About
The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International is a conservation nonprofit, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, that continues the work Dr. Dian Fossey began in 1967 when she founded the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda's Virunga mountains with just two tents and a commitment to protect and study endangered mountain gorillas. Nearly six decades later, the Fossey Fund runs what it describes as the world's longest-running gorilla research program and protects two of the four gorilla subspecies: the endangered mountain gorillas of Rwanda's Virunga mountains and the critically endangered Grauer's gorillas of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Mission
The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund's mission is to save gorillas and the ecosystems in which they live through a scientific and people-centered approach to create a healthier planet for all.
What they do
The Fossey Fund's holistic conservation model rests on four key pillars:
- Protecting gorillas: teams are on the ground every single day providing direct, sustained protection of gorillas in their natural habitats.
- Conducting critical science: combining extensive, unique long-term datasets with cutting-edge research to advance understanding of gorillas and their habitats.
- Creating conservationists: educating, advocating, and training conservation stakeholders from Africa and around the globe, with a priority on advancing African researchers and scientists.
- Building resilient communities: collaborating with indigenous peoples and local communities on education, livelihoods, and food and water security.
History
After founding Karisoke in September 1967 at the urging of anthropologist Louis Leakey, Dian Fossey conducted groundbreaking studies of gorilla behavior that helped save mountain gorillas from extinction. Her life was cut short in 1985, but her work continued through the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. In 2012 the Fund helped establish the Nkuba Conservation Area in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in partnership with local communities, and in 2022 it opened the Ellen DeGeneres Campus in Rwanda, its first permanent, purpose-built facility.
Scale and impact
The Fossey Fund is powered by more than 400 staff members, the majority based in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including trackers, scientists, educators, conservationists, and community engagement specialists — most from the communities where the organization works. It holds Platinum status with Candid (formerly GuideStar), a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, and recognition from CharityWatch for accountability and transparency.
Financials
According to Form 990 data on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (fiscal year ending September 2025), The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (EIN 52-1118866) reported total revenue of $13,922,074, expenses of $9,747,054, and net assets of $45,942,369. Contributions accounted for about 90.1% of revenue. The IRS issued the organization's tax exemption in August 1978.
Governance
The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit led by President and CEO Dr. Tara Stoinski, with a board of directors chaired by Kristen Lukas, per the most recent Form 990.
