Wildlife Conservation Network
Wildlife Conservation Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fiscal sponsor that channels donor dollars from international supporters to roughly 25 community-based conservation partners and 8 species-specific wildlife funds across Africa, Asia, South America, and marine environments, using a 100% designated-giving model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Wildlife Conservation Network does
Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 and headquartered at 209 Mississippi Street in San Francisco. Its core function is that of a fiscal sponsor and aggregator: WCN connects roughly 25 community-based Conservation Partners and 8 Wildlife Funds operating across Africa, Asia, South America, marine environments, and North America with international individual donors, corporate supporters, and institutional funders. The organization is best understood as a philanthropic platform rather than a direct field operator — it channels resources and provides fundraising infrastructure to frontline conservation NGOs rather than running conservation programs itself. Its signature operating model, branded as the "100% Model," routes 100% of donor-designated contributions to specific species programs, Conservation Partners, or Wildlife Funds, while WCN's own overhead is covered by a separate pool of unrestricted funding.
WCN's product surface is built around species-specific program pages, thematic Wildlife Funds (Elephant Crisis, Lion Recovery, Painted Dog, Pangolin Crisis, Rhino Recovery, Sea Otter, California Wildlife, Emergency Relief), the Rising Wildlife Leaders career-development track, and an annual Wildlife Conservation Expo that convenes partners and supporters. The technology backbone is a donation platform powered by GoFundMe Pro, supplemented by DAFs, IRA rollovers, stock donations, planned giving, workplace giving, and matching campaigns. The organization is rated by Charity Navigator, Candid, and BBB Wise Giving Alliance, and is led by CEO Jean-Gaël Collomb, who publicly positions WCN as a venture-capital-style connector for conservation.
Wildlife Conservation Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wildlife Conservation Network
- Legal name
- Wildlife Conservation Network, Inc.
- Website
- https://wildnet.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Wildlife Conservation Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fiscal sponsor that channels donor dollars from international supporters to roughly 25 community-based conservation partners and 8 species-specific wildlife funds across Africa, Asia, South America, and marine environments, using a 100% designated-giving model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wildlife Conservation Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wildlife Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disaster Preparedness & Animal Evacuation Services (BPAGAIAM), Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG), Conservation & Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (BPAGAIAI)
Keywords
Where Wildlife Conservation Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Wildlife Conservation Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Others, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: WCN raises funds from individual donors who contribute to specific wildlife programs, Conservation Partners, or Wildlife Funds. Donors can give one-time or recurring monthly gifts via online donation pages, with amounts ranging from $100 to $1,000 or custom values.
- Corporate Support: WCN has a Corporate Supporters program through which businesses support wildlife conservation. The organization maintains Charity Navigator, Candid, and BBB Wise Giving Alliance accreditations that support corporate giving.
- Event Revenue: WCN organizes an annual Wildlife Conservation Expo as a major engagement and fundraising event, bringing together conservation leaders, partners, and supporters for learning, connection, and impact.
- Planned Giving and Legacy Donations: WCN offers a Leave a Legacy / Planned Giving program allowing donors to include WCN in their estate planning.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Where Needed Most (unrestricted) |
| Other | One-time | Specific Species/Program Designations |
| Other | Monthly | Donation Amount Options |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Wildlife Conservation Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a fiscal sponsor and aggregator, connecting international funders and donors with community-based conservation organizations in the Global South. It channels donor contributions through Conservation Partner Programs and thematic Wildlife Funds (Elephant Crisis Fund, Lion Recovery Fund, Painted Dog Fund, Pangolin Crisis Fund, Rhino Recovery Fund, Sea Otter Fund, California Wildlife Program, and Emergency Relief Fund) under a 100% Model in which 100% of every designated dollar reaches wildlife protection, with operational costs covered separately.
Product overview
Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) is a nonprofit conservation organization structured as a platform connecting international funders with community-based conservation groups in the Global South. The core offering comprises Conservation Partner Programs that provide direct support to local organizations, Wildlife Funds (thematic funding initiatives including Elephant Crisis Fund, Lion Recovery Fund, Painted Dog Fund, Pangolin Crisis Fund, Rhino Recovery Fund, and Sea Otter Fund), and Rising Wildlife Leaders career development. WCN facilitates these through its 100% Model (ensuring all designated donations reach conservation programs) and its annual Wildlife Conservation Expo. Species-specific programs like Cotton-Top Tamarins and Coral Reef Conservation represent the individual program pages for conservation partners, while the GoFundMe-powered donation platform enables targeted giving to specific species or general funds.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Conservation Partner Programs
- Wildlife Funds Thematic funding initiatives including the Elephant Crisis Fund, Lion Recovery Fund, Painted Dog Fund, Pangolin Crisis Fund, Rhino Recovery Fund, Sea Otter Fund, California Wildlife Program, and Emergency Relief Fund for rapid-response conservation needs.
- Rising Wildlife Leaders Career development program supporting emerging conservationists with training, mentorship, and funding opportunities including the Rhino Careers initiative, identifying and nurturing future conservation leadership across WCN's network.
- Wildlife Conservation Expo Annual flagship gathering connecting conservation leaders, Conservation Partners, and supporters for learning, networking, and direct funder-conservationist engagement, with the 2026 Expo scheduled for October 2026.
- Donation Platform Online donation system powered by GoFundMe Pro enabling donors to support specific species programs, Conservation Partners, or contribute to general wildlife funds with tax-deductible giving, accepting one-time and recurring gifts as well as DAFs, IRA rollovers, stock donations, and workplace giving.
- Cotton-Top Tamarins Conservation (Proyecto Tití) Conservation program protecting critically endangered cotton-top tamarins in northwestern Colombia through field research, community education, reforestation, and alternative livelihoods for local communities.
- Coral Reef Conservation (Misool Foundation) Marine conservation program protecting coral reefs in Raja Ampat, Indonesia through community empowerment, marine governance, waste management, and reef restoration using coral transplantation techniques.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% of every designated dollar goes to wildlife protection
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Wildlife Conservation Network
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Wildlife Conservation Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Wildlife Conservation Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Conservation Partners (multiple field-based NGOs)coreWCN works with numerous Conservation Partners — field-based NGOs operating in the Global South that run species-specific and ecosystem conservation programs. Partners include Save the Elephants, African Marine Conservation Organization, Alianza Gato Andino, Small Mammal Conservation Organization, Cheetah Conservation Botswana, Cheetah Conservation Fund, Misool Foundation, Proyecto Tití, MareCet, Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program, Grevy's Zebra Trust, Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association, Hirola Conservation Program, Ewaso Lions, Niassa Carnivore Project, Macaw Recovery Network, Conservation Through Public Health, Okapi Conservation Project, Hutan, Painted Dog Conservation, Global Penguin Society, Saiga Conservation Alliance, MarAlliance, Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation, Snow Leopard Conservancy, Spectacled Bear Conservation, and Proyecto Washu. WCN provides fiscal sponsorship, funding, and capacity-building support.
- Wildlife FundscoreWCN administers dedicated Wildlife Funds for specific species and issues: Elephant Crisis Fund, Emergency Relief Fund, Lion Recovery Fund, Painted Dog Fund, Pangolin Crisis Fund, Rhino Recovery Fund, Sea Otter Fund, and California Wildlife Program. These funds direct targeted resources to priority conservation needs.
- Wildlife Trust of India (WTI)coreThe Countering Pangolin Trafficking Project is led by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and supported by WCN's Pangolin Crisis Fund. The project was initiated in 2023 in Manipur and expanded to Nagaland along the Indo-Myanmar border, identified as a critical landscape for pangolin trafficking. WCN's Pangolin Crisis Fund provides financial support to this grassroots conservation initiative.
- MongabayminorWCN CEO Jean-Gaël Collomb appeared on Mongabay's Newscast podcast to discuss unrestricted funding models for frontline conservation groups, leveraging Mongabay's platform to reach conservation-minded audiences and potential donors.
- Rising Wildlife LeaderscoreWCN's Rising Wildlife Leaders program supports career development for emerging conservationists, including specific programs like Rhino Careers. This internal program identifies and nurtures future conservation leadership across WCN's network.
- Corporate SupportersminorWCN maintains a Corporate Supporters program, which includes supporters who align with WCN's mission. WCN publishes a Corporate Supporters page acknowledging businesses that contribute to wildlife conservation.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Wildlife Conservation Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Conservation International: Global conservation NGO focused on biodiversity, climate, and species protection. Shares WCN's donor-driven funding model and international field operations, with overlapping species programs in Africa, Asia, and South America.
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF): One of the largest global wildlife conservation nonprofits. Comparable to WCN as a fundraising-and-deployment platform connecting donors with field conservation programs across multiple species and geographies, but operates at vastly greater scale and scope.
- International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW): Global animal welfare and wildlife conservation nonprofit. Shares WCN's donor-supported fundraising, advocacy, and field program model, with broader remit including marine, terrestrial, and rescue activities.
- Wildlife Conservation Society: Operates wildlife programs across dozens of countries and runs the Bronx Zoo and other facilities. Directly comparable to WCN as a species-protection nonprofit with international field operations, though WCS also runs direct zoo/visitor revenue streams.
- The Nature Conservancy: Major US-based environmental nonprofit focused on habitat and species protection worldwide. Overlaps with WCN on conservation mission, donor-base model, and field partnerships, but with a much larger footprint and broader land/water remit.
- Defenders of Wildlife: US-based wildlife conservation nonprofit funding field work and policy advocacy for imperiled species. Overlaps with WCN's species-protection mission and US donor base, though heavier on policy and litigation.
Direct peers
- African Wildlife Foundation: Conservation nonprofit focused exclusively on African wildlife and habitats. Closely comparable to WCN's African Elephants, Cheetahs, Grevy's Zebras, and Lions programs, using a similar model of funding field partners across Africa.
- Rainforest Trust: Conservation nonprofit that purchases and protects habitat in biodiversity hotspots worldwide. Highly comparable to WCN as a small, focused nonprofit channeling donor dollars to field partners for tangible conservation outcomes.
- Save the Elephants: A WCN Conservation Partner itself; operates as a leading field-based African elephant conservation organization. Comparable to WCN's model of executing on-the-ground protection work, and one of the field partners WCN channels funding through.
- Panthera: Wild cat conservation nonprofit funding field programs for big and small cats globally. Directly comparable to WCN's Small Cats, Snow Leopards, Cheetahs, and Lions programs, with a similarly focused species-protector funding model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wildlife Conservation Network social profiles
Digital presenceWildlife Conservation Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wildlife Conservation Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Wildlife Conservation Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wildlife Conservation Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wildlife Conservation Network
What does Wildlife Conservation Network do?
Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a fiscal sponsor and aggregator, connecting international funders and donors with community-based conservation organizations in the Global South. It channels donor contributions through Conservation Partner Programs and thematic Wildlife Funds (Elephant Crisis Fund, Lion Recovery Fund, Painted Dog Fund, Pangolin Crisis Fund, Rhino Recovery Fund, Sea Otter Fund, California Wildlife Program, and Emergency Relief Fund) under a 100% Model in which 100% of every designated dollar reaches wildlife protection, with operational costs covered separately.
Is Wildlife Conservation Network a public or private company?
Wildlife Conservation Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Wildlife Conservation Network founded?
Wildlife Conservation Network was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Wildlife Conservation Network based?
Wildlife Conservation Network is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wildlife Conservation Network make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Support, event Revenue and planned Giving and Legacy Donations.
Who are Wildlife Conservation Network's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Conservation International, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Wildlife Conservation Society, The Nature Conservancy and Defenders of Wildlife. Direct peers are African Wildlife Foundation, Rainforest Trust, Save the Elephants and Panthera.
Does Wildlife Conservation Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wildlife Conservation Network.
What industry is Wildlife Conservation Network in?
Wildlife Conservation Network's product category is Wildlife Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAB, Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection, with a secondary code of BPAGAIAM, Disaster Preparedness & Animal Evacuation Services. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8600.