11 Best Wildlife Charities to Donate to in 2023 & Beyond | Nonprofit Point

Paul Oxton, the Founder and Ceo of Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation, has rightly said, “wherever there are wild animals in the world, there is always an opportunity for caring, compassion, and kindness.” Yet 41,000 species are facing the threat of extinction.

Wildlife conservation is no longer any random project; it is one of the most pressing matters. The ecosystem is built not only on humans but the entire biodiversity plane, which includes all types of flora and fauna, shit in one plane can shatter the entire system. Forest removals for urbanization and silting of rivers for industrialization have only added to the existing pressures on the wildlife’s natural habitat.

Some visionary leaders have already established their charities to overcome these unfortunate events. Their research, hard work, and current action plans have greatly impacted our system. 

Here are 11 Best Wildlife Charities to Donate to:

1. Jane Goodall Institute

After a breakthrough in Dr. Jane’s 60 years of research, she has redefined species conservation to include the needs of local people and the environment. Using science and technology tools, this charity assesses the state of its habitat, tracks the progress of the restoration, and amplifies the reach of its conservation work.

By building on their trail of success stories, they are now restoring critical habitats to save chimpanzees, improve health for women and provide education for girls, establish a local livelihood full of merriment and harmony and help the young generation become inspiring leaders the world needs to urgently.

Since chimpanzees are on the verge of extinction, JGI protects them from illness, hunting, or poaching. With a diverse range of projects like a radio broadcast, baboon research, micro-credit, mandrill rehabilitation, and release, they target specific topics and move forward to find viable solutions. Charity Navigator rates them 83% for strong finance and accountability. 

2. Wildlife Conservation Network

Wildlife Conservation Network’s mission is to protect endangered wildlife by supporting conservationists who ensure wildlife and people can coexist and thrive. For over 20 years, they have helped conservationists protect endangered wildlife on every continent. Thanks to this support, WCN’s Partners have helped restore depleted forests, create new protected areas, and recover fragile wildlife populations.

Through WCN’s Wildlife Funds, they have supported over 750 projects that protect specific threatened species—elephants, lions, rhinos, and pangolins—across their entire habitat. WCN also invests in the education and growth of local conservationists through scholarships and grants to strengthen their skills, build their organizations, and advance their careers.

WCN’s donation model allows 100% of any donation designated for a specific species to go directly to the conservationists protecting that species, with zero overhead taken out. To date, WCN has raised nearly $270 million for wildlife conservation. WCN also holds a platinum seal of transparency on Guidestar and a 4-star rating on Charity Navigator.

3. Defenders of Wildlife

Founded in 1947, this premier organization is devoted to protecting and restoring imperiled species and their environment across North America. By transforming the policies and institutions, they provide a mendable solution with scientific, legal, and political assurance to manage wildlife and their respective habitats. The multiple field offices allow them to work and engage with the local public to understand the true needs for fulfilling their mission.

With a strategic plan devised in 2019 to oversee operations till 2028, it sets a framework for using resources and prioritizes long-term solutions to give wildlife a chance to thrive again. By saving the rare species from the arctic, deserts, temperate rainforests, wetlands, oceans, rocky mountains, and many more locations, they work to minimize any threats for them due to an increased dwindling of natural resources.

97% of their funds are used for their in-depth programs and support services, while the rest is used for further fundraising. Charity Navigator rates them an 88% score while GuideStar gave them a Platinum Transparency seal this year. 

4. David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

One of the oldest and pioneering charities embrace wildlife and serves for conservation and preservation. With a widespread reach in Kenya since 1977, they have developed an extensive approach to ensure wildlife conservation.

Through the support of their aerial and anti-poaching units, they actively work to safeguard the habitat. In contrast, their orphan project unit allows them to rescue orphaned baby animals, rhinos, and other species in Kenya.

With a focus on African elephants, black rhinos, white rhinos, and giraffes, they keep a close track of their habitats, population, health, conservation status, threats, and the easy to eliminate them.

By saving the habitat including its diverse flora and fauna, this charity has established itself to sustain the alluring natural beauty of Kenya. Charity Navigator rates them a clean 4 star keeping in mind its respect for cultures and communities. 

5. Diane Fossey Gorilla Fund

This charity is dedicated to the conservation, protection, and study of gorillas in the African continent. With a successful and integrated strategy that includes support from the government and similar communities, they are excelling in their front on protecting species.

The staff is a diverse group of individuals who work closely to ensure more survival chances for the gorillas in Atlanta, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Apart from providing protection, they have the longest-running gorilla research site to focus on their uniqueness.

Since education is the key to progress, they team up with African educational institutes and train hundreds of young minds yearly. This, in turn, has resulted in creating an effective community. Charity Navigator rates them a perfect 4-star rating. 

6. Save the Elephants

STE was founded in 1993 to secure the future of elephants from the ever-changing environments of the world. The identity and prevent thwart traffickers from poaching for ivory. Since they have a long experience in elephant study, they can provide scientific insights into their behavior, intelligence, and long-run actions to overcome current and future challenges.

Through their elephant crisis fund, they have gained the support of more than 83 partners across the globe to fund 300 projects to stop killing and trafficking. As per their study, Africa’s human population is set to double in the coming few years; since this would create huge pressure for the elephants and humans to coexist, STE is spreading the farmlands ad focusing on infrastructure developments to create innovative solutions.

90% of their funds are divided into raising awareness, maintaining governance, research, protection, tracking, and building co-existence spaces. GuideStar awarded them a gold transparency token while Charity Navigator rated them a 4 star. 

7. International Rhino Foundation

IRF is based in the United States for the protection of the five remaining species of rhinos to help them coexist with the current communities. Through the help of grants and local support, they have been able to fund their programs with the aim of scientific research, anti-poaching, conservation of habitat, and environmental education.

By listening to the locals, they keep close proximity to the lifestyle and requirements of rhinos to serve them better and prevent all activities of killing or poaching. Their research funding has proven that the rhino horns hold no pharmaceutical value. This has removed the rumored stigma among the public and decreased the chances of futher crimes.

Throughout its practice of 30 years, they have managed to conserve and help flourish the wildlife and their surrounding habitat with a team of ethical individuals. Charity Navigator rates them a 4-star rating for their sound decision making and apt versatility. 

8. Sea Turtle Foundation

Bon with a vision to increase the population of sea turtles, this foundation is committed to stabilizing and cleaning the oceans for safe nesting habitats. With activities spread across Australia, their study displays the various causes of threats faced by these turtles, namely, increased ocean pollution, deliberate or accidental deaths caused by fishing, and drastic climatic changes.

Some of their programs include the satellite tracking of hawksbill turtled, nesting and monitoring, and tracking migration pathways of green turtles. They partnered with 13 communities to educate communities, including hunters, about the upcoming threats and viable solutions. As a response, the team has a stranding segment where the sick or injured turtles are collected and taken care of.

They are working hard towards their goal by raising awareness of their activities, encouraging donations, and volunteering work. Charity Navigator rates this nonprofit 77% for their resourceful use of finance. 

9. Australian koala foundation

AKF is a nonprofit charity founded to refine and update the koala habitat to ensure their survival in a safe and sound environment. Among many others, one such partnership with The Ray Group has led to creating a koala-friendly association where the community makes conscious changes in their lifestyle for the both to coexist happily.

Over 500 residential schemes have been launched in this area, with around 25 species of endangered koalas surrounding it. Their work and years’ worth of research has put them to the premier stage of independence, where they do not take money from the government but instead self-fund its programs to save the koalas and act as their new voice to bring them equal justice in today’s causalities. 

10. Four Paws International

By working on a multifaceted level, they ensure the protection of fur animals all over. The launch of their multiple campaigns supports a fur-free Europe, demands animal welfare, prevents dogs and cats from being traded for meat, prevents the sale of pure wool, stops the entertainment abuse of bears In France, and much more.

With impressive work done in disaster areas, they lead successful campaigns for cats, dogs, apes, horses, bears, and other domestic strays. With an international base in more than 14 countries, it provides long-term solutions for humanely treating stray animals. GuideStar recognizes their work by providing them a Gold seal of Transparency. 

11. PADI Aware

This publicly funded nonprofit works for the conservation of oceans and their habitants. By educating the public and devising action plans through their policies and grants, they are driving toward their vision of achieving a balance between humans and the ocean.

One of their biggest supporters, Big Blue Vanuata, has developed within the commonwealth, where all 53 countries have actively pledged to solve ocean-related problems. This has resulted in multiple governments banning non-biodegradable plastics.

Their recent urges from the Canadian minister finally came through when Canada became the global champion for mako sharks, a protective measure to end overfishing in the Atlantic. With incredible support from its scientists, they have aided 13,327 entangled animals along with 419,706 actions taken to restore flora and fauna. Charity Navigator scores them an 80% for their powerful impact and alertness.

Final Thoughts

We are living with the consequences of the damage done in the past by the irrational use of our natural resources. Even though the foregoing set of activities has been disrupted, millions of individuals have come together to blanket these damages and create long-term solutions for establishing a suitable environment.

Multiple campaigns encourage small activities with a vision of benefiting from them shortly. While we play our part in providing support, charities are excelling in developing a system of coexistence.