ADM Capital Foundation

What ADM Capital Foundation does

ADM Capital Foundation (ADMCF) is an environmental philanthropic foundation headquartered in Hong Kong, established in 2006 by the partners of investment advisor ADM Capital to catalyze systems change that protects Asia's environment for future generations. It holds tax-exempt status under Section 88 of the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Ordinance and 501(c)(3) charitable status in the United States, and is funded by partners of ADM Capital and other funding partners without charging for any of its services.

The foundation operates four core programmes — Protecting Wildlife & Landscapes, Living Oceans, Leveraging Finance, and Legacy Kids — supported by roughly a dozen interconnected initiatives including China Water Risk (its flagship since 2011), the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime (hosted since 2020), the Hong Kong Green Finance Association, HK2050isNow, the Seafood Risk Assessment (SRA) tool, Choose Right Today, the Hong Kong Sustainable Seafood Coalition, Drink Without Waste, Eat Without Waste, and the 114°E Hong Kong Reef Fish Survey. Its proprietary technology assets include open-source data and tools such as the WiPS wildlife seizures database (800+ documented seizures since 2013), the SRA country-level seafood risk-scoring platform, and a bilingual consumer-facing sustainable seafood directory of 500+ restaurants and retailers.

ADMCF's go-to-market is community-led and systems-oriented: it funds projects directly, jointly, or via co-funding, incubates initiatives where environmental gaps exist, and works across governments, academia, civil society, corporates, financial institutions and the general public across more than ten Asian jurisdictions including Hong Kong, China, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. Revenue mechanics are philanthropic — grants, donations, and pro-bono support — with no fees for services rendered.

Name

ADM Capital Foundation

Legal name

ADM Capital Foundation

Website

https://admcf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ADM Capital Foundation is a Hong Kong-based environmental philanthropic foundation, established in 2006 by ADM Capital partners, that funds and incubates programmes protecting wildlife, marine ecosystems, and finance for nature across developing Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Philanthropy

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Biodiversity, Conservation & Natural Capital Funds (FSANAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable/Thematic Investing (Climate, Clean Tech, Water, Biodiversity) (FSAAALAB), Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ), Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Risk Management (BPADALAK)

Keywords

• Environmental philanthropy
• Marine conservation
• Wildlife protection
• Sustainable seafood
• Green finance

Headquarters

HQ city

Central

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Grants and Donations: ADMCF operates as a philanthropic foundation funded by partners of investment advisor ADM Capital and other funding partners. The foundation relies on funding partners and pro bono support to operate. It has been granted tax exempt status under Section 88 of the Hong Kong Government Inland Revenue Ordinance and has 501(c)(3) charitable status in the United States.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ADM Capital Foundation is an environmental philanthropic foundation that catalyses systems change in developing Asia by funding, designing, and implementing conservation programmes focused on protecting wildlife and landscapes, marine and ocean sustainability, leveraging finance for climate and nature, and supporting children at risk. It works through strategic grants, co-funding models, and direct project delivery — combining science-based research, policy advocacy, and proprietary open-source tools (such as the Seafood Risk Assessment platform and the Wildlife Product Seizures database) to reduce wildlife trade, transform seafood markets, and redirect capital toward nature-positive outcomes.

Product overview

ADM Capital Foundation is an environmental philanthropic foundation that operates as a unified portfolio of interconnected programmes and initiatives rather than a commercial product platform. The core structure comprises four main programmes: Protecting Wildlife & Landscapes (focused on biodiversity and wildlife trade), Living Oceans (marine conservation and seafood sustainability), Leveraging Finance (climate, water and nature-based financing), and Legacy Kids (children and youth support). These programmes are supported by numerous specific initiatives including China Water Risk, Seafood Risk Assessment, Choose Right Today, Hong Kong Sustainable Seafood Coalition, Drink Without Waste, Eat Without Waste, HK2050IsNow, the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime, and the 114°E Hong Kong Reef Fish Survey. The foundation also produces research reports and annual publications documenting its work and findings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Protecting Wildlife & Landscapes Programme ADMCF core programme focused on reducing stressors on natural ecosystems, addressing threats to plant, animal and fungi species survival, and advancing biodiversity research, policy development, and education across Asia.
• Living Oceans Programme ADMCF core programme focused on marine conservation, seafood market transformation, and preservation of marine biodiversity in Asia.
• Leveraging Finance Programme ADMCF core programme focused on driving business and finance toward responsible resource use, unpacking climate and biodiversity impacts, and facilitating new financing solutions for a net zero world.
• Legacy Kids Programme ADMCF programme supporting vulnerable children in Asia through education and community-driven interventions, with continued partnerships in Cambodia and India.
• China Water Risk (CWR) Flagship ADMCF initiative to foster efficient and responsible use of China's water resources by engaging the global business and investment communities in understanding and managing China's water risk.
• Seafood Risk Assessment (SRA) Open-source tool helping Hong Kong-based companies assess the sustainability risks of globally sourced seafood, providing quick country-level risk assessments for wild and farmed species, scoring species as high, medium, or low risk based on factors like overfishing and habitat destruction.
• Choose Right Today Bilingual platform designed to educate and empower consumers on sustainable seafood, featuring information on eco-labels, a directory of sustainable restaurants and retailers, and identification guides for species sold at Hong Kong wet markets.
• Hong Kong Sustainable Seafood Coalition (HKSSC) Industry-led initiative to advance sustainable seafood markets in Hong Kong, Macau, and Asia-Pacific by promoting responsible sourcing and labelling practices to ensure all imported seafood is legal, traceable, and biologically sustainable.
• Drink Without Waste ADMCF initiative addressing single-use beverage packaging waste in Hong Kong through producer responsibility schemes and public awareness campaigns to achieve 70-90% recovery rates for PET containers and liquid cartons.
• Eat Without Waste ADMCF initiative developing circular economy-based solutions to reduce Hong Kong's takeaway waste footprint through research and stakeholder engagement across government, consumers, and food service operators.
• Hong Kong Green Finance Association (HKGFA) Platform co-founded by ADMCF in September 2018 supporting the development of green finance and sustainable investments in Hong Kong and beyond, with 160+ Hong Kong-based institutional members.
• HK2050IsNow Public policy think tank co-founded in 2019 by Civic Exchange with partners World Resources Institute, ADMCF, and RS Group, undertaking research and engaging with policy makers to drive Hong Kong towards carbon neutrality before 2050.
• Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime (EWC) Global alliance launched in 2020 and hosted by ADMCF to address critical gaps in international and national legal frameworks for combating wildlife trafficking, chaired by John Scanlon AO (former CITES Secretary-General).
• 114°E Hong Kong Reef Fish Survey Marine biodiversity research initiative led by BLOOM HK in close partnership with ADMCF, collecting reef fish data in Hong Kong waters since 2014 and documenting over 400 species including endangered, high-commercial-value, and alien species.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4.3 million live CITES-listed turtles imported into Hong Kong documented and tracked
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• HongKong2050isNowcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Founded in 2019 by Civic Exchange with partners World Resources Institute, ADMCF and RS Group, HongKong2050isNow is a public policy think tank undertaking research and engaging with policy makers to ambitiously drive Hong Kong towards carbon neutrality before 2050.
• Hong Kong Green Finance Association (HKGFA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2018Founded in September 2018, HKGFA provides a unique platform supporting development of green finance and sustainable investments in Hong Kong and beyond. HKGFA is widely recognised as the most dynamic, influential and active dedicated Green and Sustainable Finance Association in Asia, leveraging its 160+ Hong Kong-based institutional members to collectively build capacity and advance policy dialogue.
• China Water Risk (CWR)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011CWR was launched in 2011 to foster efficient and responsible use of China's water resources by engaging the global business and investment communities in understanding and managing China's water risk. Today, CWR is a global thought leader in unpacking and valuing complex climate and water risks. CWR has been ADMCF's flagship initiative since its launch.
• BLOOM HKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBLOOM HK is ADMCF's close partner leading the 114°E Hong Kong Reef Fish Survey, which has been collecting reef fish data in local waters since 2014. The project has documented over 400 species including numerous endangered, high-commercial-value and alien species.
• Hong Kong Marine Protection Alliance (HKMPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADMCF is a member of the Hong Kong Marine Protection Alliance (HKMPA) and Executive Committee, collaborating with local experts and NGOs to enhance Hong Kong's marine conservation strategies and championing establishment of MPAs at additional sites.
• Hong Kong Sustainable Seafood Coalition (HKSSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 2018 as an industry-led initiative following recommendations from the first Hong Kong Sustainable Seafood Symposium organised by ADMCF. Promotes responsible sourcing and labelling practices to ensure all imported seafood is legal, traceable and biologically sustainable.
• Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime (EWC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched in 2020 by ADMCF alongside partners including African Wildlife Foundation, Born Free Foundation, Freeland, GEI, ICCF, and Food and Land Use Coalition. A global alliance working to address critical gaps in international and national legal frameworks for combating wildlife crime. Hosted by ADMCF and chaired by John Scanlon AO (former CITES Secretary-General).
• Clean Air Network (CAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADMCF was instrumental in setting up CAN along with Civic Exchange. In CAN's early years, ADMCF provided seed funding as well as strategic support and fundraising assistance. CAN has become the #1 information resource about air pollution, health and policy in Hong Kong.
• Species Survival Network (SSN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADMCF works alongside SSN driving conservation initiatives, improving oversight, and fostering better information-sharing between Asian stakeholders, the CITES Secretariat and Member States.
• Hong Kong Biodiversity Expert Group (HKBEG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of Hong Kong's leading biodiversity academics and experts formed by ADMCF and partners to contribute to the government's BSAP 2.0 efforts. ADMCF is a member of the HKBEG Steering Committee.
• Drink Without WastecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative addressing Hong Kong's single-use plastic beverage packaging waste. Working towards 70%-90% recovery rates for PET containers and liquid cartons through Producer Responsibility Scheme development.
• Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeijing-based NGO for which ADMCF contributed to strengthening capacity in project management, campaign strategy, networking, partnership building, and financial management. ADMCF was instrumental in developing an informal network of brands for IPE.
• ADM CapitalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with ADM Capital on developing practical tools to integrate nature considerations into investment processes, including an ESG toolkit for asset managers to identify and address climate and nature-related risks.
• Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADMCF supports SPUN and field scientists in Indonesia to study and document mycorrhizal fungi species, collecting soil samples from various ecosystems in South Sulawesi.
• World Resources Institute (WRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADMCF filled a short-term funding gap to enable WRI and Tsinghua University research for PROA (Pollution Reduction Opportunity Analysis) for ammonia discharge reduction in Suzhou.
• Hong Kong BSAP Expert GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance working on the Hong Kong Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2.0, contributing recommendations to the Hong Kong SAR Government for protecting and conserving the city's terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Wetlands International: Global nonprofit dedicated to wetland and waterbird conservation with Asia operations. Comparable to ADMCF's biodiversity, marine, and water programmes, with similar science-based advocacy and policy engagement model.
• The Nature Conservancy (Asia Pacific): Large US-based environmental organization with active Asia Pacific operations covering marine, freshwater, and biodiversity programmes. Broader geography and budget but overlapping mission in ocean conservation and nature-related financial risk work.
• Conservation International Asia Pacific: Global conservation NGO active across Asia Pacific with focus on biodiversity hotspots, marine protected areas, and sustainable finance. Overlaps with ADMCF on biodiversity research, ocean conservation, and ESG integration.

Direct peers

• TRAFFIC: Wildlife trade monitoring network and joint WWF/CITES programme with deep expertise in CITES implementation and seizure data. Highly comparable to ADMCF's WiPS database and wildlife trade advocacy; shares data and policy interfaces with ADMCF.
• WWF-Hong Kong: Hong Kong arm of the global WWF network, focused on biodiversity conservation, marine protection, and wildlife trade in Hong Kong and the Greater Mekong region. Directly comparable as a Hong Kong-based environmental NGO operating across similar wildlife, ocean, and policy work streams.
• Fauna & Flora International (FFI): Global conservation NGO operating across Asia with focus on species protection, marine ecosystems, and wildlife trade. Comparable in scope and approach to ADMCF's wildlife and marine programmes, with similar science-led and partnership-driven model.

Others

• ADM Capital: Hong Kong-based investment advisor and founding sponsor of ADMCF, with adjacent climate and sustainable finance work (Asia Climate-Smart Landscape Fund). Sister organization providing capital and ESG toolkit collaboration; strategic ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor.
• China Water Risk (CWR): ADMCF's own flagship water-risk initiative launched in 2011; included as a peer because it is a distinct organizational entity with its own brand that interfaces with investors and corporates on water and climate. Closely comparable through shared resources and mission on climate-biodiversity finance.

Emerging players

• China Dialogue Trust: Independent bilingual platform covering environmental issues in China and globally. Comparable to ADMCF's research and communications function, especially on water, climate, and biodiversity topics, but operates as a media organization rather than grantmaker.

Regional players

• Hong Kong Bird Watching Society: Long-standing Hong Kong-based conservation NGO focused on bird biodiversity, surveys, and habitat protection. Comparable as a regional player with HK-specific conservation presence and citizen-science research similar to ADMCF's 114°E Reef Fish Survey.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WildlifeCrimeHK
• Xx.com/admcapfound

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

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Frequently asked questions about ADM Capital Foundation