2024-04-17T14:11:52-05:00 2023-12-31 911194016 CLARK NUBER PS 10900 NE 4TH STREET SUITE 1400 BELLEVUE WA 98004 990 2023-01-01 273455389 BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA BIGL 9713223326 1715 NORTH HERON DRIVE RIDGEFIELD WA 98642 KIM SCHWALB EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 9713223326 2024-04-17 1 KIM SCHWALB XXX-XX-XXXX 0 JENNIFER BECKER HARRIS P00183358 4254544919 2024-04-17 2 AAL1 IAL1 2023 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z KIM SCHWALB 1715 NORTH HERON DRIVE RIDGEFIELD WA 98642 8495920 0 X WWW.BIGLIFE.ORG X 2010 WA ON THE GROUND IN AFRICA PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT NATURE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL 12 12 5 12 0 0 6774610 5323936 0 0 15082 81006 -2905 -2359 6786787 5402583 4833797 3996065 0 0 567074 622344 0 0 351301 221913 250651 5622784 4869060 1164003 533523 3944647 4544199 8651 27776 3935996 4516423 X USING INNOVATIVE CONSERVATION STRATEGIES AND COLLABORATING CLOSELY WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES, PARTNER NGOS, NATIONAL PARKS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION)BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA SEEKS TO PROTECT AND SUSTAIN EAST AFRICA'S WILDLIFE AND WILD LANDS, INCLUDING ONE OF THE GREATEST POPULATIONS OF ELEPHANTS LEFT IN EAST AFRICA. THE FIRST ORGANIZATION TO FUND COORDINATED ANTI-POACHING TEAMS IN EAST AFRICA OPERATING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE KENYA-TANZANIA BORDER, BIG LIFE USA RECOGNIZES THAT SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED THROUGH A COMMUNITY-BASED COLLABORATIVE APPROACH, WHICH IS AT THE HEART OF BIG LIFE USA'S PHILOSOPHY: CONSERVATION SUPPORTS THE PEOPLE AND PEOPLE SUPPORT CONSERVATION. BIG LIFE USA'S VISION IS TO ESTABLISH A SUCCESSFUL HOLISTIC CONSERVATION MODEL IN THE AMBOSELI-TSAVO-KILIMANJARO ECOSYSTEM THAT CAN BE REPLICATED ACROSS THE AFRICAN CONTINENT. 1 0 3003732 2968883 WILDLIFE SECURITY:BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA FUNDS PROGRAMS THAT SEEK TO PREVENT THE POACHING OF ALL WILDLIFE WITHIN OUR AREA OF OPERATION ACROSS KENYA AND TANZANIA. AMONG OTHER THINGS, WE FUND ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS OF LOCAL MAASAI IN THE AMBOSELI-TSAVO-KILIMANJARO ECOSYSTEM, WHOSE RANGERS ARE EXPERTLY TRAINED AND WELL-EQUIPPED TO TACKLE A VARIETY OF WILDLIFE CRIMES SPANNING APPROXIMATELY TWO MILLION ACRES OF WILDERNESS. WHEN NECESSARY, THE RANGERS TRACK AND APPREHEND POACHERS AND COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL PROSECUTORS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE PUNISHED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION)IN 2023, WE FUNDED 32 PERMANENT OUTPOSTS AND 11 MOBILE UNITS IN KENYA, AND WE SUPPORTED THE SALARIES, TRAINING, AND EQUIPMENT OF 572 TOTAL FIELD STAFF IN KENYA, INCLUDING 380 TRAINED RANGERS. RANGERS IN KENYA PATROLLED 604,939 KM BY VEHICLE, 182,262 KM ON FOOT, AND 30,912 KM BY PLANE. 321 SUSPECTS WERE ARRESTED IN 167 INCIDENTS IN KENYA. HUNDREDS OF POACHING TOOLS AND RELATED ITEMS WERE CONFISCATED, ALONG WITH 1,482 KG OF IVORY. WE ALSO SUPPORTED THE LEGAL MONITORING OF COURT CASES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. 645000 645000 HABITAT CONSERVATION:THE AMBOSELI ECOSYSTEM IS ONE OF OUR PLANET'S SURVIVING NATURAL TREASURES. IT IS ALSO HOME TO ALMOST 200,000 PEOPLE. BIG LIFE IS WORKING WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT LAND THAT IS STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT EITHER AS WILDLIFE MOVEMENT CORRIDORS OR DISPERSAL AREAS BUT IS ALSO VALUABLE TO THE LOCAL LIVESTOCK ECONOMY AS A GRAZING RESOURCE. THIS PROTECTION CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH LAND-USE PLANNING AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CONSERVANCIES, INCLUDING THE LEGAL AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS NECESSARY FOR THEIR EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING, AND ASSISTING TO DEVELOP INCOME-GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS TOURISM. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION)BIG LIFE BELIEVES THAT LAND BELONGS BEST IN THE HANDS OF ITS TRADITIONAL OWNERS, BUT WIDESPREAD LAND SALES BECAUSE OF SUBDIVISION HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DESTROY LARGE AREAS OF NATURAL HABITAT, AND RESULT IN LANDLESS COMMUNITIES. CONSERVATION LAND LEASE AGREEMENTS ARE A WAY OF ENSURING CONTINUED LOCAL OWNERSHIP AND GENERATING THE FINANCIAL RETURNS THAT THOSE LANDOWNERS NEED. THESE LEASE AGREEMENTS ARE WILLINGLY ENTERED INTO BY BOTH PARTIES, THE TERMS OF WHICH RESTRICT LAND CONVERSION AND FENCING IN EXCHANGE FOR ANNUAL LEASE PAYMENTS. IN 2023, BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA SUPPORTED CONSERVATION LAND LEASES TO 3,290 MAASAI LANDOWNERS COVERING 87,967 ACRES FOR A TOTAL OF $1,537,927.00 USD. 364143 302182 EDUCATION & SCHOLARSHIPS:FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME HELPS THE ECOSYSTEM TODAY, BUT WINNING THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING A MUTUAL BENEFIT THROUGH CONSERVATION IS THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT WILDLIFE AND WILD LANDS FAR INTO THE FUTURE. BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA INVESTS IN THE FUTURE OF PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES BY FUNDING TEACHERS' SALARIES AND PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FOR HUNDREDS OF LOCAL MAASAI STUDENTS IN KENYA. THESE SALARIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO BIG LIFE KENYA WHO ALSO SELECTS THE RECIPIENTS. WHEN THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND RECOGNIZES THE VALUE OF PROTECTING THE ECOSYSTEM, ENFORCEMENT BECOMES SELF-POLICING. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION)IN 2023, BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA PROVIDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR 774 STUDENTS AT VARYING LEVELS OF EDUCATION AND PAID THE SALARIES OF 7 TEACHERS. MULTIPLE CONSERVATION-ORIENTED STUDENT AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND FIELD TRIPS WERE ALSO HELD IN 2023. 141691 80000 HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT:BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA FUNDS COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS TO HELP MITIGATE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF HUMAN-WILDLIFE INTERACTION, SUCH AS MITIGATING CROP-RAIDING BY HUNGRY ELEPHANTS, BOTH FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE ANIMALS THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION OF WILDLIFE EXCLUSION FENCES TO KEEP ELEPHANTS OUT OF CROPS. IN 2023, 66 CROP RAIDS WERE PREVENTED. WE ALSO FUND A PREDATOR COMPENSATION FUND VIA GRANTS TO BIG LIFE LIMITED (BIG LIFE KENYA), A RELATED ORGANIZATION. FOR MAASAI HERDERS, THEIR CATTLE ARE THEIR LIVELIHOOD. WHEN LIVESTOCK FALLS PREY TO PREDATORS, THE HERDERS ARE FINANCIALLY DISADVANTAGED AND JUSTIFIABLY FRUSTRATED. TO PREVENT LOSSES THAT LEAD TO HERDERS RETALIATING WITH SPEARS OR POISONED CARCASSES, BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA FUNDS PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE IMPROVED FENCING AND HUSBANDRY PRACTICES. IN THE EVENT THAT AN ANIMAL IS LOST TO A PREDATOR, THE HERDER IS COMPENSATED FOR A PERCENTAGE OF THE MARKET VALUE OF THE ANIMAL, USING FUNDS FROM THE PREDATOR COMPENSATION FUND. THIS SMALL CONSOLATION IS SIGNIFICANT TO THE MAASAI, AND AS A RESULT, RETALIATORY KILLINGS HAVE BEEN REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY.IN 2023, WE FUNDED THE SUCCESSFUL INTERVENTION BY RANGERS AGAINST 3 ATTEMPTED RETALIATORY LION HUNTS, AND OUR GRANTS TO THE PREDATOR COMPENSATION FUND WERE USED TO REIMBURSE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY MEMBERS A TOTAL OF $129,036 FOR 1,912 VERIFIED DEATHS BY PREDATION OF LIVESTOCK. 141691 80000 4154566 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 12 12 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 CA CO CT FL GA IL MD MA MI MN NJ NY OR TN LA NE NV TX WA DC WY X X KIM SCHWALB 9713223326 1715 NORTH HERON DRIVE RIDGEFIELD WA 98642 GREG GUBITZ DIRECTOR & CHAIRPERSON 20.00 X X 0 0 0 JON CUMMINGS DIRECTOR & SECRETARY 5.00 X X 0 0 0 TOM HILL DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER & TREASURER 5.00 X X 0 0 0 RICHARD BONHAM DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER 10.00 X 0 0 0 NICK BRANDT DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER 10.00 X 0 0 0 ORLA BRADY DIRECTOR 5.00 X 0 0 0 DERECK JOUBERT DIRECTOR 5.00 X 0 0 0 CHRIS SATTLER DIRECTOR 5.00 X 0 0 0 MIKE SILVESTRINI DIRECTOR 5.00 X 0 0 0 TEMPLE ST CLAIR CARR DIRECTOR 5.00 X 0 0 0 BARRY TURKUS DIRECTOR 5.00 X 0 0 0 DICKSON KAELO DIRECTOR 5.00 X 0 0 0 KIM SCHWALB EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 60.00 X 158398 0 15653 AMY BAIRD DEPUTY DIRECTOR 60.00 X 112047 0 13925 ALEXANDRA HOSTETTER DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR 60.00 X 111179 0 14091 381624 0 43669 3 0 1 0 0 5323936 5323936 81231 81231 427 427 3077119 3077344 -225 -225 -225 11908 15993 -4085 -4085 AGENCY FEES 900003 1000 1000 MISCELLANEOUS INCOME 900099 299 299 1299 5402583 0 0 78647 3996065 3996065 175112 45154 84804 45154 346922 77129 68514 201279 12128 4043 4043 4042 48623 14744 19135 14744 39559 9172 11493 18894 810 810 10806 7706 3100 78876 78876 26949 12318 14631 29752 7522 22230 50493 4846 29803 15844 18291 898 12172 5221 31351 2515 22949 5887 275 275 3048 3048 4869060 4154566 363193 351301 1256080 81766 2554839 4367853 133728 91216 3670 306 0 3364 3944647 4544199 8651 27776 8651 27776 X 3922871 4439348 13125 77075 3935996 4516423 3944647 4544199 533523 46904 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 3357247 3916760 6075810 6774610 5323936 25448363 3357247 3916760 6075810 6774610 5323936 25448363 1965786 23482577 22596 7052 3293 15082 81658 129681 1006 7300 8306 1000 1036 1145 1299 4480 25590830 0.91760 0.94200 X SCHEDULE A, PART II, LINE 10, EXPLANATION OF OTHER INCOME: AGENCY FEES - 2020 AMOUNT: $ 1,000. 2021 AMOUNT: $ 1,000. 2022 AMOUNT: $ 1,000. 2023 AMOUNT: $ 1,000. MISCELLANEOUS - 2021 AMOUNT: $ 36. 2022 AMOUNT: $ 145. 2023 AMOUNT: $ 299. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 1 1000137 1068235 819819 1248553 0 3670 306 3364 3364 5558307 46904 108820 155724 5402583 0 5402583 4977880 108820 108820 4869060 0 4869060 PART IV, LINE 1B: IN APRIL 2020, BIG LIFE USA AND BIG LIFE LIMITED KENYA (BLLK) ENTERED INTO A TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENT DESIGNED TO MITIGATE BANKING RISK DUE TO COVID-19-RELATED FINANCIAL INSTABILITY. UNDER THE TERMS OF THE FINANCIAL AGENCY AGREEMENT, BIG LIFE USA IS TEMPORARILY HOLDING FUNDS ON BEHALF OF BLLK IN TWO ACCOUNTS ("KENYA RESERVE" AT JP MORGAN CHASE BANK AND "KENYA OPERATING" AT SEATTLE BANK). UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, BLLK RETAINS FULL OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL OF THE FUNDS, AND BIG LIFE USA MAY NOT USE THE FUNDS IN ANY WAY WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS FROM BLLK. 1 SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA 0 0 GRANTS TO RECIPIENTS LOCATED IN THE REGION 3934679 EUROPE (INCLUDING ICELAND & GREENLAND) 0 0 GRANTS TO RECIPIENTS LOCATED IN THE REGION 60501 NORTH AMERICA 0 0 GRANTS TO RECIPIENTS LOCATED IN THE REGION 885 EUROPE (INCLUDING ICELAND & GREENLAND) 0 0 FUNDRAISING 140926 EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC 0 0 FUNDRAISING 15847 0 0 0 0 0 0 4152838 0 4152838 SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA WILDLIFE PROTECTION, CONSERVATION, EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS 3934679 WIRE TRANSFER 0 EUROPE (INCLUDING ICELAND & GREENLAND) OPERATING SUPPORT 60501 WIRE TRANSFER 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 PART I, LINE 2: THROUGH THE BOARD, THE ORGANIZATION WILL EXERCISE COMPLETE CONTROL AND SUPERVISION OF ALL GRANTS MADE THAT FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT STATUS. EACH GRANT MUST BE EVIDENCED IN WRITING AND REVIEWED BY THE BOARD WITH, AT MINIMUM, THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS: (1) REQUIREMENT THAT GRANTEE FURNISH PERIODIC ACCOUNTINGS TO THE ORGANIZATION THAT DEMONSTRATE THAT THE FUNDS WERE EXPENDED FOR APPROVED PURPOSES. (2) THE ABILITY OF THE ORGANIZATION, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, TO DECLINE TO FUND, FOR ANY REASON, A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED GRANT. (3) AUTHORIZATION FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO SOLICIT CONTRIBUTIONS, GRANTS AND GIFTS IN ORDER TO FUND THE GRANT. (4) THE ABILITY OF THE ORGANIZATION TO WITHDRAW ITS PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE GRANT AND/OR THE INTENDED USE OF THE FUNDS THEREUNDER. (5) THE ABILITY OF THE ORGANIZATION TO REFUSE TO ACCEPT GIFTS, GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE EARMARKED FOR THE USE OF THE FOUNDATION. TO THE EXTENT THE ASSETS OF THE ORGANIZATION REASONABLY PERMIT, THE APPROPRIATE OFFICERS OR DIRECTORS OF THE ORGANIZATION MAY CONDUCT FIELD INVESTIGATIONS TO VERIFY ALL GRANTS ARE BEING UTILIZED FOR THE PURPOSES SET FORTH IN THE GRANT APPLICATION. PART I, LINE 3: THE ACCRUAL METHOD IS USED TO ACCOUNT FOR EXPENDITURES. SCHEDULE F, PART IV, LINE 1: FORM 926 IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE FILED BECAUSE THE TRANSFER TO A FOREIGN CORPORATION DOES NOT MEET THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS IN THE IRC SEC 6038(A)(1)(A). X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 KIM SCHWALB EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 157900 0 0 0 498 0 4737 0 10916 0 174051 0 0 0 PART I, LINE 7 BONUSES ARE DETERMINED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD, FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND/OR BOARD OF DIRECTORS BASED ON VARIABLES SUCH AS WHETHER OR NOT FUNDRAISING GOALS WERE MET OR EXCEEDED IN THE CURRENT YEAR. THERE IS NOT A FORMULAIC APPROACH, AND BONUSES ARE NOT AWARDED EVERY YEAR, ONLY SOMETIMES. FORM 990, PART I, LINE 6: VOLUNTEERS THERE WERE TWELVE VOLUNTEER BOARD MEMBERS IN 2023 WHO PROVIDED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, FUNDRAISING, AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 2 HABITAT CONSERVATION, NEWLY REPORTED ON THE 2023 FORM 990, IS A PREVIOUSLY EXISTING PROGRAM WHICH HAS RECENTLY EXPANDED ITS ACTIVITIES. SEE PART III LINE 4B FOR THE FULL PROGRAM DESCRIPTION. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 2 NICK BRANDT AND ORLA BRADY HAVE A FAMILY RELATIONSHIP. BARRY TURKUS AND MIKE SILVESTRINI HAVE A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 8B BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA DOES NOT HAVE ANY COMMITTEES THAT ACT ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNING BOARD. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE ASSISTANCE AND OVERSEES THE PREPARATION OF THE 990. BIG LIFE USA'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS ARE PRESENTED WITH THE FORM 990 BEFORE IRS SUBMISSION. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA HAS A FORMAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY WHICH DEFINES AN INTERESTED PERSON AND REQUIRES EACH DIRECTOR, OFFICER, AND KEY EMPLOYEE TO ANNUALLY COMPLETE AND SIGN A CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. THE STATEMENT REQUIRES DISCLOSURE OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL CONFLICTS AND AFFIRMS THAT SUCH PERSON HAS RECEIVED A COPY OF, READ, AND UNDERSTANDS THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND HAS AGREED TO COMPLY WITH THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. THE BOARD WILL REVIEW EACH CONFLICT AND DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE ACTION. IF A CONFLICT ARISES, THE BOARD MEMBER WILL RECUSE HIM/HERSELF FROM ANY DISCUSSION OR VOTE ON THE MATTER. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A ANY INCREASES TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S COMPENSATION ARE DETERMINED BY THE BOARD AND DOCUMENTED IN BOARD MEETING MINUTES. THERE WAS NO INCREASE TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S COMPENSATION IN 2023 OTHER THAN A 8.5% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT, WHICH WAS BASED ON CURRENT DATA. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE OR UPON REQUEST. THE GOVERNING DOCUMENTS AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.