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Bonobo Conservation Initiative

Protect endangered bonobos,preserve the tropical rainforest habitat, empower communities in the congo basin. Working in partnership with indigenous communities, bci is safeguarding bonobos, preserving large tracts of rainforest, …

Animal Welfare Washington, DC EIN: 522146443 (IRS) Sign up to see website
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70
Integrity Assessment
Strong transparency
70/100 · methodology

About Bonobo Conservation Initiative

Our Mission is to protect bonobos (Pan paniscus), preserve their tropical rainforest habitat, and empower local communities in the Congo Basin. By working with local Congolese people through cooperative conservation and community development programs, and by shaping national and international policy, the Bonobo Conservation Initiative (BCI) is establishing new protected areas and leading efforts to safeguard bonobos wherever they are found. The Bonobo Peace Forest (BPF) is the guiding vision of BCI: a connected network of community-based reserves and conservation concessions, supported by sustainable development. The Peace Forest provides protection for bonobos and other species in the Congo rainforest, while at the same time ensuring a better life for the people who share this precious land.

Founded
Headquarters
Washington, DC
Foundation type
Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2))
NTEE code
D31
IRS subsection
501(c)(03)
Ruling date
Size
small
Operating in
2 countries

Verified certifications

Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.

IRS Tax-Deductible since 1999

Mission

Protect endangered bonobos,preserve the tropical rainforest habitat, empower communities in the congo basin. Working in partnership with indigenous communities, bci is safeguarding bonobos, preserving large tracts of rainforest, benefitting people through livelihood and education

Focus areas & reach

· What they work on and where
Cause tags
SDG alignment The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the global agenda for ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity by 2030. We tag each charity to the goals its work advances.
Operating countries (2)
DR Congo United States

How it stacks up against peers

· vs. 8 similar animal welfare in United States
Program spending This charity: 68%
Peer average: 91%
CEO comp as % of revenue This charity: 33.03%
Peer average: 0.48%
Integrity Assessment This charity: 70
Peer average: 90

Concerns

· 1 red flag
High Executive Pay
Top executive compensation is 33.2% of total expenses ($136,932 of $412,328).

Where every $1 goes

· FY2024 · IRS 990 (FY2024)
$0.68
Program$0.68

GiveRadar Analysis

Original analysis from GiveRadar's dataset of comparable organizations

GiveRadar's verified records show Bonobo Conservation Initiative with a complete profile, cross-referenced across 5 independent sources including the IRS.

  • GiveRadar has cross-referenced this organization across 5 independent sources, led by the IRS - more than 97% of comparable organizations. See the sources
  • It has more complete contact information than nearly all comparable organizations, with a verified website, email, phone and address on record. See national comparisons
  • It is one of the better-documented animal welfare charities in the United States GiveRadar currently tracks, because GiveRadar has verified its financial disclosures and its governance. Most of those have little verified data on record yet. View this cohort
GiveRadar has verified
  • government registration
  • financial records (5 filed years)
  • disclosed leadership
  • a website
  • a contact email
  • a donation page
Not yet verified by GiveRadar
  • an owner-submitted profile claim

Analysis based on GiveRadar's benchmark dataset of 2026-07-03. It describes what GiveRadar has verified, not a judgment of the organization itself.

Common questions

· Auto-generated from filings + methodology

Bonobo Conservation Initiative is a registered animal welfare nonprofit based in Washington, DC, United States. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It was founded in 1998 and has been operating for 28 years. Its EIN is 522146443. According to GiveRadar's records, it holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 70/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports $415K in annual revenue. 50 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. GiveRadar has identified 1 potential concern.

Bonobo Conservation Initiative's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 522146443. This is the organization's IRS tax identification number; you can use it to verify tax-exempt status and to look up its Form 990 filings with the IRS.

Bonobo Conservation Initiative has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 70/100. This score combines five components: Registration (20 pts), Financial Transparency (30 pts), Governance (20 pts), Contact Availability (10 pts), and Data Recency (20 pts), with negative adjustments for any red flags. A score of 70 ('Strong transparency') reflects well-documented governance, recent financials, named leadership, and working contact details. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for animal welfare charities in United States is 90/100.

Bonobo Conservation Initiative is located in Washington, DC, United States. The organization was established in 1998 and has been active for 28 years.

Based on official tax filings, Bonobo Conservation Initiative has $415K in annual revenue. It allocates 68% of expenses to programs and services. This is below the average of 91% for animal welfare charities in United States. Its revenue is below the peer average of $1M. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.

Bonobo Conservation Initiative is classified as an Animal Welfare organization, registered in United States. It operates as a Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)). By size, it is categorized as a small organization. It has $415K in annual revenue. The organization has 50 disclosed officers and directors.

GiveRadar has identified 1 potential concern for Bonobo Conservation Initiative. Red flags are automatically detected from official data and may include high executive compensation relative to budget, low program spending, or missing financial filings. Red flags do not necessarily mean wrongdoing but indicate areas that may warrant further review before donating.

According to GiveRadar's records, Bonobo Conservation Initiative holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It reports that 68% of expenses go to programs (the peer average is 91%). You can donate directly through their official donation page linked on their GiveRadar profile. GiveRadar provides data for research and does not endorse any organization. A GiveRadar Integrity Assessment reflects how much public data is available, not whether an organization is safe to donate to, so it is always smart to do your own research before giving.

Our Mission is to protect bonobos (Pan paniscus), preserve their tropical rainforest habitat, and empower local communities in the Congo Basin. By working with local Congolese people through cooperative conservation and community development programs, and by shaping national and international policy, the Bonobo Conservation Initiative (BCI) is establishing new protected areas and leading efforts to safeguard bonobos wherever they are found. The Bonobo Peace Forest (BPF) is the guiding vision of BCI: a connected network of community-based reserves and conservation concessions, supported by sustainable development. The Peace Forest provides protection for bonobos and other species in the Congo rainforest, while at the same time ensuring a better life for the... Bonobo Conservation Initiative is classified as an animal welfare organization registered in United States. The organization was founded in 1998.

Among animal welfare charities registered in United States: It allocates 68% of expenses to programs, below the peer average of 91%. Its annual revenue of $415K is below the peer average of $1M.

Yes, donations to Bonobo Conservation Initiative are generally tax-deductible in the United States. Bonobo Conservation Initiative is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Its EIN is 522146443, which you can use for tax filing purposes. Donors can typically deduct contributions on their federal income tax return if they itemize deductions. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Annual revenue
$100K-$1M
68% to programs
Source: IRS 990 (FY2024) why this matters
Unlock exact figures

Filing history

5 years on file from IRS 990 (FY2024): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.

Years on record: FY2024, FY2023, FY2022, FY2021, FY2020.
Financial details are free - with a GiveRadar account

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Taxes

Tax-deductibility for donors

Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United States under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.

Always confirm tax treatment with the charity directly or your tax advisor before donating.

Staff & volunteers

From filings and published profiles

Employees
2

Leadership

From FY2024 filing

SA
Sally C•••
President

Officers & trustees (19)

Source: Public filings

See full names, roles, and stories

19 officers and trustees on file - free with a GiveRadar account.

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Latest news

From global news sources

6 articles found

From news sources and the organization. Shown for transparency; news never affects the integrity score.

Activity timeline

Filings and press mentions, merged

WORLD BONOBO DAY - February 14, 2027 - National Today
Jun 2026
nationaltoday.com
Bonobos transformed how we think about animal societies. Can we save the last of the ‘hippy apes’? - The Guardian
Oct 2025
www.theguardian.com
Bonobos Make Love, Not War to Resolve Their Conflicts - A-Z Animals
Sep 2025
a-z-animals.com
Form filed
$0.4M revenue
FY2024
IRS 990
Form filed
$1.6M revenue
FY2023
IRS 990
Form filed
$1.9M revenue
FY2022
IRS 990
Form filed
$1.2M revenue
FY2021
IRS 990
Form filed
$0.3M revenue
FY2020
IRS 990
Bonobo conservation stymied by deforestation, human rights abuses - news - Mongabay
Oct 2019
news.mongabay.com
Women could be a key to great ape conservation in the Congo - news - Mongabay
Apr 2017
news.mongabay.com
In pictures: Bonobos: our endangered 'cousins' in the heart of the Congo basin - The Guardian
May 2009
www.theguardian.com

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Cause areas in United States

How many charities work in each area, with this charity's area highlighted.

Human Services 322,679
Education 195,586
Arts & Culture 133,128
Advocacy & Civil Rights 128,026
Religion 114,636
Health 98,862
Community Development 56,086
Youth Development 53,450
Animal Welfare this charity 40,468
See all cause areas in United States

Most common causes in United States

Causes charities work on most, with this charity's causes ticked.

Community Development 235,146
Education 159,016
Religion 103,741
Arts & Culture 101,203
Human Rights 76,926
Health 65,250
Youth Development 47,775
Animal Welfare 32,425

Sources and verification

Registration and legal identity
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search
Financial filings
IRS Form 990 filings - Fiscal year 2024 most recent on file.
Officers and trustees
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search - 50 disclosed in the public registry.
News and media coverage
GDELT Project + Google News
Supplementary verification
GlobalGiving partner directory
Supplementary verification
Charity Navigator

Data freshness

Last updated
Jun 12, 2026
Registry checked
Jun 6, 2026
Profile completeness
100%

What we know and don't know

Exactly which public data we hold on this charity. Our score reflects transparency, not impact.

On record · 10
  • Financial data · FY2024 on record
  • Named leadership · 50 officers on file
  • Executive pay · Disclosed
  • Government registration · Registered with an official registry
  • Mission statement · Published
  • Official website · On record
  • Headquarters address · On file
  • Direct contact · Email or phone published
  • Tax-deductibility · Verified
  • Founding date · 1998
Not available · 1
  • Programs & activities
    No named programs listed by the charity

Methodology

GiveRadar builds each profile primarily from official government charity registries, supplemented where available by third-party nonprofit databases and news archives, and combines it into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. The exact sources for this charity are listed above. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.

Read full methodology

Are you the owner or a board member?

If you represent this organization and want to correct or update its data, you can claim this listing to edit details yourself, or email [email protected] with the correct information. We review every request and respond within 30 days.

Quick facts about Bonobo Conservation Initiative

What is Bonobo Conservation Initiative?
Bonobo Conservation Initiative is a animal welfare publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)) based in Washington, United States. Our Mission is to protect bonobos (Pan paniscus), preserve their tropical rainforest habitat, and empower local communities in the Congo Basin. By working with local Congolese people through cooperative conservation and community development programs, and by shaping national and international policy, the Bonobo Conservation Initiative (BCI) is establishing new protected areas and leading efforts to safeguard bonobos wherever they are found. The Bonobo Peace Forest (BPF) is the guiding vision of BCI: a connected network of community-based reserves and conservation concessions, supported by sustainable development. The Peace Forest provides protection for bonobos and other species in the Congo rainforest, while at the same time ensuring a better life for the people who share this precious land.
When was Bonobo Conservation Initiative founded?
Bonobo Conservation Initiative was founded in 1998.
Who leads Bonobo Conservation Initiative?
Sally Coxe serves as President.
Where is Bonobo Conservation Initiative located?
Headquartered in Washington, DC, United States. The charity operates in 2 countries.
What is Bonobo Conservation Initiative's annual budget?
Annual revenue for fiscal year 2024 is approximately $100K-$1M. 68% of expenses go to program services.
Is Bonobo Conservation Initiative trustworthy?
Bonobo Conservation Initiative has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 70 out of 100 (Strong transparency). The score reflects public-data transparency: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and how recently data was refreshed. It does not measure program impact.
What is Bonobo Conservation Initiative's registration number?
IRS EIN: 522146443.
What is Bonobo Conservation Initiative's website?
http://www.bonobo.org