Save the Chimps
Save the Chimps, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the world's largest privately funded chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, providing lifetime care to nearly 220 chimpanzees rescued from research, entertainment, and the pet trade, funded 100% through individual donations, adoptions, merchandise, and celebrity art collaborations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Save the Chimps does
Save the Chimps, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1997 by primatologist Dr. Carole Noon, operating the world's largest privately funded chimpanzee sanctuary on 12 man-made three-acre islands in Fort Pierce, Florida. The organization's core function is providing lifetime care to nearly 220 chimpanzees rescued from biomedical research laboratories, the entertainment industry, and the pet trade, with services including three fresh meals daily, world-class veterinary care, and enrichment programs such as resident-created art. The sanctuary has retired 333+ chimpanzees since founding, completed the multi-year 'Great Chimpanzee Migration' in 2011, and absorbed additional residents from events such as the 2019 Wildlife Waystation closure.
The business model is 100% philanthropic with no government funding. Revenue streams include individual donations and foundation grants, virtual adoption subscriptions ($60-75 individual, $400 family group), merchandise sales through shop.savethechimps.org, high-profile celebrity art auctions (Ozzy Osbourne, Bryan Adams, B-52s collaborations), corporate memberships, planned giving, and emerging channels such as cryptocurrency donations. Go-to-market relies on direct-to-consumer donor engagement via the Pant-Hoots to Parents email newsletter, website content, social media, press coverage in outlets such as USA Today and Rolling Stone, and event-driven fundraising including Miami Art Week auctions and the annual Chimpathon run. Customer segments span individual donors (primary), corporate partners, art collectors, and celebrity collaborators.
Operationally, the organization employs 51-100 staff including specialized primate-care leadership: Dr. Andrew Halloran (Director of Chimpanzee Behavior and Care, Ph.D.), Dr. Valerie Kirk (Director of Veterinary Services), Jen Feuerstein (Sanctuary Director), and Sarah Poirier (Chimpanzee Care Manager), with 60+ members on the chimpanzee care team. Recent strategic emphasis has been on celebrity-linked art programs as both an earned-media channel and a recurring merchandise line, positioning the sanctuary as a primate-care thought leader through partnerships with Chimp Haven and the Association of Primate Veterinarians.
Save the Chimps firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Save the Chimps
- Legal name
- Save the Chimps, Inc.
- Website
- https://savethechimps.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Save the Chimps, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the world's largest privately funded chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, providing lifetime care to nearly 220 chimpanzees rescued from research, entertainment, and the pet trade, funded 100% through individual donations, adoptions, merchandise, and celebrity art collaborations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Save the Chimps industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animal Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation
- NAICS
- Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)
Keywords
Where Save the Chimps is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Save the Chimps business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: Primary revenue source through individual donations, foundation grants, and corporate giving. Save the Chimps does not receive government funding and relies 100% on philanthropy.
- Chimpanzee Adoption Programs: Virtual adoption programs where supporters pay $60-75 annually to 'adopt' a chimpanzee, receiving a digital biography, certificate, and newsletter subscription. Family group adoptions available at $400.
- Merchandise Sales: E-commerce store selling apparel, mugs, hats, art prints, and chimpanzee-themed merchandise. Includes limited edition items and collaborations.
- Chimpanzee Art Sales: Art created by chimpanzees at the sanctuary is sold as prints, canvases, and on merchandise. High-value pieces from collaborations (Ozzy Osbourne) sell for $95-450. Auctions at events like Miami Art Week generate significant funds.
- Special Events: Annual fundraising events including Chimpathon running event, member days, and community events.
- Cryptocurrency Donations: Accepts cryptocurrency donations through dedicated donation page.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Individual Chimp Adoption |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Chimpanzee Family Group Adoption |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Apparel - Alpha Hat |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Apparel - 98.6% Chimp Hoodie |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Ozzy Osbourne Art Collaboration Print |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Original Chimp Art |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Save the Chimps product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Save the Chimps operates the world's largest privately funded chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, providing lifelong care to nearly 220 chimpanzees rescued from biomedical research laboratories, the entertainment industry, and the pet trade. Residents live in established family groups on 12 three-acre man-made islands, receiving three fresh meals daily, world-class veterinary care, and enrichment activities. The organization funds its operations exclusively through individual donations, adoption sponsorships ($60–$400), foundation grants, and a branded e-commerce store selling apparel, chimpanzee-created art, and celebrity collaboration merchandise.
Product overview
Save the Chimps operates as a chimpanzee sanctuary providing a portfolio of programs and merchandise. Core offerings include individual and family group adoption programs supporting nearly 220 chimpanzee residents, with adoption tiers providing digital certificates and newsletters. The organization runs an e-commerce store selling branded apparel (including the 98.6% Chimp DNA collection), home goods, and Chimp Art products created by sanctuary residents. Special collections include the Ozzy Osbourne Collaboration featuring limited edition paintings, and the 25th Anniversary Collection highlighting original Air Force rescue chimpanzees. The sanctuary itself provides lifelong care with residents living in family groups on 12 man-made islands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Individual Chimpanzee Adoption Program Adoption sponsorship program allowing individual supporters to sponsor a named chimpanzee resident with annual donations starting at $60. Includes a digital biography, customized adoption certificate, and one-year e-newsletter subscription; designed for individual donors seeking a tangible connection to a rescued chimp.
- Chimpanzee Family Group Adoption Program Group-level adoption program supporting specific chimpanzee families (12–21 chimps each) at $400 annually on a recurring basis. Targets multi-chimp household sponsors who want to support entire social groups living together on the sanctuary islands.
- Lifetime Sanctuary Care Service Core sanctuary service providing lifelong refuge and care to chimpanzees rescued from research laboratories, the pet trade, and the entertainment industry. Residents live in large family groups on man-made islands with three fresh meals daily, veterinary care, and enrichment activities.
- Save the Chimps E-commerce Apparel Store Online retail store selling branded apparel — t-shirts, hoodies, hats, socks, and children's clothing — featuring chimpanzee themes. Proceeds support sanctuary operations.
- Save the Chimps Home Goods Store Online retail selection of home goods including mugs, puzzles, candles, eco tote bags, and books such as 'Opening Doors: Carole Noon and Her Dream to Save the Chimps.' Proceeds support sanctuary operations.
- Chimpanzee-Created Art Collection Retail product line featuring original artwork created by sanctuary chimpanzees, sold as canvas paintings, prints, and framed pieces with proceeds directly supporting the sanctuary.
- Ozzy Osbourne Collaboration Collection Limited-edition collaboration product line of prints and framed canvases created jointly between Ozzy Osbourne and sanctuary chimpanzees. Features paintings named after Osbourne's songs and was completed before his death on July 22, 2025.
Quantifiable outcome
- Successfully retired 333 chimpanzees from unsuitable conditions since founding in 1997
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Save the Chimps
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Save the Chimps technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Save the Chimps partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, major, core and minor.
- Ozzy OsbourneflagshipOzzy Osbourne collaborated with sanctuary chimpanzees to create abstract paintings named after his own songs. Five works were auctioned at Miami Art Week's Spectrum Miami art fair, raising $75,000 total for the nonprofit. The collaboration continued Osbourne's legacy as the paintings were completed before his death on July 22, 2025.
- Bryan AdamsmajorBryan Adams collaborated with chimpanzee painters on interspecies exhibits at Art Vancouver and Miami Art Week. The collaboration brought international attention to the sanctuary and generated art sales.
- The B-52smajorThe B-52s hosted an exhibit at the Punk Rock Museum featuring chimpanzee artwork, including collaboration with chimp artist September. The band has supported the sanctuary through multiple Miami Art Week appearances.
- Chimp HavencoreChimp Haven, the world's largest publicly funded sanctuary in Louisiana, participates in knowledge sharing and best practice exchanges with Save the Chimps. Executive director and staff from Chimp Haven attended the 6th Annual South Florida Primatology Meeting hosted by Save the Chimps.
- Indian River State CollegeminorThe Fenn Center at Indian River State College served as a venue for the 6th Annual South Florida Primatology Meeting.
- FedEx CarescoreFedEx Cares transported 42 chimpanzees from the closing Wildlife Waystation in California to Save the Chimps in Florida, providing planes, trucks, and personnel as part of their commitment to social good. This partnership enabled the rescue of seven chimpanzees including Cayleb and Jacob.
- Association of Primate Veterinarians (APV)coreSave the Chimps' Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Valerie Kirk, attends the annual APV workshop to incorporate latest best practices and expand the sanctuary's collegiate network with professional partners.
- Chimpanzees In Need / NAPSAcoreLed by NAPSA, this organization fundraised and arranged homes for 42 chimpanzees displaced when the Wildlife Waystation closed, including transporting seven to Save the Chimps.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Save the Chimps competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Chimp Haven: Chimp Haven is the world's largest publicly funded chimpanzee sanctuary in Keithville, Louisiana, operated under contract with the NIH to house federally retired research chimpanzees. It is the most directly comparable peer — same mission, similar resident scale, and an active knowledge-sharing partner of Save the Chimps.
- Fauna Foundation: Fauna Foundation is a chimpanzee sanctuary in Carignan, Quebec, Canada, that provides lifetime care to chimpanzees retired from research laboratories. Same mission and operational model, though smaller scale; offers useful North American geographic comparison.
- Center for Great Apes: Center for Great Apes is a privately funded sanctuary in Wauchula, Florida serving chimpanzees and orangutans rescued from entertainment, research, and the pet trade. Same model, similar Florida geography, and overlapping donor base with Save the Chimps.
- Project Chimps: Project Chimps operates a chimpanzee sanctuary in Morganton, Georgia, housing chimpanzees retired from research laboratories. It is a near-direct peer operating under the same rescue-and-lifetime-care model, with comparable reliance on private donations and adoption-style sponsorships.
- Primarily Primates: Primarily Primates is a sanctuary in San Antonio, Texas operated by the Animal Protection Center, providing lifetime care for chimpanzees and other primates. Directly comparable private sanctuary model focused on rescue and rehabilitation.
Broad incumbents
- Wildlife Conservation Society: WCS operates the Bronx Zoo and runs global wildlife conservation programs including great ape protection in range countries. Overlaps with STC on chimpanzee conservation mission and donor base but is a far larger, broader organization.
- The Humane Society of the United States: HSUS is a large animal welfare nonprofit with overlapping donor demographics and advocacy for primates in research and entertainment. Not a direct operator of chimpanzee sanctuaries but competes for the same philanthropic dollars and runs relevant policy campaigns.
Regional players
- Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary: Tacugama is a chimpanzee sanctuary in Sierra Leone founded by Dr. Andrew Halloran's Tonkolili Chimpanzee Project collaborator. Same rescue model focused on chimpanzees from the pet trade and habitat loss, but in West Africa rather than the U.S.
- Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust: CSWCT operates Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Uganda, providing lifetime care for orphaned and confiscated chimpanzees. Same sanctuary model in Africa; useful international comparison for cost structures and donor engagement tactics.
- Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center: Sanaga-Yong is a chimpanzee rescue center in Cameroon, Africa, serving chimpanzees confiscated from the bushmeat and pet trades. Same core rescue-and-lifetime-care model, but operating in a different geography and regulatory environment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Save the Chimps social profiles
Digital presenceSave the Chimps compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Save the Chimps financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Save the Chimps leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Save the Chimps funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Save the Chimps 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 Save the Chimps
What does Save the Chimps do?
Save the Chimps operates the world's largest privately funded chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, providing lifelong care to nearly 220 chimpanzees rescued from biomedical research laboratories, the entertainment industry, and the pet trade. Residents live in established family groups on 12 three-acre man-made islands, receiving three fresh meals daily, world-class veterinary care, and enrichment activities. The organization funds its operations exclusively through individual donations, adoption sponsorships ($60–$400), foundation grants, and a branded e-commerce store selling apparel, chimpanzee-created art, and celebrity collaboration merchandise.
Is Save the Chimps a public or private company?
Save the Chimps is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Save the Chimps founded?
Save the Chimps was founded in 1997. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Save the Chimps based?
Save the Chimps is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Save the Chimps make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Donations and Grants are the primary driver. The others are chimpanzee Adoption Programs, merchandise Sales, chimpanzee Art Sales, special Events and cryptocurrency Donations.
Who are Save the Chimps's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Chimp Haven, Fauna Foundation, Center for Great Apes, Project Chimps and Primarily Primates. Broad incumbents are Wildlife Conservation Society and The Humane Society of the United States. Regional players are Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust and Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center.
Does Save the Chimps have an API?
No public API is recorded for Save the Chimps.
What industry is Save the Chimps in?
Save the Chimps's product category is Animal Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAIAH, Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic), with a secondary code of BPAGAIAA, Animal Shelters & Adoption Services. Its NAICS code is 71213 and its SIC code is 8300.