What David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation does

David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) is a UK-registered charity (No. 1106893) founded in 1984 by wildlife artist and conservationist David Shepherd CBE to channel frontline conservation funding and advocacy against species extinction. The organisation operates from its headquarters in Shalford, Guildford, with a small staff team of approximately 15-20 personnel led by CEO Georgina Lamb (founder's granddaughter, appointed April 2020) and Chair of Trustees Melanie Shepherd (founder's daughter). DSWF funds ground-based Field Partners across 13+ countries in Africa (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya, Guinea, Nigeria, Cameroon) and Asia (India, Thailand, Vietnam, Mongolia, Nepal, Indonesia), focused on eight core endangered species: elephants, tigers, lions, snow leopards, chimpanzees, painted dogs, rhinos, and pangolins.

DSWF's programme portfolio spans anti-poaching ranger support (including a 60-strong ranger force in Zimbabwe), elephant rescue and rehabilitation (49 orphaned elephants supported through the Wildlife Programme in Zambia since 2007), long-term species research (e.g., the longest-running snow leopard study in Mongolia via Snow Leopard Trust), human-wildlife coexistence initiatives, an undercover wildlife-crime investigations unit, and international policy advocacy including representation at CITES CoP20. Conservation operations are enabled by standard conservation technology including GPS satellite collaring, camera trap networks, and EarthRanger monitoring software deployed across field sites.

The revenue model is a multi-channel charity funding structure: individual donations (monthly tiers at £3/£5/£10 and one-time gifts), animal adoption programmes across eight species, wildlife art sales (with 50% of proceeds directed to conservation partners, price range £14–£7,250), corporate partnerships, trusts and foundations grants, legacy giving, and flagship event income. Flagship fundraising events include the annual Wildlife Ball at The Dorchester, London (sponsored by Dorchester Collection) and the Wildlife Artist of the Year competition and exhibition at Mall Galleries. DSWF reaches supporters through direct-to-consumer digital channels (e-commerce shop, social media, Wildlife Matters quarterly magazine), a 20-year-running UK schools education programme, and celebrity ambassadors including Dame Judi Dench, David Gower, and Joanna Lumley.

Name

David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation

Legal name

David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation

Website

https://davidshepherd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation is a UK wildlife conservation charity founded in 1984 that funds ground-based conservation partners across Africa and Asia to protect eight endangered species, funded by individual donations, art sales, corporate partnerships, and flagship events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation & Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (BPAGAIAI), Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation charity
• Endangered species protection
• Anti-poaching ranger support
• Wildlife art sales
• Conservation education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations (one-time and monthly recurring), major gifts, and general fundraising appeals. Monthly donation tiers at £3, £5, and £10 support specific conservation activities.
2. Animal Adoptions: Adoption programmes for eight core species (elephants, tigers, lions, snow leopards, chimpanzees, painted dogs, rhinos, pangolins). Adopters receive certificates, factsheets, photos, and artwork prints.
3. Wildlife Art Sales: Sale of wildlife art through the DSWF shop, including original David Shepherd works, prints, partner artists' pieces, books, and cards. 50% of all art proceeds go directly to conservation partners.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partnerships for businesses looking to support wildlife conservation, including sponsorship of events and specific conservation programmes.
5. Legacies and Gifts in Wills: Legacy giving programme allowing supporters to leave gifts to DSWF in their wills to support long-term conservation work.
6. Trusts and Foundations: Funding applications to trusts and foundations for specific conservation projects and programmes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

DSWF is a UK-registered wildlife conservation charity that funds and supports ground-based conservation partners across Africa and Asia to protect eight endangered species (elephants, tigers, lions, snow leopards, chimpanzees, painted dogs, rhinos, pangolins). It delivers anti-poaching ranger support, elephant rescue and rehabilitation, wildlife crime investigations, education programmes, and policy advocacy, funded through donations, animal adoptions, wildlife art sales, events, corporate partnerships, and trust grants.

Product overview

David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) operates as a wildlife conservation charity established in 1984, offering a portfolio of programs centered on protecting eight endangered species across Africa and Asia. The organization's core offerings include direct conservation funding to Field Partners, anti-poaching ranger support, education programs for schools, wildlife art sales through its shop (with 50% of proceeds funding conservation), and animal adoption schemes. DSWF also runs two major annual art competitions—Wildlife Artist of the Year and Global Canvas—that celebrate its art heritage while fundraising. Additional offerings include the Wildlife Ball gala, Wildlife Matters magazine, ranger sponsorship, legacy giving, and the Elephant Orphanage Project in Zambia. The organization does not operate as a technology platform but rather as a traditional conservation charity relying on donations, art sales, and fundraising events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wildlife Artist of the Year: Annual art competition and exhibition celebrating wildlife art to raise funds for conservation
• Global Canvas
• Wildlife Ball
• Wildlife Matters
• Sponsor a Ranger

Products and services

• Wildlife Conservation Programs Funding and support for ground-based field partners across Africa and Asia protecting eight core endangered species: elephants, tigers, lions, snow leopards, chimpanzees, painted dogs, rhinos, and pangolins.
• Wildlife Artist of the Year Competition Annual international art competition celebrating wildlife art and artists, featuring an exhibition at Mall Galleries in London, with proceeds supporting DSWF conservation projects.
• Global Canvas Competition
• Animal Adoption Program
• Wildlife Education Programs
• Sponsor a Ranger Program
• Wildlife Art Shop
• Wildlife Ball
• Gifts in Wills
• Elephant Orphanage Project Zambia Rescue, rehabilitation, and release program for orphaned elephants, supporting 49 elephants rescued and released back to wild in Kafue National Park.
• Undercover Investigations Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £14 million invested in frontline conservation projects since 1984
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, flagship and core.

• Dorchester CollectionmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023The Dorchester Collection generously sponsors DSWF events including the annual Wildlife Ball. As a luxury hotel group, their sponsorship provides venue hosting and promotional support for flagship fundraising events.
• Wildlife Programme Zambia (formerly Elephant Orphanage Project)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007DSWF was a founding partner of the Elephant Orphanage Project in Zambia (now Wildlife Programme in Zambia). The programme rescues orphaned elephants, rehabilitates them, and releases them back into the wild at Kafue Release Facility. 49 orphaned elephants have been supported since 2007.
• Field Partners (conservation organisations in Africa and Asia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1984DSWF funds and supports ground-based conservation partners across Africa and Asia including elephant orphanages, anti-poaching ranger teams, snow leopard research programmes, and community engagement initiatives. Long-term partnerships built over decades enable frontline conservation work protecting eight core endangered species.
• Game Rangers InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSWF partners with Game Rangers International supporting ranger operations and wildlife conservation in Zambia, providing funding, equipment, and operational support for conservation activities.
• Wildlife Trust of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Wildlife Trust of India for emergency wildlife response, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and tiger conservation projects across India.
• Save The Rhino TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSWF supports Save The Rhino Trust in Namibia for protection of desert-adapted black rhinos through anti-poaching patrols, research and monitoring programmes.
• Snow Leopard TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership funding long-term ecological research study of snow leopards in southern Mongolia - the longest running and most extensive research project of its kind, aiming to deliver the most robust population assessment.
• Save The ElephantscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Save The Elephants for elephant research and conservation. Data from Save The Elephants cited for elephant population statistics and trends.
• TRAFFIC (Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRAFFIC data cited for pangolin trafficking statistics (23.5 tonnes trafficked in 2021; 10 million pangolins taken from wild in last decade). DSWF uses TRAFFIC intelligence for policy and advocacy work.
• Jane Goodall InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSWF works on chimpanzee conservation alongside the Jane Goodall Institute, referencing Dr. Jane Goodall's work and quotes in chimpanzee conservation messaging.
• Uganda Conservation FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSWF funds law enforcement and ranger support programmes through Uganda Conservation Foundation for wildlife protection across Uganda's conservation areas.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW): Global animal-welfare and wildlife-trade NGO operating across many of the same geographies and policy forums (CITES, IWT), fundraising from the same mass-market UK and international donor pool.
• Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS): One of the largest global wildlife NGOs with field-based species protection across Africa and Asia, analogous ranger-support and community-engagement programs, and similar trust/grant fundraising channels.
• Conservation International: Major global conservation NGO with corporate-partnership-driven funding model and field operations across overlapping African and Asian geographies that DSWF targets.
• WWF-UK: The UK arm of the WWF network and the dominant UK mass-market wildlife fundraiser, competing for many of the same individual donors, corporate partnerships, and trust/foundation grants DSWF targets, but with vastly larger scale and broader species scope.

Direct peers

• Save the Elephants: A current DSWF field partner that also operates as a peer elephant-conservation NGO with overlapping donor base, GPS-tracking research program, and East African field operations — directly comparable on mission and species focus.
• Tusk Trust: UK-based African conservation charity with overlapping species (elephants, rhinos, painted dogs) and high-profile annual gala fundraising model similar to DSWF's Wildlife Ball, competing for the same luxury-event donor segment.
• Born Free Foundation: UK wildlife charity focused on species protection, anti-poaching, and humane education programs with similar donor base, fundraising events, and corporate partnership motion, overlapping on several species DSWF protects.
• World Land Trust: UK conservation charity focused on habitat protection and species conservation with overlapping trust-and-foundation funding channel, similar small-staff operating model, and UK donor base.
• Fauna & Flora International (FFI): UK-registered conservation charity with similar donor-driven funding model, international species-protection programs across Africa and Asia, and comparable wildlife-trade policy advocacy; directly competes for UK donor mindshare in endangered-species giving.

Emerging players

• Snow Leopard Trust: A current DSWF field partner focusing on long-term ecological research of snow leopards in Mongolia — deeply comparable on species focus and research-monitoring approach, and a peer for snow-leopard-specific donor contributions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dswfwildlife
• Facebookfacebook.com/DavidShepherdWildlifeFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/david-shepherd-wildlife-foundation-dswf-
• Instagraminstagram.com/david_shepherd_wildlife_foundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DavidShepherdWildlife

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation