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Elephant Cooperation at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Public charity

Elephant Cooperation

To save elephants and wildlife while feeding and educating children.

$1.5M
Granted FY2024still arriving
10
Grants FY2024still arriving
6
States reached
$308k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Animals$1.7MEnvironment$622kEducation$508kRecreation & Sports$414kInternational$155kFood & Nutrition$51kPhilanthropy$45kScience & Tech$25kOther$0
02FY2024 · 10 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 10 grants below total $760,111, the rows itemized in this filing. The $1,530,767 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $770,656 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2024

  • $10k–50k6 grants · $108k
  • $50k–250k3 grants · $345k
  • $250k+1 grant · $308k
$28,000
Median grant
6
States reached
$751k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
WILDLIFE WORKS ELEPHANT PROTECTION TRUST$307,500
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK$150,000
SPACE FOR GIANTS$145,000
INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR ANIMAL WELFARE$50,000
GENERATION AWAKENING$28,000
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL$20,000
AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION$20,000
LOVE TRIBE PROJECT$18,611
KENSAP INC$11,000
UTOPIA SCIENTIFIC$10,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY19–23, $564k) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 97% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%SMALL STEPS FOR COMPASSION: $230k → 11%GEM LEGACY: $15k → 8%SMALL STEPS FOR COMPASSION: $126k → 11%SMALL STEPS FOR COMPASSION: $25k → 11%SMALL STEPS FOR COMPASSION: $18k → 11%GIVEPOWER FOUNDATION: $150k → 10%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

NH
MN
MI
NY
MA
NV
IN
NJ
CA
DC
TX

Grants abroad, by region: $762k on the FY2024 return

Schedule F, as filed: 1 region. The IRS asks for region and purpose, not the recipient, so no country or grantee can be named here.

Sub-Saharan Africa$762k · 100% · 6 grants

Stated purpose: GENERAL SUPPORT

How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving. Grants abroad on Schedule F are filed by region, purpose and amount with no recipient name, so they are shown by region and cannot be placed on the country map or matched to a grantee.
04

Where the work is directed

The same grants placed two ways: where each recipient sits, and where its stated purpose sends the money.

About 14% of Elephant Cooperation’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address. By recipient address, 45% of the giving stays in CA; by stated purpose, 40%.

Elephant Cooperationlessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address · 16% directed abroad (not shown)
How this is measured
Recipient view: each grant at its grantee’s ZIP, mapped to a county. Directed view: each grant at the county its stated purpose names, falling back to the recipient’s county when the purpose names no place; US grants only. A county shows only if it carries the top 95% of that view’s dollars. Purposes are read from the funder’s own 990 grant descriptions.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

78%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$2.7M · 16 repeat orgs$782k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +20% since the first grant, against +14% for those funded once.

16 repeat relationships: 6 still active in FY2024, 10 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

16
12

Total granted

$2.7M
$701k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+20%
+14%

Still filing today

88%
83%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 89% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $81k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
AnimalsHuman ServicesInternationalPhilanthropyEnvironmentEducationOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • WC
    WILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK INC
    3× · 2020–2024 · $551k · revenue +167%
  • AP
    AFRICAN PARKS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
    5× · 2017–2022 · $414k · revenue +340%
  • SF
    Space for Giants USA Inc
    5× · 2019–2024 · $311k · revenue +19%

Funded once

  • TE
    THE ELLEN FUND
    one grant, 2021 · $250k · revenue -93%
  • GF
    GIVEPOWER FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2023 · $150k · revenue +11%
  • UNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEFgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $111k · revenue +64%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Global Wildlife Foundation

Funding innovative veterinary research and supporting organizations dedicated to preserving and protecting wildlife for future generations.

Animals
2
Wildlife Conservation Global Inc

Wildlife conservation global, inc. operates the okapi conservation project (ocp) which works in the democratic republic of the congo with the institute in congo for the conservation of nature (iccn) and local communities throughout the…

Animals
3
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International Inc

The Fossey Fund is dedicated to the conservation and study of gorillas in Africa through a successful, people-centered approach: 1) Providing daily protection to gorillas, 2) Scientific research providing critical data on gorillas and…

—
4
Born Free Foundation
—
5
The Serengeti Foundation
Environment
6
Global Animal Partnership
Animals
7
Wild Forests and Fauna

Wild forests and fauna (wildff) is a 501(c)(3) us-based non-profit organization that addresses landscape-scale conservation issues in globally important forests. we are a diverse network of science and business professionals who, together…

Environment
8
Global Forest Generation

Global Forest Generation restores and protects forest ecosystems in partnership with grassroots leaders and local communities across vast landscapes which play a critical role in preserving water, protecting biodiversity, storing carbon,…

Environment
9
International Primate Protection League

Protecting the world's remaining primates by monitoring and exposing illegal trade, supporting a worldwide network of overseas sanctuaries and ngo's, publicising the plight of abused primates, and operating a sanctuary for resued gibbons.

Animals
10
Gorilla Rehabilitation Conservation Education (Grace) Center Inc

Grace gorillas is an international ngo working hard to provide excellent care and rewild rescued grauers gorillas while working alongside congolese communities to promote the conservation of wild gorillas and their habitat.

Animals
11
Wild Earth Allies Inc

Our mission is to protect vital areas of our planet for wildlife and people through local conservation action. Our vision is a world where wildlife and people flourish in healthy ecosystems that sustain us all.

Environment
12
Mpala Wildlife Foundation Inc
—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is African Parks Foundation of America; the most unlike its peers is Air Shepherd. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
05the grantee network

29 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 29 of the 32 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
6
Early backer (in before they grew)
28/29
Grantees still filing
22/29
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK INC: $550,500 · AnimalsWILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK INCSpace for Giants USA Inc: $310,615 · AnimalsSpace for Giants USA IncAFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION INC: $199,000 · AnimalsAFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION INCAIR SHEPHERD: $152,852 · AnimalsAIR SHEPHERDINTERNATIONAL FUND FOR ANIMAL WELFARE INC: $50,000 · Animals+3 more: $39,655 · AnimalsSMALL STEPS FOR COMPASSION: $398,750 · Human ServicesSMALL STEPS FOR CO…GIVEPOWER FOUNDATION: $150,000 · Human ServicesGIVEPOWER FOUNDATI…+2 more: $30,000 · Human ServicesTHE ELLEN FUND: $250,000 · OtherTHE ELLEN FUNDUDS SYSTEMS LLC: $224,863 · OtherUDS SYSTEMS LLCNOVO MISSION INC: $50,000 · OtherNOVO MISSION INCBRIDGE MINISTRIES INC: $50,000 · OtherBRIDGE MINISTRIES INCGENERATION AWAKENING: $38,000 · OtherGENERATION AWAKENINGUtopia Scientific: $40,000 · OtherUtopia ScientificInternational FIRST Committee Associatio co Toohey Law Group: $25,000 · Other+2 more: $21,500 · OtherAFRICAN PARKS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA: $414,257 · Recreation & SportsAFRICAN PARKS…UNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF: $110,947 · InternationalWILD TOMORROW FUND: $65,000 · InternationalWILDLIFEDIRECT INC: $51,215 · InternationalThe Graceful Warrior Project: $10,000 · InternationalAFRICAN COMMUNITY AND CONSERVATION FOUNDATION INC: $164,500 · EnvironmentWILDLIFE CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL: $20,000 · EnvironmentENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY FOUNDATION: $59,600 · PhilanthropyLOVE TRIBE PROJECT INC: $40,873 · PhilanthropyMARA ELEPHANT PROJECT USA INC: $22,400 · PhilanthropyTHE SHECKLER FOUNDATION: $10,000 · Philanthropy
Animals$1,302,622Human Services$578,750Other$699,363Recreation & Sports$414,257International$237,162Environment$184,500Philanthropy$132,873

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetWILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK INC: $550,500 over 3y, 0.8% of budgetAFRICAN PARKS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA: $414,257 over 5y, 1.2% of budgetSMALL STEPS FOR COMPASSION: $398,750 over 4y, 23% of budgetSpace for Giants USA Inc: $310,615 over 5y, 15% of budgetTHE ELLEN FUND: $250,000 over 1y, 19% of budgetAFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION INC: $199,000 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetAFRICAN COMMUNITY AND CONSERVATION FOUNDATION INC: $164,500 over 4y, 0.6% of budgetAIR SHEPHERD: $152,852 over 2y, 97% of budgetGIVEPOWER FOUNDATION: $150,000 over 1y, 1.7% of budgetUNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF: $110,947 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWILD TOMORROW FUND: $65,000 over 5y, 2.6% of budgetENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY FOUNDATION: $59,600 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetWILDLIFEDIRECT INC: $51,215 over 3y, 6.9% of budgetINTERNATIONAL FUND FOR ANIMAL WELFARE INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetBRIDGE MINISTRIES INC: $50,000 over 1y, 18% of budgetLOVE TRIBE PROJECT INC: $40,873 over 2y, 5.0% of budgetUtopia Scientific: $40,000 over 2y, 16% of budgetGENERATION AWAKENING: $38,000 over 2y, 9.0% of budgetInternational FIRST Committee Associatio co Toohey Law Group: $25,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetMARA ELEPHANT PROJECT USA INC: $22,400 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetWILDLIFE CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL: $20,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetKULUNGU FOR CONGO: $15,000 over 2y, 2.5% of budgetKENSAP INC: $11,000 over 1y, 3.9% of budgetThe Graceful Warrior Project: $10,000 over 1y, 3.2% of budgetSAVE GIRAFFES NOW: $10,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetTHE SHECKLER FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 4.9% of budgetINTERNATIONAL ELEPHANT FOUNDATION: $9,655 over 1y, 1.2% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Silicon Valley Commun…Vanguard Charitable E…American Endowment Fo…National Philanthropi…Charities Aid Foundat…Morgan Stanley Global…Network for GoodAmerican Online Givin…Donor Advised Charita…Natl Christian Charit…Paypal Charitable Giv…Fidelity Investments …
Silicon Valley Community FoundationCA12.4× affinity6 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Silicon Valley Community Foundation · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · American Endowment Foundation · National Philanthropic Trust · Charities Aid Foundation America · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Network for Good · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc · Paypal Charitable Giving Fund · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Elephant Cooperation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Elephant Cooperation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%3%10%23%40%funder's share of their income ↑0%4%8%11%15%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    2get no government money at all
    4report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–15%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Elephant Cooperation?

    Find your warmest path to Elephant Cooperation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 32 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Elephant Cooperation’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home