Elephants for Africa

What Elephants for Africa does

Elephants for Africa is a UK-registered charity (England & Wales number 1179318) and Botswana-registered NGO (CR12058) founded by Dr. Kate Evans and headquartered in London, with operational headquarters at a research camp near Khumaga in the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Botswana. Its mission is to conserve the endangered African elephant through research and education, with a deliberate focus on male elephants — identified as the primary instigators of conflict with rural farming communities. The charity runs an integrated programme spanning long-term behavioral-ecology research, community coexistence interventions (including chilli-pepper and beehive fencing with subsistence farmers in Khumaga and Moreomaoto), and a youth education pipeline (Environmental Clubs, EleFun activities, and outreach reaching roughly 200 children per year via partner Living with Elephants).

The research platform combines traditional field techniques — Reconyx camera traps deployed at elephant hotspots, GPS-collared individuals, and fecal sample analysis for parasitology and hormone studies — with social network analysis (SNA) of male elephant associations. Outputs feed Botswana Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) decision-makers and an academic publication pipeline, including a structured MSc by Research collaboration with the University of Exeter's Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour (CRAB). Notable scientific recognition includes the 2022 Animals Best PhD Thesis Award (Dr. Connie Allen, on age structure and elephant populations) and Brian Courtenay's 2004 AATA International Award.

The business model is a donation-and-grant-funded nonprofit with diversified revenue streams: individual and corporate donations (Gift Aid-eligible where applicable), tiered corporate sponsorships (Mopane £100+ to Abu £50,000+), merchandise sales (cards, books, calendars, branded apparel), Relate Bracelets bulk sales (£1 per bracelet to the charity), art-print sales, Payroll Giving in the UK, and GlobalGiving platform giving. Core financial sponsors include Chicago Zoological Society, Memphis Zoo, Columbus Zoo, Atlanta-Fulton County Zoo, AZA Conservation Endowment Fund, Wilderness Wildlife Trust, GoodPlanet Foundation, and the Souter Charitable Trust. Governance is provided by a board of trustees (David Matthias QC, John Graham, Brian Courtenay, Raoul Bollen, Karen Ross), with Anthony Phillips of Genesis as patron; the charity has no parent entity and no institutional investors.

Name

Elephants for Africa

Legal name

Elephants for Africa

Website

https://elephantsforafrica.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

UK-registered charity and Botswana-registered NGO researching male African elephant behavior in the Makgadikgadi Pans, running community coexistence and youth education programs funded by donations, corporate sponsorships, and merchandise sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation & Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (BPAGAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK), Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation
• Elephant research
• Human-wildlife coexistence
• Conservation education
• Community outreach

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, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue stream through individual donations, corporate donations, and trust foundations. Multiple donation methods including MyDonate, cheque, bank transfer, Gift Aid, and Payroll Giving for UK tax payers.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of elephant-themed merchandise including Christmas cards, bracelets, books, messenger bags, baby onesies, hand puppets, car stickers, calendars, and art prints. Proceeds support conservation work.
3. Relate Bracelets Partnership: Partnership with Relate Trust social enterprise selling handmade beaded bracelets. Purchase of 1000 bracelets costs £3 each with £1 donated directly to Elephants for Africa.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Ongoing support from corporate partners and organizations including Abu (£50,000+), Ivory (£10,000+), Leadwood (£2,500+), Marula (£1,000+), Pula (£500+), Mopane (£100+), and Tusker tiers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Elephants for Africa conducts field research on male African elephants in Botswana's Makgadikgadi Pans region, implements human-wildlife coexistence programs (including chilli pepper and beehive fence training) with rural farming communities, and delivers conservation education to local youth. The charity funds this work through donations, tiered corporate sponsorships, grants from charitable trusts, and merchandise sales including books, art prints, calendars, and branded gifts.

Product overview

Elephants for Africa is a conservation charity operating as a single unified organization focused on protecting African elephants through research and education. The organization offers merchandise (branded items including cards, bags, puppets, art prints, books, and calendars) as fundraising mechanisms, alongside services including community coexistence workshops, youth education programs, and academic research collaborations with universities. The merchandise products are sold primarily to raise awareness and generate donations rather than representing a technology product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Elephant-Themed Branded Merchandise

Quantifiable outcome

• 87 crop-raiding incidents attended and monitored in one season
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Earth CubsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 November 2021Educational app developer teaching children about ecosystems through games. Founder Dr Kate Evans and family are avid fans of their app.
• Planete VivanteminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 November 2021Fundraising partnership where Planete Vivante donates 10% of their profits to Elephants for Africa. They sell jewellery featuring iconic wildlife to support conservation.
• Relate TrustcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor100% not-for-profit social enterprise selling handmade beaded bracelets. Elephants for Africa receives £1 per bracelet sold from bulk orders. Bracelets sold in batches of 250, 500, 1000, or 2000.
• University of Exeter - Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour (CRAB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for MSc by Research in Psychology (Animal Behaviour). Students join Elephants for Africa team for field research on male elephant social behaviour.
• Save The ElephantsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Michelle Henley in South Africa for comparison work on male elephants between study populations.
• Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) BotswanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partnership for human-wildlife coexistence projects. DWNP staff assist with park access, workshops, and monitoring mitigation strategies.
• Living with ElephantsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNot-for-profit organization founded by Doug and Sandi Groves. Their three orphaned elephants educate local children and tourists about elephant conservation.
• Hadeco / MyAmaryllisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual donation supporter using Elephants for Africa images for customer calendar, spreading awareness throughout the world.
• Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Ryan Wasserman is academic at BIUST and serves as Scientific Advisor to Elephants for Africa.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Global conservation giant with significant African elephant programs. Represents the scaled incumbent whose brand and donor base dwarf most specialist charities.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: International NGO operating wildlife conservation programs including in Africa. Comparable as a large, multi-species conservation organization with field research and community programs.
• African Wildlife Foundation: Pan-African conservation organization with a broader species mandate across multiple countries. Comparable as a wildlife-focused nonprofit operating in Africa with community coexistence programming.

Regional players

• Conservation South Luangwa: Zambia-based NGO focused on wildlife protection and community coexistence in the South Luangwa ecosystem. Comparable as a regional African conservation charity using community engagement to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
• PAMS Foundation: Tanzania-based wildlife conservation NGO operating community-based anti-poaching and human-wildlife conflict mitigation. Comparable as a regionally focused African wildlife charity.
• Tsavo Trust: Kenyan conservation organization protecting elephants and other wildlife in the greater Tsavo ecosystem. Comparable as an African elephant-focused nonprofit combining ranger operations with community partnerships.

Direct peers

• Tusk Trust: UK-registered African wildlife conservation charity funding community-based conservation and anti-poaching. Comparable as a UK-headquartered African wildlife charity reliant on corporate partnerships and donations.
• Elephants Without Borders: Botswana-based NGO conducting elephant research and population surveys across southern Africa. Operates in the same geography with overlapping scientific methods (GPS collars, aerial surveys) and conservation mission.
• Save the Elephants: Kenya-based nonprofit dedicated to securing a future for elephants through research, conservation, and advocacy. Already an existing comparison-work partner, making it the most directly comparable peer in mission and method.

Emerging players

• Big Life Foundation: Kenya-Tanzania cross-border conservation organization with community-based anti-poaching and coexistence programs. Comparable for its integrated community + wildlife approach in East Africa.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/E4Africa
• Facebookfacebook.com/elephantsforafrica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elephants-for-africa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Elephants for Africa