The Orangutan Project

What The Orangutan Project does

The Orangutan Project is an Australian-registered non-profit conservation organization founded in 1998 and headquartered in South Perth, Australia. It operates with a remote-first team of 29 staff and maintains localized country websites across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom, giving it a multinational fundraising footprint for a single-mission niche non-profit.

Its core activity is funding and coordinating field conservation work for orangutans, delivered through partnerships with operational counterparties including the Frankfurt Zoological Society, Borneo Nature Foundation, Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme, and other in-country implementing partners. The organization also engages in international biodiversity policy via the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP) track. It does not appear to develop proprietary conservation technology; the technical surface is a multi-jurisdiction web fundraising platform rather than field-instrumentation software.

The business model is donation-driven. Revenue is generated across multiple program lines: orangutan adoption, general donations, save-forest pledges, eco-tours, workplace giving, bequests, and merchandise. In the 2024-25 financial year, total contributions were $4.3M, with cumulative contributions since inception exceeding $29M. The donor base is a long-tail of individual supporters across multiple countries, with no disclosed anchor institutional funder of disproportionate scale.

Name

The Orangutan Project

Legal name

Wildlife Conservation International Limited

Website

https://orangutan.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Orangutan Project is a non-profit founded in 1998 that funds orangutan conservation through a remote team of 29 staff, raising $4.3M in 2024-25 contributions via seven country-specific donation programs, adoptions, eco-tours, and bequests for international individual donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation and Nonprofit Fundraising

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rescue, Transport & Emergency Animal Response (BPAGAIAB), Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC), Conservation & Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (BPAGAIAI), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Orangutan conservation
• Wildlife habitat protection
• Adoption sponsorship program
• Conservation donation funding
• Primate rehabilitation services

Headquarters

HQ city

South Perth

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Orangutan Adoption Program: Monthly recurring donations supporting orphaned orangutans at rescue and rehabilitation centres. Adoptors receive quarterly updates and photos of their adopted orangutan. Minimum 12-month commitment with automatic renewal.
2. Direct Donations: One-time and recurring donations at specified amounts ($25, $58, $118, $500) supporting various conservation initiatives including wildlife patrols, rescue operations, and habitat protection.
3. Save Forest Program: Monthly recurring gifts specifically for protecting orangutan habitat in the Bukit Tigapuluh ecosystem. Donors can protect specific plots of forest with amounts varying by hectares.
4. E-commerce Shop: Sale of merchandise including books authored by founder Leif Cocks (Finding Our Humanity, Orangutans My Cousins My Friends, Reaching for the Canopy), gift cards, clothing, and adoption key rings.
5. Wildlife Eco-Tours: Adventure tours to Sumatra, Borneo, and Sri Lanka operated in partnership with Orangutan Odysseys and Elephant Odysseys. Part of tour cost supports conservation work.
6. Bequests and Legacy Giving: Gifts in Wills, including whole estate gifts, residuary gifts, specific amounts, and in-specie gifts (shares, property). Partnership with EveryWill and FreeWill for free Will writing.
7. Workplace Giving: Payroll giving programs allowing employees to donate directly from pay. Corporate matched giving available through employer programs on platforms like Benevity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Orangutan Project is a non-profit conservation organization that funds and coordinates orangutan rescue, rehabilitation, habitat protection, and release programs in Borneo and Sumatra. It generates funding through the Orangutan Adoption Program (monthly orphan sponsorship), direct donations, the Save Forest plot-protection program, philanthropic major gifts, workplace giving, legacy bequests, wildlife eco-tours, and merchandise sales. Contributions are directed to on-ground partner organizations and field projects, with measurable outcomes including orangutans rescued, rehabilitated, and released into protected habitat.

Product overview

Theorangutan Project is a nonprofit conservation organization offering a portfolio of interconnected donation-based products centered on orangutan rescue, rehabilitation, habitat protection, and conservation. The core offerings include the Orangutan Adoption Program for monthly orphan sponsorship, direct Donations for general conservation support, and the Save Forest program for habitat plot protection. Additional engagement products include Wildlife Eco-Tours, Philanthropic Giving for major gifts, Bequests for legacy planning, Volunteer programs, Workplace Giving, and Schools programs. The organization also operates a Shop selling books authored by founder Leif Cocks, branded merchandise, gift cards, and e-gifts. All products feed into the overarching conservation mission to protect wild orangutans across Borneo and Sumatra, with the goal of increasing wild orangutans under permanent protection to 8,000.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Direct Donations One-time and monthly recurring monetary donations to support orangutan rescue, rehabilitation, habitat protection, and conservation programs across Borneo and Sumatra. Donors can contribute at preset amounts ($25/$58/$118/$500) or custom amounts. Tax-deductible in Australia, USA, Canada, and the Netherlands.
• Orangutan Adoption Program Monthly sponsorship program starting at $12/month where donors support orphaned or injured orangutans undergoing rehabilitation in care centers. Adopters receive quarterly email updates, photographs, and Jungle School progress reports on their adopted orangutan.
• Save Forest Program Monthly habitat protection program allowing donors to protect specific plots of orangutan habitat in the Bukit Tigapuluh ecosystem in Sumatra via an interactive Google Maps plot-selection interface. Donations fund wildlife ranger patrols guarding the protected forest.
• Plant Forest (Plant a Tree) Tree planting program supporting forest regeneration and habitat restoration in orangutan ecosystems in Borneo and Sumatra.
• Wildlife Eco-Tours Adventure eco-tours to Sumatra, East Borneo, Sri Lanka, and Tanjung Puting National Park operated in partnership with Orangutan Odysseys and Elephant Odysseys. Tours include jungle treks, river cruises, and orangutan observation in wild habitats. Part of tour cost supports conservation.
• Business Supporter Program Corporate sponsorship program with tiered supporter levels (Green, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) allowing businesses to support orangutan conservation while aligning with sustainability values. Includes Business Partnership option with bespoke agreements.
• Philanthropic Giving Major gift program for high-net-worth donors with contributions of $5,000 or more. Includes personal briefings with founder Leif Cocks, dedicated relationship manager, tailored project proposals, and exclusive field insights.
• Bequests (Legacy Giving) Planned giving program allowing donors to leave gifts in their Will to The Orangutan Project, including residuary gifts, specific amounts, or in-specie gifts of shares or property. WCI Legacy Circle membership included. Free Will writing via EveryWill (Australia) and FreeWill (USA).
• Workplace Giving Payroll giving program allowing employees to donate directly from pre-tax salary. Includes corporate matched giving option where employers double employee donations. Available through Benevity, Good2Give, and YourCause platforms.
• Land Acquisition Fund Program for permanent protection of irreplaceable rainforests through land acquisition, securing critical habitat for orangutans.
• Shop - Books Online store selling books authored by founder Leif Cocks and conservation team members, including Finding Our Humanity, Orangutans My Cousins My Friends, Reaching for the Canopy, and Jungle School Diary.
• Shop - Gift Cards E-gift cards with printable certificates available as symbolic donations such as '30 orangutans fed for a month' ($35) or '12 months medicine for an orangutan' ($75).
• Shop - Merchandise Branded merchandise including T-shirts and adoption key rings sold through third-party platforms like Zazzle and Redbubble.
• Tapanuli Orangutan Protection Specialized fundraising appeal specifically for protection of the recently discovered Tapanuli orangutan species (Pongo tapanuliensis), which is the most critically endangered of the three orangutan species.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over USD$29 million contributed directly to orangutan conservation since 1998
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration21 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Long-term partnership providing vital financial support to the Bukit Tigapuluh (BTP) Landscape Conservation Program since 2008. What began as a small orangutan release program has grown into a large-scale conservation program including conservation of Critically Endangered species, forest protection, and ecosystem restoration.
• Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect-action group of Indonesian people campaigning to end destruction of Indonesian rainforest and killing of orangutans. COP operates numerous teams in the field running programs including investigations, wildlife rescues, and conservation education. Founded by Hardi Baktiantoro in 2007.
• Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks to protect some of the most important areas of tropical rainforest and safeguard wildlife, environment, and indigenous culture in Borneo. Supports Sabangau peat swamp restoration and patrol operations.
• Borneo Orangutan Rescue Alliance (BORA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by The Orangutan Project and Centre for Orangutan Protection. Multiple field teams including the Ape Rescue team. Operates BORA orangutan rescue centre and conducts investigations into illegal forest crimes.
• Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program (SOCP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with PanEco YEL and Frankfurt Zoological Society to provide effective and coordinated results for Sumatran orangutans. SOCP mission is to conserve viable wild populations of Critically Endangered Sumatran orangutan through habitat protection, reintroduction, education, survey work and scientific research.
• PanEco YELcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program (SOCP) working together with The Orangutan Project and Frankfurt Zoological Society for coordinated Sumatran orangutan conservation.
• Orang Utan Republik FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister project working on Community Education and Conservation Program (CECP) created in late 2019 by Sustainable Green Sumatra. Founder Leif Cocks serves as Vice President.
• International Elephant ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister project under Wildlife Conservation International umbrella. Leif Cocks serves as Head. Works to protect Critically Endangered Asian elephants.
• International Tiger ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister project under Wildlife Conservation International umbrella. Leif Cocks serves as Head. Works to protect Critically Endangered Sumatran tigers.
• Forests for PeopleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister project under Wildlife Conservation International umbrella. Works on indigenous community support and forest protection.
• Forest Nature and Environment Aceh (HAkA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrass-roots NGO striving to protect the Leuser Ecosystem and its biodiversity for Aceh's future. Mission to create stronger and healthier Aceh through empowered civil society.
• Forum Konservasi LeuserminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrass-roots NGO protecting the Leuser Ecosystem and its biodiversity. Founded by Rudi Putra, working on forest protection and community engagement.
• HUTAN-Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation ProgrammeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrassroot non-profit dedicated to conserving orangutan, elephant and other wildlife in Lower Kinabatangan forests and across Sabah.
• Yayasan IAR Indonesia (International Animal Rescue)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrangutan work in West Kalimantan province. Since 2009, have rescued over 250 orangutans displaced from their forest habitat.
• Orangutan ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDedicated to protection of orangutans in their natural habitat through wild research, capacity building, education and public awareness programs.
• Orangutan FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission to save orangutans by protecting their tropical forest habitat, working with local communities and promoting research and education.
• Orangutan Information Centre (OIC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDedicated to conservation of Critically Endangered Sumatran orangutan and their forest habitat. Founded by Panut Hadisiswoyo. Supports Sumatran Rescue Alliance.
• Pro Natura FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in East Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo), established in March 2013, providing ongoing assistance for orangutan conservation efforts.
• Sumatran Rescue AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 2020 by The Orangutan Project, Centre for Orangutan Protection, and Orangutan Information Centre to support repatriation of orangutans confiscated from illegal wildlife trade.
• Talang Mamak Indigenous Community SupportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting the Talang Mamak indigenous tribe in Bukit Tigapuluh ecosystem. The Talang Mamak are a non-nomadic indigenous community who serve as forest guardians.
• YIARI Power of MamaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYayasan International Animal Rescue Indonesia working with holistic approach to protecting wild orangutan populations through community engagement.
• Orangutan OdysseyscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for wildlife eco-tours to Sumatra and Borneo. Operator runs adventure tours to orangutan habitat with part of tour cost supporting conservation. Tour hosts include founder Leif Cocks and conservation managers.
• Elephant OdysseysminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for wildlife eco-tours, including Sri Lanka elephant tours. Part of tour cost supports conservation efforts through International Elephant Project.
• EveryWillminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership offering free Will writing services for Australian citizens wanting to include The Orangutan Project in their Will.
• FreeWillminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership offering free Will writing services with free unlimited updates for life for USA citizens. Also provides non-probate asset planning for retirement accounts and life insurance.
• BenevityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorkplace giving platform integration for corporate workplace giving programs. Enables employees to donate through payroll with potential for employer matching.
• Good2GiveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorkplace giving platform integration for corporate workplace giving programs in Australia and New Zealand.
• YourCauseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorkplace giving platform integration for corporate workplace giving programs. Supports matched giving initiatives.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Global wildlife conservation giant running species and habitat programs that overlap with TOP's orangutan geographies. Comparable as a large donor-funded nonprofit competitor for charitable giving within the wildlife category.
• Rainforest Trust: Nonprofit that buys and protects threatened rainforests, including orangutan habitat in Indonesia. Directly comparable on the habitat-acquisition mechanism TOP runs via its Land Acquisition Fund and Save Forest program.
• Frankfurt Zoological Society: Large international conservation NGO with projects across species and geographies, including the Bukit Tigapuluh program TOP funds. Comparable as a strategic partner and broader-scope conservation funder operating in overlapping landscapes.

Direct peers

• Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP): PanEco/FZS-affiliated conservation program for Critically Endangered Sumatran orangutans via habitat protection, reintroduction, and research. Directly comparable as a TOP-funded program operating in the same Sumatran landscapes.
• Orangutan Foundation International: Founded by Biruté Mary Galdikas, OFI operates orangutan research, rehabilitation, and habitat protection programs. Directly comparable as a peer orangutan-focused nonprofit with education, adoption, and donation programs in the same conservation geographies.
• Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP): Indonesian direct-action NGO campaigning to end rainforest destruction and orangutan killing. TOP is a major funder of COP, making it the closest operational peer in field execution terms.
• Orang Utan Republik Foundation: Sister organization under Wildlife Conservation International umbrella running Community Education and Conservation Programs in Sumatra. Comparable as a TOP-affiliated orangutan-focused entity sharing leadership and donor base.
• Orangutan Outreach: US-based nonprofit funding orangutan conservation, rescue, and outreach programs. Comparable as a digital-first donor organization supporting partner projects in Borneo and Sumatra.
• Orangutan Foundation (UK): UK-based nonprofit focused on protecting orangutans and their tropical forest habitat through grants to partner projects. Directly comparable as it raises donations to fund orangutan conservation in Borneo, often overlapping with TOP's partner network.
• Borneo Orangutan Rescue Alliance (BORA): Founded by TOP and COP, BORA runs field teams and the BORA rescue centre for displaced orangutans. A jointly-created operational peer demonstrating directly overlapping missions and beneficiary species.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheOrangutanProject
• Facebookfacebook.com/theorangutanproject.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theorangutanproject
• Instagraminstagram.com/theorangutanproject

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries4 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 The Orangutan Project