Nonprofit · EIN 27-3455389
BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA
Tax-exempt · SEATTLE, WA 98101
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $7,890,389 | $10,190,336 | -$2,299,947 | $3,864,833 | $70,396 | $3,794,437 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $7,892,630 | $6,300,053 | $1,592,577 | $6,138,257 | $24,149 | $6,114,108 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $5,402,583 | $4,869,060 | $533,523 | $4,544,199 | $27,776 | $4,516,423 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $7,743,685
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $140,259
- Net gain from sales of assets
- -$747
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $3,373
- Other revenue
- $6,445
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $8,816,071
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $194,535
- Other salaries and wages
- $598,382
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $952,238
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $41,205
- Accounting fees
- $69,351
- Travel
- $33,938
- Program services (functional)
- $9,074,536
- Management and general (functional)
- $526,003
- Fundraising (functional)
- $589,797
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $6,138,257
- Total assets, end of year
- $3,864,833
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $70,396
- Net assets, end of year
- $3,794,437
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $917
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $2,849,504
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $944,933
- Gross receipts
- $7,902,099
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 12
- Year formed
- 2010
- State of legal domicile
- WA
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 December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIM SCHWALB | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $174,099 | $20,435 |
| ALEXANDRA HOSTETTER | DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $147,252 | $19,539 |
| AMY BAIRD | DEPUTY DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $143,864 | $18,763 |
| GREG GUBITZ | DIRECTOR & CHAIRPERSON Trustee or director, Officer | 20 | $0 | $0 |
| JON CUMMINGS | DIRECTOR & SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| RICHARD BONHAM | DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER Trustee or director | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| ORLA BRADY | DIRECTOR THRU 04/25 Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| NICK BRANDT | DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER THRU 01/25 Trustee or director | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| TEMPLE ST CLAIR CARR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| CLAUDINE COHEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| DERECK JOUBERT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| DICKSON KAELO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRIS SATTLER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| MIKE SILVESTRINI | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| BARRY TURKUS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 16 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIM SCHWALB | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $174,085 | $17,738 |
| AMY BAIRD | DEPUTY DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $123,090 | $15,636 |
| ALEXANDRA HOSTETTER | DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $121,834 | $16,189 |
| GREG GUBITZ | DIRECTOR & CHAIRPERSON Trustee or director, Officer | 20 | $0 | $0 |
| JON CUMMINGS | DIRECTOR & SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRIS SATTLER | TREASURER, DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| TOM HILL | DIR/CO-FOUNDER & TREAS. THRU 07/24 Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| RICHARD BONHAM | DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER Trustee or director | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| NICK BRANDT | DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER Trustee or director | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| ORLA BRADY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| DERECK JOUBERT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| MIKE SILVESTRINI | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| TEMPLE ST CLAIR CARR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| BARRY TURKUS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| DICKSON KAELO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| CLAUDINE COHEN | DIRECTOR (THRU 12/24) Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 15 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIM SCHWALB | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 60 | $158,398 | $15,653 |
| AMY BAIRD | DEPUTY DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 60 | $112,047 | $13,925 |
| ALEXANDRA HOSTETTER | DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 60 | $111,179 | $14,091 |
| GREG GUBITZ | DIRECTOR & CHAIRPERSON Trustee or director, Officer | 20 | $0 | $0 |
| JON CUMMINGS | DIRECTOR & SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| TOM HILL | DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER & TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| RICHARD BONHAM | DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER Trustee or director | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| NICK BRANDT | DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER Trustee or director | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| ORLA BRADY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| DERECK JOUBERT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRIS SATTLER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| MIKE SILVESTRINI | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| TEMPLE ST CLAIR CARR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| BARRY TURKUS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| DICKSON KAELO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 720 SENECA ST STE 107, SEATTLE, WA 98101-3265
- In care of
- % KIMBERLY EVELYN SCHWALB
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- GREG GUBITZ, 1715 NORTH HERON DRIVE, RIDGEFIELD, WA 98642
- Signed the 990
- GREG GUBITZ, PRESIDENT & CHAIRPERSON
- Phone
- (971) 322-3326
- Website
- WWW.BIGLIFE.ORG
- Return prepared by
- CLARK NUBER PS
Mission
PARTNERING WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT ICONIC SPECIES AND CONSERVE HABITAT IN THE GREATER AMBOSELI ECOSYSTEM.
Program accomplishments
- WILDLIFE SECURITY AND HABITAT: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 2025, WE FUNDED 33 PERMANENT OUTPOSTS AND 13 MOBILE UNITS IN KENYA, AND WE SUPPORTED THE SALARIES, TRAINING, AND EQUIPMENT OF 593 TOTAL FIELD STAFF IN KENYA, INCLUDING 391 TRAINED RANGERS. RANGERS IN KENYA PATROLLED 546,923 KM BY VEHICLE, 234,863 KM ON FOOT, AND 28,817 KM BY PLANE. 209 SUSPECTS WERE ARRESTED IN 113 INCIDENTS IN KENYA. HUNDREDS OF POACHING TOOLS AND RELATED ITEMS WERE CONFISCATED, ALONG WITH 254 KG OF IVORY. WE ALSO SUPPORTED THE LEGAL MONITORING OF COURT CASES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.Expenses $6,744,114 · grants $6,612,919
- COMMUNITY AND OUTREACH: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 2025, BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA PROVIDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR 462 STUDENTS AT VARYING LEVELS OF EDUCATION AND PAID THE SALARIES OF 8 TEACHERS. MULTIPLE CONSERVATION-ORIENTED STUDENT AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND FIELD TRIPS WERE ALSO HELD IN 2025.Expenses $2,145,862 · grants $2,022,206
- 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 2025, 55 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. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION)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 2025, WE FUNDED THE SUCCESSFUL INTERVENTION BY RANGERS AGAINST 8 ATTEMPTED RETALIATORY LION HUNTS, AND OUR GRANTS TO THE PREDATOR COMPENSATION FUND WERE USED TO REIMBURSE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY MEMBERS A TOTAL OF $101,099 FOR VERIFIED DEATHS BY PREDATION OF LIVESTOCK.Expenses $184,560 · grants $180,946
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 December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 27-3455389
- 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
- 2011
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Animal-related (D34)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $3,864,833
- Income (IRS master file)
- $7,902,099
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $7,890,389 | $10,190,336 | $3,864,833 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $7,892,630 | $6,300,053 | $6,138,257 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $5,402,583 | $4,869,060 | $4,544,199 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2022 | $6,786,787 | $5,622,784 | $3,944,647 | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | 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 27-3455389).
Questions about BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA
- What is the EIN of BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA is 27-3455389.
- Is BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2011.
- Are donations to BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA 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 BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names GREG GUBITZ.
- Who are the officers and directors of BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 15 people; 3 received compensation from the organization, the highest $174,099 (KIM SCHWALB, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $7,890,389, expenses of $10,190,336 and total assets of $3,864,833 at year end.
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