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Nonprofit · EIN 52-1118866

THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL

Tax-exempt · ATLANTA, GA 30315

Financials

$8.5M$7M2022$11M$8.2M2023$13.9M$9.7M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
September 30, 2025990$13,922,074$9,747,054$4,175,020$47,458,939$1,516,570$45,942,369
September 30, 2024990$11,006,988$8,216,607$2,790,381$42,576,483$1,669,336$40,907,147
September 30, 2023990$8,478,874$6,989,443$1,489,431$37,055,244$394,492$36,660,752
Financial details: 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$12,537,320
Program service revenue
$281,788
Investment income
$1,107,713
Net gain from sales of assets
$191,152
Net income from fundraising events
$7,187
Net income from sales of inventory
-$11,934
Other revenue
-$4,747

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$384,438
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$876,188
Other salaries and wages
$3,010,524
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$4,586,130
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$17,092
Accounting fees
$45,375
Occupancy
$437,770
Travel
$278,660
Depreciation
$635,618
Program services (functional)
$7,876,155
Management and general (functional)
$655,331
Fundraising (functional)
$1,215,568

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$42,576,483
Total assets, end of year
$47,458,939
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,516,570
Net assets, end of year
$45,942,369
Land, buildings and equipment
$15,951,378
Publicly traded securities
$16,465,482
Net assets without donor restrictions
$41,745,361
Net assets with donor restrictions
$4,197,008
Gross receipts
$19,438,956
Employees
16
Volunteers
34
Year formed
1978
State of legal domicile
GA

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
Tara Stoinski PhDPresident & CEO
Officer
40$355,194$28,961
Marcie BeskindCFAO
Officer
40$186,562$23,221
Beth WarnerChief Philanthropy Officer
Highest-paid employee
40$181,731$14,246
Shannon McFarlinDirector of Science
Highest-paid employee
40$105,843$5,094
Kristen LukasChair
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
Lee EhmkeVice Chair
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
Mark PenningSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
Dennis J O'MalleyTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
Diane BrierleyBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Hayley W MurphyBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Daniel L SullivanBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Mariel AguirreBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Sophie W BryanBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Lawrence J EllisonBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
William L EvansBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
10 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Susan McClellanBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Allyson ParkBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Dennis PateBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Philip V PetersenBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Dante T PrideBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Jhanvi ShriramBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Alexis SteinBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Barry M BenjaminBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Megan PaceBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Sigourney WeaverBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0
990 for the year ended September 30, 2024: 25 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
Tara Stoinski PhDPresident & CEO
Officer
40$295,086$22,737
Marcie BeskindCFAO
Officer
40$167,001$19,267
Beth WarnerChief Philanthropy Officer
Highest-paid employee
40$151,788$8,529
Kristen LukasChair
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
Lee EhmkeVice Chair
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
Diane BrierleySecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
Dennis J O'MalleyTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
Mark PenningBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Sophie W BryanBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Daniel L SullivanBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Mariel AguirreBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Lawrence J EllisonBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
William L EvansBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Debbie S GoellnitzBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Susan McClellanBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Hayley W MurphyBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Allyson ParkBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Dennis PateBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Philip V PetersenBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Dante T PrideBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Jhanvi ShriramBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Alexis SteinBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Michael J TurtonBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
David S SingerBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Sigourney WeaverBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
990 for the year ended September 30, 2023: 25 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
Tara Stoinski PhDPresident & CEO
Officer
40$281,708$20,766
Shari HenningChief Advancement Officer
Highest-paid employee
40$123,038$6,536
Marcie BeskindCFO
Officer
40$86,997$7,039
Kristen LukasChair
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
Lee EhmkeVice Chair
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
Diane BrierleySecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
William L EvansTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
Mark PenningBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Sophie W BryanBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Daniel L SullivanBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Mariel AguirreBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Lawrence J EllisonBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Debbie S GoellnitzBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Greggory HudsonBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Susan McClellanBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Hayley W MurphyBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Dennis J O'MalleyBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Allyson ParkBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Dennis PateBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Philip V PetersenBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Dante T PrideBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Jhanvi ShriramBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Alexis SteinBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Michael J TurtonBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
David S SingerBoard Member
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
800 CHEROKEE AVE SE, ATLANTA, GA 30315-1470
In care of
% CLARE RICHARDSON
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
Marcie Beskind, 800 Cherokee Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315
Signed the 990
Marcie Beskind, Chief Financial and Admin. Officer
Phone
(404) 624-5881
Return prepared by
JONES AND KOLB

Mission

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 their habitats, 3) Training the next generation of African scientists and conservationists, and 4) Helping local communities address their critical needs.

990 for the year ended September 30, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • RwandaThe Organization's state-of-the-art research and education center in Rwanda is accelerating the critical science and training needed for effective conservation. It serves as an educational hub and, since opening in Feb 2022, has hosted more than 130,000 visitors, including 22,000 schoolchildren. The Fossey Fund maintains its daily protection activities for 10 gorilla families in Rwanda, removing more than 1,500 illegal snares this year, and continues to expand its research program on both gorillas and the surrounding biodiversity. Community development programs focus on food security and livelihood initiatives, including livestock, food tree distributions and mushroom cultivation. The program has expanded to address the needs at a village level, reaching approximately 14,000 households, by providing financial support and technical assistance to 60 villages bordering Volcanoes National Park as they design and launch livelihood initiatives for a climate-resilient future. Community programs also focused on educational outreach and access through nature clubs, conservation camps and debates, guided tours, forest visits, teacher training and community leader engagement. The Girls in Conservation project addresses education inequalities by supporting girls in their education goals through academic scholarships to secondary schools and promoting environmental stewardship. To build scientific capacity, the Fossey Fund provided training to more than 500 university students and has hosted 25 workshops with participants from more than 30 countries. The Fossey Fund has an intensive mentoring program for early-career scientists and provides scholarships to promote the educational advancement of African scientists, with a particular focus on women in science and conservation.
    Expenses $4,629,264 · grants $384,438 · revenue $269,854
  • Democratic Republic of the CongoThe Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund protects Grauer's gorillas and biodiversity in the Nkuba Conservation Area (NCA) in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, a community-owned forest at the core of the species' remaining range. Since beginning work in the region in 2000, and in close partnership with Indigenous landowners since 2012, the Fossey Fund has helped create conservation coverage to more than 2,400 km of forest, supporting an estimated 2,000-3,000 Grauer's gorillas, eastern chimpanzees, and multiple other threatened species. The NCA stores an estimated 250 million tons of carbon and has experienced no known gorilla killings since the program began. Fossey Fund supports communities in securing legal recognition of their land through community forest concessions and holds a 25-year land management agreement to assist with long-term stewardship. The NCA has been recognized as a Key Biodiversity Area by the IUCN and is being evaluated as a model for IUCN's Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs).The program employs and trains local community members as wildlife trackers and field staff to conduct daily patrols, remove snares, monitor gorillas, and collect scientific data on an understudied subspecies. Additional activities include biodiversity research, training early-career Congolese scientists, and supporting sustainable livelihoods, education, food security, and women's empowerment initiatives to reduce pressure on forests. Together, these efforts conserve critical habitat, protect endangered species, and strengthen community well-being while addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.
    Expenses $3,246,891

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025September 30, 2026February 16, 2027Not due yet
2024September 30, 2025February 17, 2026990 on file
2023September 30, 2024February 18, 2025990 on file

IRS record

EIN
52-1118866
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1978
Accounting year ends
September
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$47,458,939
Income (IRS master file)
$19,438,956

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990September 2025$13,922,074$9,747,054$47,458,939XML
990-TSeptember 2025–––IRS
990September 2024$11,006,988$8,216,607$42,576,483XML
990-TSeptember 2024–––IRS
990September 2023$8,478,874$6,989,443$37,055,244XML
990-TSeptember 2023–––IRS
990September 2022$8,191,894$6,224,208$34,853,425IRS
990-TSeptember 2022–––IRS
990September 2021–––IRS
990-TSeptember 2021–––IRS
990September 2020–––IRS
990September 2019–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 52-1118866).

Questions about THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL

What is the EIN of THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL?
The employer identification number (EIN) of THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL is 52-1118866.
Is THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1978.
Are donations to THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 16, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.
Who is the principal officer of THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL?
The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names Marcie Beskind.
Who are the officers and directors of THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL?
The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 25 people; 4 received compensation from the organization, the highest $355,194 (Tara Stoinski PhD, President & CEO).
How much revenue does THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL have?
On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $13,922,074, expenses of $9,747,054 and total assets of $47,458,939 at year end.

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