| Founder(s) | Charles Knowles, John Lukas and Akiko Yamazaki.[1] |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit Organization |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Location | Los Altos, California |
| Key people |
|
| Area served | World wide |
| Focus | Environmentalism |
| Method | Community based partnerships, fundraising, consultancy |
| Revenue | $3,496,747 (2010)[2] |
| Motto | The Spirit of Innovation in Conservation |
| Website | wildnet.org |
The Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) is a United States-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization that partners with conservationists from around the world and is dedicated to developing community-based projects to help wildlife and people co-exist. WCN does this by providing their partners with capital, resources and back-office support. Charity Navigator, has awarded WCN its highest four star rating and gives it high marks for organizational efficiency with 92% of its expenses going directly to programs.[3]
Founded in 2002 the Wildlife Conservation Network was built on a venture capital fundraising model to identify high-potential conservationists and projects and give them the support they need to effectively run their programs.[4]
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Wildlife Conservation Network forms partnerships with a select number of field-based conservation projects committed to protecting terrestrial mammals. WCN limits its partnerships to projects that are beyond the start-up phase and usually with an organizational budget below $250 thousand.[5]
Partners as of 2011 include:
WCN hosts an annual expo in the San Francisco Bay Area that brings together donors, Partners, other conservationists and experts from around the world.[7] Notable keynote speakers have included Dr. Jane Goodall,[8] Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton,[9] and Peter Matthiessen.[10]
Since 2006 WCN has supported graduate students aspiring to become wildlife conservationists through a scholarship program. The program focuses on students committed to working on projects in their home countries where conservation efforts are needed.[11]
In 2005 WCN started providing solar electric systems such as solar water pumps, cookers, lighting, hot water and water purification systems to its Partner projects in South America, Africa and Asia.[12]
The Wild4life program is dedicated to combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the wildlife conservation community in Sub-Saharan Africa. The program offers prevention, testing, counseling and treatment for the staff of field-based conservation programs in 12 Sub-Saharan countries.[13]
The Emergency Response Fund was established as a reserve fund for unexpected emergencies where wildlife is in immediate danger. In 2009 this fund was used to help elephants suffering from a severe drought in Mali and also a rabies outbreak among Ethiopian wolves.[14]
wildnet.org, WCN Web site