Wild Philanthropy

What Wild Philanthropy does

Wild Philanthropy is a US-registered 501(c)(3) charitable foundation (Wild Philanthropy Inc., EIN 81-3779127) headquartered at 641 Lexington Avenue, New York, focused on protecting at-risk ecosystems and supporting vulnerable communities in Africa. Its core operational model is a 100% donation pass-through: every dollar received from individuals, foundations, and corporate donors is granted directly to a curated network of on-the-ground African conservation and community development partners, including Borana Conservancy, Enonkishu Conservancy, Mara Conservancy Kenya, Tongwe Trust, Elephants Without Borders, Enarau Conservancy, Kara Community Farm, Environment Sahel, and Virunga National Park, among others. The foundation has supported 39 projects across at least 13 African countries, with cumulative scope covering over 896,000 hectares of conservation land.

Wild Philanthropy monetises through a portfolio of three service streams rather than retaining donation principal. Philanthropy Advisory Services help HNW individuals and organisations direct capital into vetted African conservation projects at no advisory fee. Conservation Journeys combine philanthropy with immersive travel and channel tourism revenue back into local projects (logistics run through sister company Journeys by Design). Conservation Legacy Planning provides long-term, multi-generational philanthropy strategy that draws on both charitable and investment partners to construct bespoke impact portfolios. The foundation also publishes the Safari Carbon Calculator, an open-source tool released June 2021 that measures per-safari emissions across flights, charter, ground transport, boats, balloons, and accommodation.

The organisation operates with 1-10 employees and is part of the Africa House Group alongside Journeys by Design and Tekula Capital, forming a vertically integrated philanthropy-tourism-investment ecosystem. Earned media coverage (Financial Times, New York Times, Robb Report, Departures, The Independent) and the 2022 MEA Markets Best Travel-driven Social Enterprise award reflect HNW donor visibility, while programmes such as the African Travel Crisis Fund (2020) and the Angela Sacha Conservation Fund demonstrate crisis-response and memorial-giving vehicles. Technology is not a core differentiator; the moat rests on partner curation, donor trust in the 100% pass-through model, and the embedded Africa House Group ecosystem.

Name

Wild Philanthropy

Legal name

Wild Philanthropy Inc.

Website

https://wildphilanthropy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wild Philanthropy is a US 501(c)(3) charitable foundation that channels 100% of donations from individuals, foundations, and corporates to a curated network of African conservation and community partners, complemented by philanthropy advisory, conservation-linked travel via sister company Journeys by Design, and the open-source Safari Carbon Calculator.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Philanthropy

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE), Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Sponsors (BPAGAKAF)

Keywords

• Conservation philanthropy
• Grant-making foundation
• Wildlife conservation finance
• Community development grants
• Sustainable tourism impact

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Wild Philanthropy raises funds from individuals and private and public organisations. A full 100% of donations received are passed on directly as grants to projects on the ground. The organisation also provides advisory services for those with an interest in supporting conservation and community work in Africa, helping direct donations to places that need it most, at no fee for this service.
2. Conservation Legacy Planning: For those with longer term plans, Wild Philanthropy offers a conservation legacy planning service that helps develop a long-term philanthropy strategy drawing on both charitable and investment partners to create a bespoke portfolio of impact driven interventions.
3. Conservation Journeys: Travel experiences that immerse individuals in conservation and community development work while ensuring maximum tourism dollars remain in the local economy. Brings donors closer to the projects they support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Wild Philanthropy is a charitable foundation that raises donations from individuals and private/public organisations and passes 100% of funds directly as grants to vetted conservation and community development partners in Africa. It supplements this grant-making with philanthropy advisory services, conservation legacy planning, and conservation-driven travel experiences that connect donors and travellers to on-the-ground projects.

Product overview

Wild Philanthropy is a charitable foundation (US 501(c)(3)) providing a portfolio of services centered on travel-driven conservation for Africa. The core offerings include Philanthropy Advisory Services (helping donors direct funds to conservation projects), Conservation Journeys (travel experiences linking travellers to conservation projects), and the Safari Carbon Calculator (an open-source carbon measurement tool for safari operators). The organization passes 100% of donations directly to on-ground projects through a network of trusted partner organizations including conservancies, community farms, and conservation trusts across Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wild Expeditions: Sustainable travel and conservation journey operator in Ethiopia, set up in partnership with Ethiopian nationals.
• Safari Carbon Calculator

Products and services

• Philanthropy Advisory Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,500 poachers arrested over 16 years by Mara Conservancy partners
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Borana ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner in Kenya. Wild Philanthropy supports Borana's conservation and community work, including development of lodge medical clinic.
• Chem Chem AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organisation in northern Tanzania with mission to protect wildlife and empower surrounding rural communities. Takes holistic approach linking tourism, wildlife protection, and community engagement. Received grants from Angela Sacha Conservation Fund.
• Ecoexist TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in Maun, Botswana, seeks to reduce conflict and foster coexistence between elephants and people. Receives Christmas appeal fundraising and Angela Sacha Conservation Fund grants.
• Elephants Without BorderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity dedicated to conservation of Africa's wildlife through innovative research and education. Founder Mike Chase (PhD) has studied elephant ecology since 2001. Wild Philanthropy provides grant support.
• Enarau ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRewilding project in Northern Mara, Kenya established 2022. Wild Philanthropy is a founding member. Supports HQ renovations, ranger accommodation, and general operations. In-house website design provided.
• Enonkishu ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative of pastoralist families on edge of Mara Ecosystem. 6,000 acres balancing livestock and wildlife. Four founding core ecosystem projects. Goodwood House fundraiser raised over $90,000. Supports Mara Training Centre and Mara Beef enterprises.
• Kara Community FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports Kara community in Omo Valley, Ethiopia with food security and livelihood diversification. Solar-powered irrigation system established. With support from Only the Brave Foundation.
• Mara Conservancy KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProtects Mara Triangle (510 sq km) of western Masai Mara. First public/private sector partnership in region (established 2001). African Travel Crisis Fund supported during COVID-19.
• Tongwe TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished 2002, conserves approximately 450 sq km of Ntakata Forest for Tongwe people. Supports rangers, Buy-a-Bike Scheme, Tentsile tree-nest camping, and beekeeping enterprises. In-house website design provided.
• Virunga National ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRC national park supported through African Travel Crisis Fund. Medical supplies donation for rangers. Partnership with BeaBond jewellery designer who donates percentage of profits to conservation.
• African ParksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported high-level guiding training for rangers; partner in conservation management. Henry Mpakati from Liwonde, Malawi funded for intensive 28-day training program.
• Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUmbrella organisation for community conservancies in Northern Kenya (founded 2004, owned by 43 community conservancies). Model for community-led conservation strategies. Wild Philanthropy references NRT as flagship example of conservation approach.
• Sahara Conservation FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with on Chad conservation work, including reintroduction of oryx in Ouadi Rime-Ouadi Achim protected area.
• Northern Rangelands Trust ConservanciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIncludes Namunyak Conservancy (established 1995), Sera Conservancy, Il Ngwesi Conservancy, and Mugie Conservancy. Home to Sarara Lodge, Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, singing wells tradition.
• Mara Elephant ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnarau Conservancy rangers trained through MEP. Technology partner providing elephant tracking and monitoring capabilities.
• Centre for Ecosystem Restoration Kenya (CERK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnarau partners with CERK for savannah restoration. Harrison Nabaala serves as Savannah Restoration Manager.
• Fauna & Flora InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaul Herbertson worked for FFI for over 10 years before joining Wild Philanthropy. FFI referenced as one of most effective global conservation organisations.
• Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSetting up management for Siniaka Minia and Manda national parks in Chad, adjacent to Moyen Chari-Mandoul areas.
• Elephant Protection Initiative FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded African Journalism Project pilot enabling African journalists to report on human-elephant conflict in Angola, Nigeria, and Liberia. Grant covers fact-finding trips.
• Tusk TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironment Sahel works with Tusk Trust's Pan African Conservation Education (PACE) programme, translating materials into French and local languages.
• Environment SahelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChadian NGO focused on protecting 'spaces between' protected areas. Wild Philanthropy acts as fiduciary sponsor, helps market the organisation, identifies private donors, and built website. Focus on Lac Fitri, Lac Tchad, Dodje Forest, Mbaibakoum-Bebeto-Gore Forest, and Moyen Chari-Mandoul.
• Africa House GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWild Philanthropy is a member of Africa House Group alongside Journeys by Design and Tekula Capital. Together working to transform the way tourism benefits Africa.
• Journeys by DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company providing luxury safari logistics. Collaborated on Safari Carbon Calculator. Founder Will Jones is connected to Wild Philanthropy. Journeys by Design has Three-Year Plan for net-positive business.
• Wild Expeditions EthiopiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSet up by Journeys by Design in 2016 in partnership with Ethiopian nationals. Provides top quality individually tailored safaris. Wild Philanthropy helped build their website. Won MEA Markets Best Travel-driven Social Enterprise award.
• 1% For the PlanetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWild Philanthropy is a member, committing to donating 1% of sales/revenue to environmental causes.
• BeaBondminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJewellery designer who donates percentage of profits to Virunga conservation support. Partnership with Wild Philanthropy for ranger support.
• Cambridge University Social Ventures ProgrammeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWild Philanthropy accepted onto Cambridge's Social Ventures Incubator programme in September 2018, introducing concepts related to social businesses.
• Dorobo FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as source of photography credit for impact report, indicating ongoing collaboration.
• Social Enterprise World ForumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWild Philanthropy attended event in Addis Ababa through Cambridge University Social Ventures Programme connection.
• Business for NatureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal coalition bringing together business and conservation organisations. Wild Philanthropy participates in COP15 advocacy through this coalition.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Fauna & Flora International: Global conservation NGO operating across Africa and beyond with grantmaking, species protection, and capacity building. Comparable as the prior employer of Wild Philanthropy's CEO and a referenced best-in-class partner organization doing directly comparable work in Africa.
• Conservation International: Global nonprofit applying nature-based solutions and philanthropy to biodiversity protection, including in Africa. Comparable as a large-scale conservation grantmaker competing for the same high-net-worth donor dollars Wild Philanthropy cultivates through events and advisory.
• The Nature Conservancy: Global conservation NGO with a major Africa program and significant endowment-driven grantmaking. A much larger peer in the same conservation-philanthropy space targeting high-net-worth and corporate donors with climate and biodiversity outcomes.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: Major international conservation organization running field programs in Africa and globally. Listed as a Wild Philanthropy partner for park management in Chad and a comparable funder of African landscape conservation with similar donor bases in the US.
• African Wildlife Foundation: Pan-African conservation organization funding and operating landscape-scale wildlife and community programs. Highly comparable — both organizations channel philanthropic dollars into African conservation partners while raising donor funds in the US/UK.

Direct peers

• Northern Rangelands Trust: Umbrella for community conservancies in northern Kenya (43 member conservancies). Referenced by Wild Philanthropy as its flagship community-conservation model and a core partner, making it a directly comparable grantmaking/recipient ecosystem for the same donor audiences.
• Tusk Trust: UK-based charity focused on African conservation through community partnerships, ranger support, and conservation education (PACE programme). Directly comparable — Wild Philanthropy references Tusk as a partner and both raise philanthropic capital for African species and habitat protection.
• African Parks: NGO that takes long-term management responsibility for African protected areas and is a Wild Philanthropy strategic partner. Directly comparable as a recipient/collaborator of conservation finance targeting African ecosystems and community livelihoods.
• Save the Elephants: Research and conservation charity protecting elephants across Africa. Wild Philanthropy funds elephant-focused partners (Elephants Without Borders, Mara Elephant Project, EPI Foundation), making Save the Elephants a directly comparable organization operating in overlapping cause and donor territory.

Emerging players

• Big Life Foundation: Kenya/Tanzania-focused anti-poaching and community conservation NGO. Adjacent to Wild Philanthropy's Mara and Amboseli-area partners (e.g., Mara Conservancy) with a similar model of community ranger employment and donor-funded operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/w_philanthropy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wild-philanthropy

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Wild Philanthropy