International Rhino Foundation

What International Rhino Foundation does

The International Rhino Foundation (IRF) is a US-based nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1989 (originally as the International Black Rhino Foundation; renamed in 1993 to reflect a five-species mandate) and headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, with a program office in Strasburg, Virginia. IRF is the only organization globally dedicated exclusively to conserving all five surviving rhino species—black, white, greater one-horned, Javan, and Sumatran—across field programs in approximately 10 countries spanning Africa (Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Eswatini) and Asia (India, Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam). Over the last decade the organization has invested more than US$20 million in rhino conservation, with more than 88% of funds directed to local staff and implementing partners.

IRF's operational core combines direct funding, scientific research, and on-the-ground program management delivered through a coalition ("Team Rhino") of hundreds of conservation NGOs, IUCN specialist groups, government agencies, zoos, and corporate partners. Technical capabilities include GPS horn implants and foot collars, AI-enhanced Rouxcel Rhino Watch anomaly detection collars (66 deployed), drone-based thermal monitoring, portable Nanopore DNA sequencing pilots, sniffer dog detection teams for Sumatran rhino scat, and the 250-acre Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Way Kambas National Park—the only facility with a reproductively viable captive Sumatran rhino population, which has produced five calves since 2012. Field deliverables include Rhino Protection Units, habitat restoration (50 acres restored in Manas National Park as a pilot, 250 acres planned; 50 hectares planted in Sumatra), anti-poaching operations, demand-reduction campaigns in Vietnam, and an annual research grant program (~US$250K distributed in 2026 across 11 studies).

IRF's revenue model is donation-driven and diversified: individual one-time gifts ($25-$500 tiers) and monthly sustainer commitments ($10-$250/month tiers), organizational donations ($1K-$10K+ tiers), symbolic rhino adoptions and merchandise via shop.rhinos.org, donor-advised fund grants (Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, BNY Mellon), planned giving and bequests (Rhino Guardians Legacy Society), stock and securities gifts, IRA charitable distributions, and employer matching gifts via Double the Donation. Marketing and donor acquisition span a digital-first ecosystem—rhinos.org website and blog, monthly newsletter, social media, World Rhino Day (September 22), Bowling for Rhinos grassroots events, the "Go Wild For Rhinos" supporter toolkit, the annual State of the Rhino flagship report, and a zoo partner network that distributes educational materials and adoption programs. IRF is governed by a board of directors, led by Executive Director Nina Fascione, and operates with a lean 1-10 person US staff that orchestrates an extensive in-country implementing partner network rather than running programs directly.

Name

International Rhino Foundation

Legal name

International Rhino Foundation

Website

https://rhinos.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The International Rhino Foundation is a US-based nonprofit that funds and coordinates field conservation programs for all five surviving rhino species across Africa and Asia. It invests more than 88% of donor funds directly into local partner NGOs, government agencies, and community rangers operating in roughly 10 range countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation & Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (BPAGAIAI), Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC), Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH), Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ), Biodiversity, Conservation & Natural Capital Funds (FSANAJAG)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation services
• Rhino species protection
• Habitat restoration programs
• Anti-poaching operations
• Captive breeding programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Worth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Fundraising: IRF's primary revenue source is individual donor contributions made via its website (rhinos.org/donate), including one-time gifts, monthly sustainer commitments, and honorary/memorial donations. Over the last decade more than $20 million has been invested in rhino conservation, indicating substantial cumulative donor funding.
2. Grant Funding for Conservation Programs: IRF acts as both a funder and implementer of rhino conservation. It distributes grants to in-country partners and receives grant funding from foundations, governments, and conservation organizations. The 2026 research grant program distributed nearly $250,000 to fund 11 rhino studies.
3. Rhino Adoption Programs: Symbolic adoption of rhinos via shop.rhinos.org. Adoptable rhinos include Rocky the black rhino, black rhino adoption certificates, greater one-horned rhino adoption certificates, Sumatran rhino sponsorship (Harapan, Indra), K9 Ranger adoption, and various themed adoption packages.
4. Merchandise Sales (Rhino Shop): Sale of IRF-branded apparel and items made in rhino-range states via shop.rhinos.org. Revenue supports rhino conservation activities.
5. Planned Giving and Legacy Society: Rhino Guardians legacy society accepts bequests through wills and trusts, beneficiary designations on retirement plans and insurance policies, and real estate/property donations. IRA rollover contributions (Section 72(t)(2)(A)(iv) IRA Charitable Distribution) are also accepted.
6. Employer Matching Gifts: Many employers match employee donations to IRF, amplifying individual contributions. IRF promotes this through its Double Your Donation program powered by Double the Donation.
7. Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Gifts: IRF accepts grants from donor advised funds held at Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, and BNY Mellon. DAF Direct widget enables seamless grant recommendations to IRF.
8. Stock and Securities Donations: Donors can contribute stocks, bonds, or mutual funds, enabling avoidance of capital gains tax liability while receiving a full income tax deduction for the donation amount.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

International Rhino Foundation funds and implements field-based conservation programs protecting all five surviving rhino species (black, white, greater one-horned, Javan, and Sumatran) across Africa and Asia. Core operations include grants and technical support to in-country NGO and government partners running Rhino Protection Units, anti-poaching patrols, and habitat restoration; the 250-acre Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary captive breeding program in Way Kambas National Park; AI/GPS rhino monitoring technology deployment; an annual research grants program funding approximately 11 studies with roughly $250,000 disbursed per cycle; and donor-funded public engagement through the symbolic Adopt a Rhino program, merchandise sales, and planned giving.

Product overview

The International Rhino Foundation is a nonprofit conservation organization operating a portfolio of interconnected programs to protect all five remaining rhino species. The core offerings include symbolic adoption programs and merchandise sales through the Rhino Shop, funding rhino conservation through various donation mechanisms (one-time, monthly sustainer, planned giving, employer matching), and supporting field conservation through the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary breeding facility. Knowledge products include the annual State of the Rhino Report and the AfRSG partnership providing research grants. Awareness initiatives include World Rhino Day campaigns. The organization funds anti-poaching operations, habitat restoration, community engagement, and population monitoring across eight countries (India, Nepal, Indonesia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Vietnam, and Java).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adopt a Rhino Symbolic adoption program that allows individual supporters to adopt a rhino either in their own name or as a gift in exchange for a donation, receiving an adoption certificate and the option of species-specific themed packages (including black rhino, greater one-horned rhino, Sumatran rhino Harapan, Sumatran rhino Indra, and K9 Ranger adoption). Proceeds support rhino conservation field programs.
• Rhino Shop (Branded Apparel and Conservation-Themed Merchandise) Online store selling IRF-branded apparel, accessories, and items produced in rhino-range states (including apparel, plush toys, prints, and themed collectibles). Revenue supports IRF's rhino conservation programs across Africa and Asia.
• Donation Programs (One-Time Gifts, Monthly Sustainers, Stocks/Securities, Donor-Advised Funds) Multiple donation channels supporting IRF's rhino conservation work: one-time online gifts, recurring monthly sustainer commitments (typically $10/$25/$50/$100/$250 per month), honorary and memorial donations, stocks and securities contributions that avoid capital gains tax, donor-advised fund grants (Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, BNY Mellon), and employer matching gifts via Double the Donation. A separate organization donation form supports contributions from zoos, corporations, and foundations in $1,000/$5,000/$10,000 tiers.
• Rhino Guardians Legacy Society (Planned Giving) Legacy giving membership program that enables supporters to include IRF in their wills, retirement plan beneficiary designations, insurance policies, IRA Charitable Distributions, and real estate gifts. Members (Rhino Guardians) receive certificates, exclusive publications, invitations to special donor events, and VIP tours of rhino reserves such as those hosting AI foot collar deployments.
• Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary (SRS) — Captive Breeding and VIP Reserve Tours A 250-acre protected, semi-wild captive breeding and research facility in Way Kambas National Park, Sumatra, housing the only reproductively viable captive Sumatran rhinos in the world. Combines large natural rainforest habitats with state-of-the-art veterinary care and has produced five Sumatran rhino calves. Available as a VIP tour destination for senior IRF supporters through the Rhino Guardians Legacy Society program.
• Rhino Research Grants Program (Annual RFP Cycle) Annual competitive grant program (with periodic calls such as the 2023 and 2026 cycles) that distributes approximately $250,000 per cycle to roughly 11 research studies targeting rhino health, population genetics, habitat assessment, AI-enabled monitoring, and demand reduction. Implementing institutions include accredited zoos (Cincinnati Zoo/CREW, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Minnesota Zoo), the Smithsonian National Zoo, University of Pretoria, Oregon State University, Wildlife Research and Training Institute (Kenya), and Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Separately, in partnership with the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group, IRF co-funds the Rhino Range Expansion Fund which offers grants generally not exceeding $15,000 for direct conservation interventions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Black rhino population increased from ~2,300 in the mid-1990s to 6,788 today
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AaranyakcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 February 2023Aaranyak is a biodiversity conservation group in Assam, India. IRF supported Aaranyak to implement a water hyacinth livelihood initiative near Laokhowa-Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary, training women from Singimari and Kaliadinga villages to craft saleable products. Aaranyak also conducts invasive species removal in Manas National Park, restoring prime rhino habitat.
• National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2021IRF expanded to Nepal in 2021 with first grant to NTNC for removing invasive plants and restoring rhino habitat in Chitwan National Park. Over two years, NTNC removed invasive species from 625 acres of grasslands, paying wages of local community members who manually uproot plants.
• Yayasan Badak Indonesia (YABI)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe Rhino Foundation of Indonesia (YABI) manages the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary, operates Rhino Protection Units and Wildlife Protection Teams, and collaborates on Javan rhino conservation. IRF built the SRS in 1996 and continues to fund YABI's operations, including habitat restoration, breeding programs, and community engagement in Sumatra.
• Aliansi Lestari Rimba Terpadu (ALeRT)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe Alliance of Integrated Forest Conservation (ALeRT) works alongside IRF and YABI to protect Javan and Sumatran rhinos in Indonesian protected areas, operating Wildlife Protection Teams and supporting conservation of Ujung Kulon National Park's Javan rhino population.
• Forum Konservasi Leuser (FKL)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe Leuser Conservation Forum (FKL) operates Rhino Protection Units in the Leuser ecosystem in Sumatra, one of the few remaining areas with a potentially viable wild Sumatran rhino population. FKL patrols key areas, monitors rhinos, and investigates wildlife crime.
• Indonesian Rhino Initiative (IRI)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIRI collaborates with IRF, YABI, and Way Kambas National Park on replanting degraded land and expanding critical habitat for Sumatran rhinos. The pilot program across two sites has planted 50 hectares of rhino habitat.
• Save the Rhino Trust Namibia (SRT)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIRF announced its first grants to Namibia, funding SRT to establish a rhino ranger program in the San community and expand the Black Rhino Custodianship Programme and Community Rhino Ranger Incentive Program. Namibia holds nearly a third of Africa's black rhinos.
• Stop Rhino Poaching (SRP)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIRF works with SRP in South Africa to protect black and white rhinos through monitoring, anti-poaching efforts, K9 unit support, community involvement, investigation and forensic techniques, and law enforcement support. SRP founder Elise Serfontein serves as IRF's South Africa advisor.
• Lowveld Rhino Trust (LRT)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIRF partners with LRT in Zimbabwe to protect and grow the country's largest black rhino population. LRT implements comprehensive programs including rhino tracking, anti-poaching, treating injured rhinos, rehabilitation, translocation, and community engagement in the Lowveld conservancies.
• Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIRF provided grant funding to ENV for demand reduction communications campaigns in Vietnam targeting rhino horn consumers. ENV recruits volunteers to log illegal wildlife violations on social media, works with Facebook to remove ads, and coordinates police operations to seize illegal goods and arrest traders.
• IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group (AfRSG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe AfRSG is one of 140+ IUCN SSC Specialist Groups, with 46 expert members covering all African rhino range states. IRF co-funds AfRSG and publishes AfRSG research. IRF and AfRSG jointly offer a Rhino Range Expansion Fund (grants up to $15,000) for direct conservation interventions and metapopulation management.
• IUCN Asian Rhino Specialist Group (AsRSG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe AsRSG provides population data and scientific guidance for Asian rhino conservation. AsRSG announced the greater one-horned rhino population increased to 4,014 (2022) and continues to assess Asian rhino populations, informing IRF program priorities.
• TRAFFICcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRAFFIC is a leading nonprofit combating illegal wildlife trade. LRT works with TRAFFIC to manage wildlife crime data in Zimbabwe. TRAFFIC co-authors the IUCN/TRAFFIC Rhino Report for CITES on rhino population status and trade.
• Rhino Research CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Rhino Research Council, comprising ~25 scientists and rhino experts, advises the Rhino Taxon Advisory Group of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. IRF uses the Rhino Research Masterplan to guide research grant priorities and disseminates the Masterplan every five years.
• Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens / Center for Conservation & Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCincinnati Zoo bred Andalas (born 2001), the first Sumatran rhino born in captivity in 112 years. Andalas was moved to the SRS in 2007. CREW collaborates on 2026 IRF-funded research examining health biomarkers in rhino saliva and nasal secretions across multiple AZA institutions.
• Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPSG conducted a population viability analysis for Namibia's black rhino meta-population with Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and the Minnesota Zoo Foundation, supported by IRF funding. CPSG provides expert conservation planning tools for IRF's field programs.
• Kwandwe Private Game ReservecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKwandwe Private Game Reserve in South Africa hosts IRF-funded anti-poaching and monitoring programs including 66 AI-enhanced rhino foot collars and drone-based monitoring SOPs. IRF serves as funder, partner, convener, facilitator, and trainer for rhino conservation programs at Kwandwe.
• Way Kambas National ParkcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWay Kambas National Park in Sumatra hosts the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary (built by IRF in 1996) and is the site of Sumatran rhino habitat replanting and detector dog scat detection programs. The park is home to the only reproductively viable captive Sumatran rhinos.
• Ujung Kulon National Park (UKNP)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUKNP in Java is the only habitat of the world's Javan rhinos (~50 individuals). IRF supports UKNP and YABI to protect Javan rhinos through habitat management, Rhino Protection Units, perimeter fencing, and guard posts at the 5,000-hectare JRSCA in the Gunung Honje area.
• African ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican Parks acquired the Platinum Rhino Project and its 2,000 southern white rhinos (an eighth of the world's white rhino population). IRF has supported anti-poaching efforts in Greater Kruger, and African Parks' historic translocations across Africa are expected to significantly contribute to white rhino conservation.
• San Diego Zoo Safari ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Diego Zoo Safari Park collaborates on 2026 IRF-funded research characterizing the gastrointestinal microbiome of greater one-horned rhinos in North American zoos, addressing chronic diarrhea syndrome in the AZA Species Survival Plan population.
• Ol Pejeta ConservancycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOl Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, which holds the largest eastern black rhino population globally, partners on IRF-funded research studying the nutritional ecology of eastern black rhinos through fecal DNA metabarcoding and habitat-use monitoring, in collaboration with Wildlife Research and Training Institute.
• Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI, Kenya)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWRTI collaborates with IRF and Kenya Wildlife Service on building a chromosome-scale reference genome and imputation panel for genomic monitoring of eastern black rhinos in Kenya, and on nutritional ecology studies at Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
• Oregon State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOregon State University collaborates on IRF's 2026 grant piloting portable Nanopore DNA sequencing technology for non-invasive monitoring of greater one-horned rhinos in Nepal through dung samples.
• Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute collaborated on 2023 IRF-funded research analyzing proteins in black rhino immune cells to understand chronic systemic inflammation in captive populations.
• University of PretoriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Pretoria collaborated on two IRF 2023 grants: analyzing metapopulation management approaches for black rhinos in South Africa's BRREP sites, and establishing individual genetic value calculations for black and white rhinos using RhODIS database data.
• Indian Rhino Vision 2.0 (IRV2.0) ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRV 2.0 is a multi-partner initiative (Assam Government, IRF, partner NGOs) to secure minimum three meta-populations with 4,500–5,000 greater one-horned rhinos in Assam by 2030. Involves translocating 10 rhinos from Kaziranga and Pobitora to Manas, and 20 rhinos to Laokhowa and Burhachapori.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Save the Rhino International: UK-based nonprofit dedicated to rhino conservation across Africa and Asia. Closest direct competitor with overlapping mission to protect all five rhino species, similar grantmaking model to in-country partners, and comparable individual donor fundraising approach.
• African Wildlife Foundation: Africa-focused wildlife conservation nonprofit that funds and implements field programs including rhino protection, anti-poaching, and community engagement. Highly comparable funding model and stakeholder base to IRF's Africa operations.
• Save the Rhino Trust Namibia: Namibian nonprofit that is both an IRF implementation partner and a comparable organization focused on black rhino monitoring, ranger programs, and community custodianship in Namibia. Directly comparable mission and rhino-specific focus.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: US-based conservation nonprofit that operates the Bronx Zoo and global field conservation programs including rhino protection. Comparable integrated zoo + field model with similar US-based donor base and global field footprint.
• African Parks: Conservation nonprofit that manages 20+ protected areas across Africa, including the Platinum Rhino Project (2,000 southern white rhinos). Comparable large-scale protected area management and rhino conservation mandate, though with park-management rather than grantmaking focus.

Broad incumbents

• WWF (World Wildlife Fund): Largest global conservation organization with broad species mandate including rhinos. Overlaps with IRF on field programs and donor base, but operates at vastly larger scale with much broader species and ecosystem portfolio.
• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: US zoo + conservation organization that collaborates with IRF on greater one-horned rhino microbiome research (2026 grant). Comparable zoo-based donor base and integrated conservation science mandate.
• The Nature Conservancy: Largest US environmental nonprofit with global habitat conservation mandate. Comparable nonprofit structure and US donor base, but with a much broader conservation portfolio and minimal rhino-specific focus.

Others

• TRAFFIC: Wildlife trade monitoring network and IRF partner that combats illegal rhino horn trade. Comparable anti-poaching and demand-reduction focus, but functions as a data/intelligence network rather than a direct donor-funded field operator.

Regional players

• Ol Pejeta Conservancy: Kenya-based conservancy holding the world's largest eastern black rhino population; collaborates with IRF on nutritional ecology research. Comparable rhino-specific focus but operates as a single conservancy rather than multi-country grantmaker.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rhinosirf
• Facebookfacebook.com/InternationalRhinoFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-rhino-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Rhino Foundation