What Born Free USA does

Born Free USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare and wildlife conservation organization established in 2002 as the US affiliate of the Born Free Foundation (UK, founded 1984 by Virginia McKenna, Bill Travers, and Will Travers). The organization operates a national advocacy platform across campaigns covering Animals in Captivity, Trapping, Fur Trade, Endangered Species Act protections, Wildlife Trade, Coexisting with Wildlife, and the Global Nature Recovery Investment Initiative, alongside grassroots congressional advocacy that contributed to the passage of the Big Cat Public Safety Act in December 2022. Its flagship operational asset is the 175-acre Primate Sanctuary in Dilley, Texas — one of the largest primate sanctuaries in the United States — which provides permanent lifetime care to approximately 535 rescued primates across 11 species, fed 500+ pounds of produce daily at an annual food cost of roughly $120,000–$140,000.

Born Free USA monetizes through diversified nonprofit revenue streams: individual donations (recurring and one-time), corporate cause-marketing partnerships (Snow Monkey, Scratch Lounge, The Body Shop), symbolic primate adoption and "Feed a Monkey" recurring programs, and merchandise sales via a Square-hosted online store. It also publishes original research and educational assets — including the Non-Target Trapping Incidents Database, Exotic Animal Incidents Database, "Public Danger, Private Pain," "Downloading Cruelty," CITES identification guides for Gabon and Chad, and the "Finding Sanctuary" documentary — that reinforce its authority in wildlife policy and provide the substrate for its grassroots advocacy. International program reach spans West Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Ghana), Central Africa (Gabon, Chad), and a Caribbean presence (Sint Maarten), in addition to its US headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland and Texas sanctuary. The organization is governed by CEO Angela Grimes and a small leadership team of 11–50 employees, with no disclosed venture or equity funding.

Name

Born Free USA

Legal name

Born Free USA

Website

https://bornfreeusa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Born Free USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization that runs one of the largest US primate sanctuaries (535+ rescued monkeys on 175 acres in Texas) alongside federal wildlife advocacy, original research, and international counter-trafficking training programs across West and Central Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare and Wildlife Conservation Nonprofit Services

akta.pro primary industry

Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK), Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC)

Keywords

• Animal welfare advocacy
• Wildlife conservation
• Primate sanctuary services
• Anti-trafficking campaigns
• Nonprofit fundraising programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Silver Spring

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Born Free USA generates revenue primarily through individual donations, corporate partnerships, and membership contributions. The organization runs seasonal fundraising campaigns including year-end giving and specific animal care campaigns like 'Feed a Monkey' which costs $120,000 annually for food.
2. Merchandise Sales: The organization operates an online store selling books, apparel, gifts for kids, and merchandise featuring wildlife themes. Proceeds support their conservation and welfare programs.
3. Adoption and Sponsorship Programs: Born Free USA offers primate adoption programs where supporters can symbolically adopt monkeys at their sanctuary. They also offer the 'Monkey of the Month Club' and individual sponsorship programs like 'Sponsor Huey' as engagement and fundraising mechanisms.
4. Partnership Revenue: Partnerships with companies like Scratch Lounge generate revenue through co-branded products where a portion of sales ($5 per purchase) is donated to the organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Born Free USA is a national 501(c)(3) animal advocacy nonprofit that operates a 175-acre primate sanctuary in south Texas providing permanent lifetime care to more than 535 rescued primates, runs multi-issue wildlife and animal welfare advocacy campaigns (captivity, trapping, fur trade, endangered species, wildlife trade, coexistence), and delivers counter-wildlife-trafficking training with African governments. Its work is sustained through individual donations, adoption and sponsorship programs, corporate partnerships, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

Born Free USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare and wildlife conservation organization that operates primarily as an advocacy organization rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include multiple animal advocacy campaigns (Animals in Captivity, Trapping, Fur Trade, Endangered Species Act, Wildlife Trade, Coexisting with Wildlife, and Global Nature Recovery), a 175-acre primate sanctuary in south Texas housing 11 species of monkeys, two public incident databases (Non-Target Trapping Incidents and Exotic Animal Incidents), documentary films (Finding Sanctuary), research reports (Public Danger Private Pain, Downloading Cruelty), educational CITES identification guides, an online store, and donation/adoption programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Passed Big Cat Public Safety Act into federal law (December 2022)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Snow MonkeyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 July 2025Snow Monkey partnered with Born Free USA, announced July 22, 2025. The partnership likely involves joint marketing efforts or cause-related marketing to support wildlife conservation.
• Government of GaboncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 May 2018Government of Gabon collaborated with Born Free USA and Brigitte Bardot Foundation to develop a CITES species identification guide for wildlife law enforcement officers. The guide helps border guards identify trafficked wildlife and wildlife parts protected under CITES.
• Government of ChadcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2018Government of Chad collaborated with Born Free USA and Brigitte Bardot Foundation to develop a CITES species identification guide for wildlife law enforcement. Helps authorities identify protected species and combat wildlife trafficking in Central Africa.
• The Body Shop InternationalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2017Born Free USA announced partnership with The Body Shop, international cosmetics and skincare company. The partnership was announced May 1, 2017, likely involving cause marketing or promotional activities.
• Brigitte Bardot FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration with Brigitte Bardot Foundation on CITES identification guides for Gabon and Chad. Joint effort to combat wildlife trafficking through improved species identification by law enforcement.
• Scratch LoungeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerScratch Lounge partners with Born Free USA through product sales where $5 of each cat tree purchase is donated to support big cat and wild animal protection work.
• Merlin Entertainments / Sea Life London AquariumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBorn Free Foundation (UK affiliate) consulted by Merlin Entertainments on penguin habitat improvements at UK Sea Life aquariums. Freedom for Animals and Born Free Foundation consulted on design of enhanced penguin enclosure.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Born Free Foundation: The UK parent organization founded in 1984 by Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers, operating identical mission areas including wildlife conservation, animal advocacy campaigns, and primate sanctuary work. It is the most directly comparable peer as Born Free USA is its US affiliate and they share brand, governance lineage, and operational approach.
• International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW): Global nonprofit focused on wildlife conservation, animal rescue, and policy advocacy with international counter-trafficking programs in Africa and beyond. Directly comparable in mission, advocacy approach, international program structure, and donor-supported funding model.
• Center for Biological Diversity: US nonprofit using legal action, scientific advocacy, and creative media to protect endangered species and habitat. Comparable in aggressive Endangered Species Act defense, policy advocacy methodology, and donor-supported advocacy infrastructure.
• Big Cat Rescue: Tampa-based nonprofit operating the largest accredited big cat sanctuary in the US and a key advocacy partner for the Big Cat Public Safety Act. Directly comparable in sanctuary operations, captive wildlife advocacy, and legislative campaign approach on overlapping species issues.

Broad incumbents

• PETA: Major US animal rights organization conducting high-visibility advocacy campaigns on animal captivity, exotic pet ownership, and wildlife trade. Comparable in direct advocacy and campaign approach, though with broader animal-use opposition across companion, farmed, and wild animals.
• Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS): US-based international wildlife conservation organization operating zoos and field conservation programs across more than 50 countries. Comparable on international wildlife trade and species protection, though its zoo operations represent a fundamentally different model than Born Free USA's captive wildlife opposition stance.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): One of the largest international wildlife conservation organizations, operating anti-trafficking programs, species protection, and habitat conservation globally. Overlaps with Born Free USA on wildlife trade enforcement, CITES implementation, and international counter-poaching training, though at vastly greater scale and with corporate partnership focus.
• Defenders of Wildlife: US-based wildlife conservation and advocacy nonprofit focused on imperiled species protection, Endangered Species Act defense, and habitat preservation. Overlaps significantly with Born Free USA's Endangered Species Act advocacy and wildlife policy work, though with a broader species portfolio and more habitat-focused orientation.
• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): The largest US animal welfare advocacy organization, conducting federal and state legislative campaigns on wildlife, companion animals, and farm animals. Overlaps with Born Free USA on captive wildlife policy advocacy, exotic pet regulation, and sanctuary/rescue operations, though at substantially greater scale and broader mission scope.

Emerging players

• Rainforest Trust: US nonprofit focused on purchasing and protecting threatened habitats for endangered species globally. Comparable in donor-supported conservation model and species protection focus, though primarily through land acquisition rather than advocacy and sanctuary operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bornfreeusa
• YouTubeyoutube.com/bornfreeusa
• Facebookfacebook.com/bornfreeusa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/born-free-usa
• Instagraminstagram.com/bornfreeusaorg
• TikToktiktok.com/@bornfreeusaorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Born Free USA