Global Sanctuary for Elephants

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
463564818
IRS 990 coverage
2015–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
Brentwood, TN, USA
Phone
6154359523
Rating
77
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Animal Protection and Welfare

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$2,399,600
Expenses
$1,771,200
Assets
$3,172,266
Liabilities
$9,414

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

5 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • SCOTT D BLAIS (CEO & BOARD PRESIDENT)
  • KATHERINE M BLAIS (BOARD VICE PRESIDENT)

Highest reported compensation

  • SCOTT D BLAIS (CEO & BOARD PRESIDENT): $77,500 total reported compensation
  • KATHERINE M BLAIS (BOARD VICE PRESIDENT): $72,500 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

See schedule odedicated to rescuing, protecting and providing sanctuary for elephants worldwide. Our founding directors and elephant care specialist consult internationally for the wellbeing of captive elephants. Currently based in brazil, working directly with brazilian NGO santuario de elefantes brasil, our founding directors are focused primarily on the continued development of the first sanctuary for captive elephants in south america. With the arrival of the first residents, global sanctuary for elephants and santuario de elefantes brasil have gained international exposure and support to further the mission of global sanctuary for elephants. This increased exposure, success and rapid progress has spurred additional interest from throughout south america, as santuario de elefantes brasil is quickly being recognized as the solution for ailing captive elephants.

What it reported doing in 2024

Gse invests significant effort in educating about the true depth and impact of captivity and the transformational recovery that is possible within spacious, autonomous elephant sanctuaries. We believe that the best way to educate is to transparently share the history, as well as the complex recovery, of the elephants following years of trauma, neglect, and abuse. With this shared knowledge, gse helps to lead positive and progressive change, encouraging the public to use their voice and knowledge gained to promote a positive and respectful future, pivotal to reshaping the lives of captive elephants. Continues on schedule ogse collaborates with international elephant sanctuaries for the recovery and well-being of elephants globally. The unique history and wealth of knowledge of our founders are shared liberally to help advance sanctuary development internationally, encouraging progressive vision to yield the highest level of autonomy, care, and recovery for captive elephants.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 96% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Grant intermediary. The nonprofit sent 71% of its reported program spending out as grants.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. The filing reports few safeguards for money sent abroad and total assets are small relative to annual expenses; liquid coverage is unknown.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 74
  • Transparency & Controls: 77
  • Accountability: 77
  • Sustainability: 70
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 66%; rating input score 66
  • Program expense ratio: 87.8%; rating input score 88
  • Fundraising efficiency: $28.84 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: 2 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 25
    • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
    • Requires narrative reports: Fail
    • Conducts field audits: Fail
    • May suspend future funding: Fail
    • Requires financial reports: Pass
    • Conducts site visits: Fail
    • Requires grant agreements: Fail
    • May require repayment: Fail
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 60%; rating input score 60; 9th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 26.2%; rating input score 82; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.79; rating input score 58; 58th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 90; 90th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 8.5%; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 10.8% per year; rating input score 100; 67th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 18.3% per year; rating input score 100; 86th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 35.6% per year; rating input score 100; 95th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 66% of revenue deployed · 87.8% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 3 of 5 board members independent · 8 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 2 filed program accomplishments · $1.6M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $78K · 5 people listed
  • Consistency: 29 of 30 current checks pass · 1 finding to review
  • Schedules: 9 filed schedules · includes major donors and foreign activity
  • Filing history: 10 filing years from 2015 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 2 filed money-flow records
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Transparency & Controls: Foreign activity oversight: 6 of 8 not reported.
  • Review — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 58/100.
  • Moderate — Transparency & Controls: Schedule A contributions reconciliation did not reconcile in the filed values.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 35/100.