Great Plains Conservation Foundation

What it reported doing in 2024

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.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 58.6%; rating input score 59
• Program expense ratio: 84.9%; rating input score 85
• Fundraising efficiency: $32.91 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 71; 71st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 90%; rating input score 90; 4th 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: Pass
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Fail
  • 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: 40%; rating input score 40; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 34.5%; rating input score 87; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.36; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 82; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 1.6%; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 27.9% per year; rating input score 100; 91st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 25.6% per year; rating input score 100; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 15.6% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings