The International Rhino Foundation

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
752395006
IRS 990 coverage
2011–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
Fort Worth, TX, USA
Phone
8173908400
Rating
82
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Protection of Endangered Species

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$4,355,688
Expenses
$4,099,548
Assets
$2,241,632
Liabilities
$407,818

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

Leadership & pay

18 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • JOHN LUKAS (BOARD PRESIDENT)
  • RICK BARONGI (VICE PRESIDENT, AFRICA PRO)
  • TERRI ROTH (VICE PRESIDENT, ASIA PROGR)
  • NINA FASCIONE (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)

Highest reported compensation

  • NINA FASCIONE (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $237,141 total reported compensation
  • MARGARET MOORE (DEPUTY DIRECTOR): $168,639 total reported compensation

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

Overview

Mission

The international rhino foundation (irf) ensures the survival of rhinos through strategic partnerships, targeted protection, and scientifically sound interventions.

What it reported doing in 2024

Asia/indonesia: in asia, irf continued its long-term commitment to the recovery of the most endangered rhino species. In india and nepal, irf supported grassland restoration, invasive species removal and corridor protection in key protected areas including chitwan national park and assam's laokhowa-burhachapori wildlife sanctuaries. These efforts restored hundreds of hectares of habitat, supported the natural movement and return of greater one-horned rhinos to historic range and engaged local communities through employment and alternative livelihood initiatives linked to conservation outcomes.in indonesia, irf supported both intensive protection and habitat restoration for sumatran and javan rhinos. At the sumatran rhino sanctuary in way kambas national park, irf continued to support expert care and breeding efforts for the world's only managed sumatran rhino population while planning advanced for a third phase of sanctuary expansion to increase capacity. In surrounding forest landscapes, irf funded large-scale reforestation and habitat restoration including the planting of more than 166,000 seedlings, resulting in measurable ecosystem recovery and the return of multiple wildlife species. Irf also worked with government and local partners to strengthen security and law enforcement following poaching incidents affecting the critically endangered javan rhino population, including assessments and improved protection strategies.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 99% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Grant intermediary. The nonprofit sent 62% of its reported program spending out as grants.

The verdict

STRONG - 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 fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 83
  • Transparency & Controls: 74
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 39
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 84.4%; rating input score 84
  • Program expense ratio: 88.9%; rating input score 89
  • Fundraising efficiency: $18.64 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 57; 57th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
    • Compensation committee: Pass
    • Independent consultant: Missing
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
    • Written employment contract: Pass
    • Compensation survey or study: Missing
    • Board or committee approval: Pass
  • 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: 99.8%; rating input score 100; 41st percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd 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: 5.9%; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.55; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.18; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 9.9%; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 4.8% per year; rating input score 100; 38th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 3.4% per year; rating input score 100; 29th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 4.4% per year; rating input score 100; 31st percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 84.4% of revenue deployed · 88.9% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 16 of 16 board members independent · 8 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 5 filed program accomplishments · $3.6M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $237K · 18 people listed · 3 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Consistency: 35 of 35 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 8 filed schedules · includes major donors, foreign activity, grants, and executive pay
  • Filing history: 12 filing years from 2011 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 13 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: 1 filed related-organization link
  • 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 — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 57/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 19/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 53/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 30/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 46/100.