA SEEKS TO PROTECT AND SUSTAIN EAST AFRICA'S WILDLIFE AND WILD LANDS, INCLUDING ONE OF THE GREATEST POPULATIONS OF ELEPHANTS LEFT IN EAST AFRICA. THE FIRST ORGANIZATION TO FUND COORDINATED ANTI-POACHING TEAMS IN EAST AFRICA OPERATING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE KENYA-TANZANIA BORDER, BIG LIFE USA RECOGNIZES THAT SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED THROUGH A COMMUNITY-BASED COLLABORATIVE APPROACH, WHICH IS AT THE HEART OF BIG LIFE USA'S PHILOSOPHY: CONSERVATION SUPPORTS THE PEOPLE AND PEOPLE SUPPORT CONSERVATION. BIG LIFE USA'S VISION IS TO ESTABLISH A SUCCESSFUL HOLISTIC CONSERVATION MODEL IN THE AMBOSELI-TSAVO-KILIMANJARO ECOSYSTEM THAT CAN BE REPLICATED ACROSS THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.

Activities or mission (Part I)

ON THE GROUND IN AFRICA PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT NATURE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL

  • WILDLIFE SECURITY:BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA FUNDS PROGRAMS THAT SEEK TO PREVENT THE POACHING OF ALL WILDLIFE WITHIN OUR AREA OF OPERATION ACROSS KENYA AND TANZANIA. AMONG OTHER THINGS, WE FUND ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS OF LOCAL MAASAI IN THE AMBOSELI-TSAVO-KILIMANJARO ECOSYSTEM, WHOSE RANGERS ARE EXPERTLY TRAINED AND WELL-EQUIPPED TO TACKLE A VARIETY OF WILDLIFE CRIMES SPANNING APPROXIMATELY TWO MILLION ACRES OF WILDERNESS. WHEN NECESSARY, THE RANGERS TRACK AND APPREHEND POACHERS AND COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL PROSECUTORS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE PUNISHED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION)IN 2023, WE FUNDED 32 PERMANENT OUTPOSTS AND 11 MOBILE UNITS IN KENYA, AND WE SUPPORTED THE SALARIES, TRAINING, AND EQUIPMENT OF 572 TOTAL FIELD STAFF IN KENYA, INCLUDING 380 TRAINED RANGERS. RANGERS IN KENYA PATROLLED 604,939 KM BY VEHICLE, 182,262 KM ON FOOT, AND 30,912 KM BY PLANE. 321 SUSPECTS WERE ARRESTED IN 167 INCIDENTS IN KENYA. HUNDREDS OF POACHING TOOLS AND RELATED ITEMS WERE CONFISCATED, ALONG WITH 1,482 KG OF IVORY. WE ALSO SUPPORTED THE LEGAL MONITORING OF COURT CASES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

    Expenses $3,003,732 · Grants $2,968,883

  • HABITAT CONSERVATION:THE AMBOSELI ECOSYSTEM IS ONE OF OUR PLANET'S SURVIVING NATURAL TREASURES. IT IS ALSO HOME TO ALMOST 200,000 PEOPLE. BIG LIFE IS WORKING WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT LAND THAT IS STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT EITHER AS WILDLIFE MOVEMENT CORRIDORS OR DISPERSAL AREAS BUT IS ALSO VALUABLE TO THE LOCAL LIVESTOCK ECONOMY AS A GRAZING RESOURCE. THIS PROTECTION CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH LAND-USE PLANNING AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CONSERVANCIES, INCLUDING THE LEGAL AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS NECESSARY FOR THEIR EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING, AND ASSISTING TO DEVELOP INCOME-GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS TOURISM. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION)BIG LIFE BELIEVES THAT LAND BELONGS BEST IN THE HANDS OF ITS TRADITIONAL OWNERS, BUT WIDESPREAD LAND SALES BECAUSE OF SUBDIVISION HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DESTROY LARGE AREAS OF NATURAL HABITAT, AND RESULT IN LANDLESS COMMUNITIES. CONSERVATION LAND LEASE AGREEMENTS ARE A WAY OF ENSURING CONTINUED LOCAL OWNERSHIP AND GENERATING THE FINANCIAL RETURNS THAT THOSE LANDOWNERS NEED. THESE LEASE AGREEMENTS ARE WILLINGLY ENTERED INTO BY BOTH PARTIES, THE TERMS OF WHICH RESTRICT LAND CONVERSION AND FENCING IN EXCHANGE FOR ANNUAL LEASE PAYMENTS. IN 2023, BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA SUPPORTED CONSERVATION LAND LEASES TO 3,290 MAASAI LANDOWNERS COVERING 87,967 ACRES FOR A TOTAL OF $1,537,927.00 USD.

    Expenses $645,000 · Grants $645,000

  • EDUCATION & SCHOLARSHIPS:FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME HELPS THE ECOSYSTEM TODAY, BUT WINNING THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING A MUTUAL BENEFIT THROUGH CONSERVATION IS THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT WILDLIFE AND WILD LANDS FAR INTO THE FUTURE. BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA INVESTS IN THE FUTURE OF PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES BY FUNDING TEACHERS' SALARIES AND PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FOR HUNDREDS OF LOCAL MAASAI STUDENTS IN KENYA. THESE SALARIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO BIG LIFE KENYA WHO ALSO SELECTS THE RECIPIENTS. WHEN THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND RECOGNIZES THE VALUE OF PROTECTING THE ECOSYSTEM, ENFORCEMENT BECOMES SELF-POLICING. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION)IN 2023, BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA PROVIDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR 774 STUDENTS AT VARYING LEVELS OF EDUCATION AND PAID THE SALARIES OF 7 TEACHERS. MULTIPLE CONSERVATION-ORIENTED STUDENT AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND FIELD TRIPS WERE ALSO HELD IN 2023.

    Expenses $364,143 · Grants $302,182

  • HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT:BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA FUNDS COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS TO HELP MITIGATE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF HUMAN-WILDLIFE INTERACTION, SUCH AS MITIGATING CROP-RAIDING BY HUNGRY ELEPHANTS, BOTH FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE ANIMALS THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION OF WILDLIFE EXCLUSION FENCES TO KEEP ELEPHANTS OUT OF CROPS. IN 2023, 66 CROP RAIDS WERE PREVENTED. WE ALSO FUND A PREDATOR COMPENSATION FUND VIA GRANTS TO BIG LIFE LIMITED (BIG LIFE KENYA), A RELATED ORGANIZATION. FOR MAASAI HERDERS, THEIR CATTLE ARE THEIR LIVELIHOOD. WHEN LIVESTOCK FALLS PREY TO PREDATORS, THE HERDERS ARE FINANCIALLY DISADVANTAGED AND JUSTIFIABLY FRUSTRATED. TO PREVENT LOSSES THAT LEAD TO HERDERS RETALIATING WITH SPEARS OR POISONED CARCASSES, BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA FUNDS PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE IMPROVED FENCING AND HUSBANDRY PRACTICES. IN THE EVENT THAT AN ANIMAL IS LOST TO A PREDATOR, THE HERDER IS COMPENSATED FOR A PERCENTAGE OF THE MARKET VALUE OF THE ANIMAL, USING FUNDS FROM THE PREDATOR COMPENSATION FUND. THIS SMALL CONSOLATION IS SIGNIFICANT TO THE MAASAI, AND AS A RESULT, RETALIATORY KILLINGS HAVE BEEN REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY.IN 2023, WE FUNDED THE SUCCESSFUL INTERVENTION BY RANGERS AGAINST 3 ATTEMPTED RETALIATORY LION HUNTS, AND OUR GRANTS TO THE PREDATOR COMPENSATION FUND WERE USED TO REIMBURSE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY MEMBERS A TOTAL OF $129,036 FOR 1,912 VERIFIED DEATHS BY PREDATION OF LIVESTOCK.

    Expenses $141,691 · Grants $80,000

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • GREG GUBITZ

    DIRECTOR & CHAIRPERSON

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    20

  • JON CUMMINGS

    DIRECTOR & SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • TOM HILL

    DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER & TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • RICHARD BONHAM

    DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • NICK BRANDT

    DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • ORLA BRADY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • DERECK JOUBERT

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • CHRIS SATTLER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • MIKE SILVESTRINI

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • TEMPLE ST CLAIR CARR

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • BARRY TURKUS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • DICKSON KAELO

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • KIM SCHWALB

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $174,051
    From this org
    $158,398
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,653
    Hours/week
    60

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $157,900
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $498
    Deferred
    $4,737
    Nontaxable benefits
    $10,916
    Filer's total
    $174,051

  • AMY BAIRD

    DEPUTY DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $125,972
    From this org
    $112,047
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,925
    Hours/week
    60

  • ALEXANDRA HOSTETTER

    DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $125,270
    From this org
    $111,179
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,091
    Hours/week
    60

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. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 7
BONUSES ARE DETERMINED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD, FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND/OR BOARD OF DIRECTORS BASED ON VARIABLES SUCH AS WHETHER OR NOT FUNDRAISING GOALS WERE MET OR EXCEEDED IN THE CURRENT YEAR. THERE IS NOT A FORMULAIC APPROACH, AND BONUSES ARE NOT AWARDED EVERY YEAR, ONLY SOMETIMES.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
17 April 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.0
Source object
202411089349301561

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