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Recommended Organizations

     There are many great organizations to donate to or get involved with. This page has links to a few ways that you can provide much needed assistance to wildlife reserves, anti-poaching organizations, and conservation groups.

     Suggestions of new groups to volunteer with and ways I can help in the United States, Africa, or Asia are welcome. Please contact us and let me know where I can be of service!

          Thank you.

Index

Foundations & Organizations

Conservation Organizations & Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers



Foundations and Organizations

Raising Awareness & Volunteering

     I have outlined in the Get Involved section how spending your free time raising awareness can help to raise funds for wildlife organizations. Simply telling charitable friends and family about these organizations can be just as helpful as donating the money yourself. Organizations like Save the Rhino International even have ideas to get you started on your own fundraising initiative.

     Companies making charitable, tax-deductible contributions make up much of the money that goes towards charities and conservation efforts. Talking to your boss or employer about making a donation on behalf of the company can provide a huge boost in funding without any financial burden to yourself.

     For some things honest dedication is enough to qualify for a volunteer position, however individuals with special skills may be able to find a position at a tiger breeding program or cheetah gene research center. Or as a specialist instructor for an anti-poaching group in the heart of Kruger National Park. Don't be afraid to approach a conservation group looking for volunteers. Make yourself available for an adventure and challenge yourself.

     See some examples of ways you can volunteer or fund your own adventure on the Get Involved page.

How Monetary Donations Help Conservation Efforts

     I've selected several organizations to feature on this site which I personally believe spend their money wisely with very low administrative costs. In some cases 100% of the funds donated go directly to operations on the ground in key areas. These organizations may fund National Parks, wildlife rehabilitation, or anti-poaching efforts where poaching is worst. In lieu of actual money, frequent flier miles are also accepted by some charities as an easy means of indirect support for their transportation needs.

Costs and funds associated with operations on the ground are defined as:

National Parks & Related Projects

Conservation Organizations & Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers (Listed Alphabetically)

     This list features some great organizations to donate to or get involved with. Donating to a non-profit or charitable organization registered in your country may make part of the donation tax-deductible (see the column on the right side of the page).

African Wildlife Foundation Logo

African Wildlife Foundation - Operating since 1961 (initially as African Wildlife Leadership Foundation) the Foundation has worked to conserve large regions of ecological importance throughout Africa. Currently they support direct efforts to protect and maintain these areas as well as work with governments to research and define conservation policy that benefits the humans and wildlife in that region.

USA
Animals Asia Logo

Animals Asia - Operating in Asia as a charitable organization since 1998, Animals Asia focuses on rescuing bears from illegal captivity. They operate sanctuaries for bears in Vietnam and China, both of which have legal and illegal large-scale commercial bear farming operations. They also work to change the dog and cat meat trade as well as provide care for abandoned or stray animals. Animals Asia works to improve animal welfare and strive for sustainable solutions through education and activism at local and governmental levels. A variety of volunteer opportunities and online donations are available.

AUS DEU ITA HK UK USA
Big Life Foundation Logo

Big Life Foundation - Begun in 2010 as a response to the brazen poaching experienced in Kenya and Tanzania, photographer and Big Life co-founder and president Nick Brandt tapped the support and experience of experts in East Africa and has quickly established a successful conservation effort protecting 2 million acres of East Africa with a realistic outlook on long term solutions that the foundation can provide. Their sister project Big Life Canada provides volunteer and donor opportunities for Canadians. Registered as a charitable organization in both CAN and USA. UK residents can tax-effectively donate via this process through Save the Rhino International.

CAN UK USA
Chengeta Wildlife Logo

ChengetaWildlife.org - Provides free, comprehensive anti-poaching training to government and private anti-poaching units in Africa. Operated solely by volunteers, 100% of donations go directly to providing the necessary training, equipment, and supplies to improve the effectiveness and knowledge of anti-poaching rangers. Training by Chengeta Wildlife yields short-term and long-term results. Over a two-week period during the 2015 dry season Chengeta-trained rangers arrested 81 poachers in Malawi. The organization's efforts also include the co-publication of a field manual to anti-poaching, which is donation-supported and has support from the European Union and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

Their website highlights ways that you can get involved in funding anti-poaching efforts in Africa using your own skills and also spread awareness of the poaching crisis. The donation button is the red and white "donate now - your help is needed" image on the left side of the page. Donation by wire transfer is also available.

USA
Conservation Drones Logo

ConservationDrones.org - Founded by Lian Pin Koh and Serge Wich, ConservationDrones.org seeks to assist in sharing knowledge of developing and deploying Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for conservation groups worldwide with a focus on the conservation needs of developing countries. One-time or monthly donations are handled through this page via Paypal.

USA
Elephant Action League Logo

Elephant Action League - Conducts multilingual global awareness campaigns and supports and sponsors projects in Africa related to anti-poaching and anti-trafficking. Elephant Action League is dedicated to fighting wildlife trafficking, forest crime, poaching, and provides training to field operatives and investigates individuals and organizations that take part in these crimes. They have an extensive list of conservation partners listed on their site.

The League has also launched WildLeaks.org, a secure platform for anonymous informants and whistle-blowers to expose wildlife and forest crime as well as trafficking organizations and corrupt government officials.

USA
Environmental Investigation Agency Logo

Environmental Investigation Agency - This non-governmental organization provides a different kind of front-line work by sending undercover investigators to the heart of wildlife trafficking syndicates and areas where other environmental crimes are being committed. Invaluable evidence is gathered and reported through EIA's publications for reading by the public and other NGOs. They also campaign to raise awareness and lobby for reforms in land and wildlife management while working with local groups, intelligence agencies, and NGOs to maximize the impact of the information that EIA gathers from the field.

UK
International Anti-Poaching Foundation Logo

International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF) - The IAPF operates accredited anti-poaching ranger training facilities in southern Africa and provides anti-poaching and conservation services for a wide array of wildlife, but most notably rhino. They are committed to its core objectives of education, research, leadership, and awareness of environmental issues and support a variety of conservation, education, and anti-poaching projects and groups across southern Africa.

Through the Green Army program applicable volunteers can get hands-on experience working with experts and rangers on front-line conservation and anti-poaching projects.

AUS UK USA
International Elephant Foundation Logo

International Elephant Foundation (IEF) - Established in 1999 the organization has focused on supporting and operating elephant conservation and education programs that have benefit wildlife, ecologies, and scientific research. The IEF operates a variety of anti-poaching, conservation, management, and research programs throughout Africa and Asia.

USA
International Rhino Foundation Logo

International Rhino Foundation (IRF) - Founded in 1989 the IRF has a major commitment to the Critically Endangered rhino of Asia as well as a sizable commitment to rhino conservation efforts in Africa. Their broad scope of projects, including management, monitoring, research, and protection of wildlife is focused to maintain and even increase rhino populations in select areas. They also provide anti-poaching training and support.

USA
Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre Logo

Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre - Rehabilitates large and small animals and provides a home to injured animals that can't be released back into the wild. Moholoholo, which means "The Very Great One," provides education to tourists, programs for local students, as well as venues for weddings and makes an important impact on the wildlife in the Kruger National Park area.

ZA
Nakavango Conservation Programme Logo

Nakavango Conservation Programme - Located in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe on a successful private game reserve, the Nakavango Conservation Programme provides volunteer programs, general survival courses, and customized training programs for eco-tourists and individuals of most experience levels. A highlight of the Programme is the conservation education it provides to schools in local communities on subjects of human-wildlife conflict, conservation of resources, and the importance of wildlife both as an inheritance for future generations and for tourism which generates significant revenue for the country. The Programme is the first project of the Eco Africa Experience, a division of Mantis Education.

USA
Save the Rhino International Logo

Save the Rhino International (SRI) - Registered as a charity in 1994, Save the Rhino International has several aspects to its conservation program that include anti-poaching, captive breeding, and environmental education and conservation. During 2011 SRI's expenditures focused primarily on conservation efforts of the critically endangered Black Rhino species, but also has programs that assist in conserving rhino species across Africa, India, and Indonesia.

Registered as a charitable organization in UK and USA; provides funding to partner organizations through select donations to SRI.There are always more ways to give, including starting your own fundraiser for SRI. They are also eligible for Amazon.com's AmazonSmile program where a portion of each purchase gets donated to a charitable organization of your choosing.

UK USA
Save The Elephants Logo

Save the Elephants - Founded in 1993 by Iain Douglas-Hamilton, author of two books on elephants as well as television films or documentaries. STE provides a number of crucial roles in the field through anti-poaching, human-wildlife conflict mediation and mitigation, local education initiatives, as well as funding of studies and research on elephants.

STE may also provide opportunities for well-qualified individuals to participate in volunteer/internship positions in Kenya. Donations are tax deductible in the UK, USA, and South Africa.

UK USA ZA
Thin Green Line Foundation Logo

Thin Green Line Foundation - Founded by award-winning conservationist, documentary filmmaker and Park Ranger Sean Willmore in 2004 the Foundation has been proactively involved in providing much needed supplies and training to rangers in conflict zones throughout the world. They also provide financial support to widows and orphans of rangers that have been killed in the line of duty. TGLF is the charity arm of International Rangers Federation, which has raised awareness and supported national and state rangers since 1992. TGLF holds tax deductible status in the UK and USA through their partner organisation Born Free.

AUS UK USA
Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust Logo

Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust - Located in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, the Trust has a number of wildlife programs and research projects operating in the area that provides wildlife rescue, facilities and care for orphaned animals, conservation training, and volunteer/internship programs.

USA
All logos and images shown above are copyright their respective owners. This list gets updated regularly, but you can suggest an organization that should be on this list by using the contact us page.


Notice: Red Hawk Adventures does not claim to be a representative of, or affiliated with, any organizations named above. Neither Red Hawk Adventures nor its contributors are legally or morally responsible or otherwise liable for any awesomeness acquired or injury sustained, personal or financial, by interacting with the aforementioned organizations. Use at your own risk; consult a physician if your sense of adventure is too extreme.