International Elephant Foundation (IEF) creates a sustainable future for elephants. We generate and effectively invest resources to support elephant conservation, education, research, and management programs worldwide. Through our passion, expertise, knowledge, and partnerships we inspire and engage people to ensure a vibrant future with elephants everywhere.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
92¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$99K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $168K a year · 13% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
92%
of spending
Looks good: 92% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$99K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
15 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $2.6M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 14.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $127K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$608K
13% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 13% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
17
of 17 voting members
Looks good: 17 of 17 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.3M
-39% vs prior year
Spent
$1.5M
To programs
92%
Net assets
$3.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$1.3M
FY2025▼ -39%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$758K
FY2021$817K
FY2022$1.2M
FY2023$1.3M
FY2024$2.2M
FY2025$1.3M
Expenses
$1.5M
FY2025▲ +40%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.2M
FY2021$709K
FY2022$867K
FY2023$1.2M
FY2024$1.1M
FY2025$1.5M
Net assets
$3.9M
FY2025+0.3%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.3M
FY2021$2.4M
FY2022$2.4M
FY2023$2.8M
FY2024$3.9M
FY2025$3.9M

From the FY2025 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 2000.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

92 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 92% · $1.4M Management & general 5% · $70K Fundraising 4% · $53K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

18 people listed on the 990; $99K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$98,847Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Deborah Olson’s $99K as Executive Director is at the 43rd percentile of top reported officer pay among 1137 $1–10M animals nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Deborah Olson$98,847$91,749$91,749$87,380$91,749$89,953

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See International Elephant Foundation executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Protects elephants and educates people through conservation programs and research.

Questions for International Elephant Foundation

Tap to ask. International Elephant Foundation sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. International Elephant Foundation answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

1 program · $1.4M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Projects related to African and Asian elephants in the wild and in human care with an emphasis on conservation and protection of elephants and their habitat, education, community programs and scientific and veterinary research.

$1.4Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 4 funders$127K
See all 4 funders →
Grants paid · 10 grants · $514K · 2020–2023
Trustees of Tufts CollegeMA · FY2023$15,750
Johns Hopkins UniversityMD · FY2022$25,000
Johns Hopkins UniversityMD · FY2022$25,000
Rutgers the State UniversityNJ · FY2021$60,000
Johns Hopkins UniversityMD · FY2021$20,000
Johns Hopkins UniversityMD · FY2020$15,000
Unitemized GrantFY2020$9,467

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$235K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$86K
Money outPt IX
$1.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.4M
Managementcol C$70K
Fundraisingcol D$53K
Owns and owesPt X
$3.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.9M
Total assetsLn 16$4.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$608K
PeoplePt VI, VII
18
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b17
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$0
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Fees for servicesLn 2g$86K
Investment incomeLn 3$235K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$1K
Total revenueLn 12$1.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$0
SavingsLn 2$1.9M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2.6M
Total assetsLn 16$4.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$608K
Net assetsLn 32$3.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 52
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.8M$1.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2.3M$2.6M
Total assetsLn 16$4.2M$4.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$249K$608K
Net assetsLn 32$3.9M$3.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$959K$959K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$105K$79K$26K$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$81K$81K$0$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$17K$15K$3K$0
Management feesLn 11a$0$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$28K$0$28K$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$11K$0$11K$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$54K$13K$0$41K
Office expensesLn 13$28K$17K$732$10K
Information technologyLn 14$19K$18K$773$772
TravelLn 17$317$0$317$0
InsuranceLn 23$6K$6K$249$249
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$211K$210K$0$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.5M$1.4M$70K$53K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $1.3M$1.5M−$177K$3.9M 990 PDF
FY2024 $2.2M$1.1M$1.1M$3.9M 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.3M$1.2M$129K$2.8M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.2M$867K$298K$2.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 $817K$709K$108K$2.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $758K$1.2M−$451K$2.3M 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support F · Foreign O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,343,864 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,019,778$1,022,855
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $4,965$86,000
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $165,139$235,009
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,189,882$1,343,864
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $759,536$959,048
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $173,809$203,733
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $153,127$358,191
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,086,472$1,520,972
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,103,410−$177,108
Part VI · Governance 17 of 17 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body17
VI-1b Independent voting members17
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,343,864 across 13 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$10,064
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$0
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,012,791
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,022,855
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $86,000 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$86,000
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $236,279$236,279
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$1,270−$1,270
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $86,000 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $235,009$1,343,864
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,520,972 across 15 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $0$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $959,048$959,048
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $78,915 · Management $26,305 · Fundraising $0$105,220
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $81,440 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$81,440
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $14,516 · Management $2,557 · Fundraising $0$17,073
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $0$0
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $28,000 · Fundraising $0$28,000
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $10,811 · Fundraising $0$10,811
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $13,226 · Management $0 · Fundraising $41,205$54,431
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $17,061 · Management $732 · Fundraising $9,928$27,721
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $17,773 · Management $773 · Fundraising $772$19,318
IX-17 TravelPrograms $0 · Management $317 · Fundraising $0$317
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $5,737 · Management $249 · Fundraising $249$6,235
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $210,076 · Management $0 · Fundraising $1,282$211,358
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,397,792 · Management $69,744 · Fundraising $53,436$1,520,972
Part X · Balance sheet $4,545,310 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $0$0
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,818,767$1,851,410
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $69,058$58,024
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $1,200$584
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $2,284,855$2,635,292
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,173,880$4,545,310
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $15,155$23,096
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $233,606$584,666
X-25 Other liabilities$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $248,761$607,762
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $3,876,084$3,900,834
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $49,035$36,714
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,925,119$3,937,548
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,173,880$4,545,310
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $3,937,548 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,343,864
XI-2 Total expenses$1,520,972
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$177,108
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,925,119
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$189,537
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$3,937,548

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.