What Fauna Foundation does

Fauna Foundation is a Canadian nonprofit chimpanzee sanctuary founded in 1997 and headquartered in Carignan, Quebec, operating on the 100+ acre Ruisseau Robert Nature Reserve. It is the only chimpanzee sanctuary in Canada and provides permanent lifetime care for chimpanzees retired from biomedical research, entertainment, and private ownership; the current resident population comprises 26 geriatric chimpanzees (all aged 30+) and, historically, 7 monkeys. The foundation also maintains a designated nature conservancy area with documented biodiversity of 158 bird species and 125+ tree species, expanding the protected land as the chimpanzee population ages.

Core programs include the Visiting Intern Program (a 9-week summer residency at $300 CAD plus $25 application), remote Academic Internships for university credit, virtual workshops and online classes (e.g., 'Many Faces of Fauna' at $45 per ticket), and the Adopt-a-Chimp symbolic sponsorship at $60 CAD per digital kit. Revenue is generated through a diversified donor base: one-time and recurring monthly donations, Adopt-a-Chimp sponsorships, planned giving/bequests, internship fees, virtual event tickets, and the Lifetime Care Fund endowment established in 2007. The foundation operates a sister US 501(c)(3), Fauna Sanctuary Inc. (created 2002), to enable cross-border fundraising.

The underlying technology stack is conventional and non-proprietary: a Firespring-built nonprofit website, DonorPerfect and PayPal for donation processing, Eventbrite for ticketing, and Zoom for virtual events. There are no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, patents, or proprietary software. The foundation's distinctive intellectual asset is its American Sign Language communication program with chimpanzees Tatu and Loulis, inherited through a partnership with Friends of Washoe (formed 2013), supporting non-invasive behavioral research. Annual chimpanzee care costs approximately $20,000 CAD per animal, implying direct care costs of roughly $520,000 CAD for the current population.

Name

Fauna Foundation

Legal name

Fauna Foundation

Website

https://faunafoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fauna Foundation is Canada's only chimpanzee sanctuary, providing permanent lifetime care for 26 geriatric chimpanzees retired from biomedical research, education programs, and a 100-acre nature reserve in Quebec.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Sanctuary & Wildlife Conservation

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK), Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

Keywords

• Chimpanzee sanctuary
• Animal welfare services
• Primate conservation
• Wildlife sanctuary
• Nonprofit primate care

Headquarters

HQ city

Carignan

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: Primary revenue stream through one-time and recurring donations. The Adopt-a-Chimp program offers symbolic adoption packages for $60 CAD, providing digital adoption kits with photos and biographies. Monthly donor program provides stable operational funding.
2. Adopt-a-Chimp Program: Virtual adoption sponsorship at $60 CAD providing full-color photo, biography, and annual report download. Proceeds directly fund chimpanzee care and enrichment.
3. Monthly Giving Program: Recurring monthly donations with suggested tiers: $50 for weekly apples, $85 for two-week nut supply, $150 for one day caregiver salary, $500 for weekly romaine lettuce, $1,000 for weekly produce, $5,000 for three days complete care.
4. Lifetime Care Fund: Endowment-style fund established in 2007 to ensure long-term care for residents. Initial $1 million goal reached by 2012. Estimated $3.5-5 million needed for current chimpanzee population.
5. Internship Program Fees: 9-week Visiting Intern Program costs $300 CAD plus $25 application fee. Program fee supports staffing and sanctuary mission. Remote Academic Internships available for university credit.
6. Virtual Event Tickets: Online workshops and virtual events priced at $45 per ticket, eligible for $35 CAD tax receipt. Includes presentations and virtual sanctuary visits.
7. Planned Giving and Bequests: Wills and bequests program allowing supporters to include Fauna in estate plans. Canadian tax ID: NEQ #886077239RR0001.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fauna Foundation is a nonprofit sanctuary providing permanent lifetime care for chimpanzees retired from biomedical research, entertainment, and private ownership — Canada's only chimpanzee sanctuary, established in 1997. The organization supplements direct care with educational offerings including a 9-week Visiting Intern Program and remote Academic Internships, virtual workshops and online classes on primate behavior and conservation, the Adopt-a-Chimp symbolic sponsorship program, and stewardship of the 100+ acre Ruisseau Robert Nature Reserve. Funding is raised through individual donations, monthly giving, planned giving/bequests, the Lifetime Care Fund endowment, internship fees, and virtual event tickets.

Product overview

Fauna Foundation operates as a chimpanzee sanctuary (Canada's only one, established 1997) offering multiple interconnected programs: the core sanctuary providing lifetime care for retired research chimpanzees; the Adopt-a-Chimp symbolic adoption program ($60 CAD digital kit); the Visiting Intern Program (9-week summer, $300 CAD) and Academic Internships (remote research); Virtual Workshop and Online Classes covering chimpanzee behavior, ethics, and conservation; and the Ruisseau Robert Nature Reserve (100+ acres) for wildlife conservation. Donations support care costs of approximately $20,000 CAD per chimpanzee annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chimpanzee Sanctuary (Permanent Lifetime Care) A protected sanctuary providing permanent lifetime care for chimpanzees retired from biomedical research, entertainment, and private ownership; Canada's only chimpanzee sanctuary, in operation since 1997.
• Visiting Intern Program A 9-week summer internship at the sanctuary for undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students in Anthropology, Biology, Psychology, Linguistics, and Philosophy; costs $300 CAD plus a $25 application fee.
• Academic Internships (Remote) Remote research experiences for university-level students who arrange research or internship credits through their own university.
• Adopt-a-Chimp Program A symbolic adoption sponsorship program allowing supporters to contribute to chimpanzee care; the $60 CAD digital adoption kit includes a full-color photo, biography, history, and annual report download.
• Virtual Workshop: The Many Faces of Fauna A two-hour live online workshop including a one-hour presentation on Fauna's chimpanzee residents (past and present) and a virtual visit to the Chimp House; tickets $45 CAD with $35 CAD tax receipt.
• Online Classes and Virtual Events Interactive online classes covering chimpanzee behavior and communication, wildlife, husbandry, caregiving and sanctuary protocols, ethics, and conservation, featuring guest speakers and expert educators with limited class sizes.
• Ruisseau Robert Nature Reserve A 100+ acre protected conservation area at the Carignan, Quebec sanctuary site, safeguarding native flora and fauna including 158 documented bird species and 125+ tree species.

Quantifiable outcome

• 158 bird species documented on property, including 9 at-risk species
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Friends of WashoecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Collaborative partnership providing ongoing care for Tatu and Loulis, the last surviving chimpanzees from the Washoe sign language project. Friends of Washoe maintains archives of the cross-fostering project and shares educational resources about chimpanzee communication research.
• Fauna Sanctuary Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002Sister organization established in 2002 as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the United States. Provides funding for special projects, capital campaigns, educational programs, and outreach efforts related to chimpanzee welfare in captivity.
• NAPSA (North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFauna consults with NAPSA members for expertise in primate sanctuary care and best practices. NAPSA is an alliance of primate sanctuaries across North America working to end primate exploitation.
• AmazonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmazon Smile program allows US supporters to designate Fauna Sanctuary (US affiliate) for automatic donations on purchases. Wishlist functionality for direct gift-in-kind contributions.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• World Animal Protection: Large international animal welfare NGO that funds primate sanctuary initiatives and broader wildlife campaigns. Comparable advocacy mission and donor model, though operating at global scale and not as a single sanctuary operator.

Direct peers

• Primarily Primates: Texas-based primate sanctuary providing refuge for a variety of primates. Comparable long-term care mission and donor-supported operating model, though with broader primate species coverage.
• Chimp Haven: The federal chimpanzee sanctuary system in the US, providing lifetime care for chimpanzees retired from biomedical research. Directly comparable mission, revenue mix (donations + federal funding), and resident profile, though it operates at larger scale and accepts public visitors.
• Center for Great Apes: Florida sanctuary for orangutans and chimpanzees retired from entertainment and research. Comparable mission, nonprofit donor model, and lifelong care focus, though it spans multiple great ape species.
• Project Chimps: Georgia-based sanctuary providing permanent care for chimpanzees retired from research labs. Directly comparable resident population, donor-supported model, and sanctuary operations, with a similar adoption/sponsorship program.
• Save the Chimps: Florida-based chimpanzee sanctuary operating a 150-acre facility caring for chimpanzees retired from research and entertainment. Comparable mission, donor-funded model, and adoption/sponsorship programming, though larger scale and with public-facing tours.
• Friends of Washoe: Partner organization that maintains archives of the Washoe cross-fostering sign language project and co-supports care for Tatu and Loulis. Direct mission overlap, though operating as an archive/advocacy group rather than a physical sanctuary.

Regional players

• Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary: Sierra Leone-based chimpanzee sanctuary operating ecotourism and adoption programs. Comparable mission and adoption/revenue model, though Africa-based and with a tourism-led GTM.
• Chimpanzee Conservation Center: West African chimpanzee sanctuary focused on rescue, rehabilitation, and release in range states. Comparable primate sanctuary operations but focused on in-region conservation rather than research-retirement care.

Others

• North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance (NAPSA): Industry alliance of primate sanctuaries across North America of which Fauna is a member. Provides best-practice consulting, accreditation, and peer support rather than direct sanctuary operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/faunafoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/faunafoundation
• Xx.com/faunafoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Fauna Foundation