What Project Chimps does

Project Chimps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit chimpanzee sanctuary founded in 2015 and headquartered on a 236-acre forested site in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Morganton (Blue Ridge), Georgia. The organization's mission is to provide lifelong exemplary care to chimpanzees retired from invasive medical research while educating and inspiring the public. It currently houses 104 former research chimpanzees — primarily transferred under a cooperative agreement with the New Iberia Research Center, which holds the largest privately-owned population of research chimpanzees in the United States — and has a multi-year plan to receive more than 220 in total.

The sanctuary's core offering is direct chimpanzee care at a stated average cost of approximately $39,000 per chimpanzee per year, encompassing food, enrichment, labor, and routine veterinary care delivered at indoor villas, the 6-acre outdoor Peachtree Habitat, and additional forested enclosures. Surrounding this core service, Project Chimps operates a diversified revenue and engagement stack: one-time and recurring individual donations at $25–$500 tiers, recurring chimp sponsorship programs, a Legacy Society for planned giving, fee-based visitor experiences (group tours, photography workshops, Spring Brachiate at $550/student, Chimpcation at $1,150/person, $2 suggested trail donations, overnight lodging, private event rentals), community events (5K-ish, Chimp or Treat, Cheers for Chimps, Choppers for Chimps, Chimp Fest), merchandise sales, an Amazon Wish List, and education programs delivered via webinars, classroom presentations, and a teacher portal. The organization holds USDA licensing, GFAS accreditation, GuideStar Platinum, Charity Navigator Four-Star, and full BBB approval, and is endorsed by Dr. Jane Goodall.

Operationally, Project Chimps runs with approximately 32 employees and 200+ active volunteers, who collectively contribute more than 17,000 hours of service annually. Leadership includes Executive Director Ali Crumpacker (appointed 2017), Veterinary Medical Director Dr. Jenny Jaffe, Director of Operations Deanna Stratton, Manager of Husbandry Holly Lickteig, and Manager of Facilities Jim Lacombe. The organization is governed by an independent board, has no parent company, and funds itself entirely through donations, sponsorships, visitor fees, and grants — there is no equity, no debt issuance, and no M&A activity disclosed.

Name

Project Chimps

Legal name

Project Chimps

Website

https://projectchimps.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Project Chimps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit chimpanzee sanctuary on a 236-acre site in Blue Ridge, Georgia, providing lifelong care for 104 former research chimpanzees and serving individual donors, sponsors, eco-tourists, and student volunteers through donations, visitor programs, and education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Sanctuary Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation, Research & Volunteer Experiences (THAJAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural & Environmental Education Expeditions (Citizen Science, Conservation Volunteering) (THAAAOAH), Wildlife & Animal Care Volunteering (EDAIAGAE)

Keywords

• Chimpanzee sanctuary
• Wildlife sanctuary services
• Animal welfare nonprofit
• Primate care programs
• Research chimp retirement

Headquarters

HQ city

Morganton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donors contribute one-time or recurring donations at various levels ($25, $50, $100, $500 or custom amounts). Primary fundraising mechanism for sanctuary operations.
2. Chimp Sponsorship: Monthly or annual sponsorship programs where supporters sponsor individual chimpanzees to support their care. Average cost per chimp is $39,000 per year.
3. Volunteer Vacations: Spring Brachiate program ($550/student) and Chimpcation program ($1,150/person) - week-long volunteer experiences that generate revenue while providing hands-on support.
4. Merchandise and Gift Shop: Sale of merchandise through the Project Chimps shop, including Amazon Wish List items for chimp care.
5. Planned Giving / Legacy Society: Bequests, charitable gifts through wills/trusts, beneficiary designations of retirement accounts and life insurance policies.
6. Event Admissions and Fundraising: Revenue from event tickets, sponsorships, and fundraising activities including Cheers for Chimps, Choppers for Chimps, and other community events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Project Chimps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides lifelong sanctuary care for former research chimpanzees on a 236-acre forested property in the Blue Ridge Mountains of north Georgia, currently housing 104 chimpanzees. It funds this care through individual donations, chimp sponsorships (~$39,000/year per chimp), Legacy Society planned giving, and paid eco-tourism and volunteer programs including guided tours, Chimpcation, Spring Brachiate, photography workshops, hiking trails, and community fundraising events. It also runs formal and informal education programs (webinars, classroom resources, teacher portal) for schools and the public.

Product overview

Project Chimps is a nonprofit chimpanzee sanctuary providing lifelong care for former research chimpanzees at its 236-acre facility in Blue Ridge, Georgia. The organization operates as a single, unified service offering centered on chimpanzee welfare and sanctuary operations. Core offerings include the chimpanzee sanctuary care program with 104+ resident chimps, the Chimp Sponsorship program for individual chimp support, and education programs including online webinars, at-home education, and in-classroom resources. Visitor experiences encompass group tours, volunteer vacations (Chimpcation and Spring Brachiate), photography workshops, hiking trails (Chimp Trails), special events (Great Ape Escape 5K-ish, Chimp or Treat, Cheers for Chimps, Chimp Fest), overnight lodging, and private event rentals. Additional programs include the Legacy Society planned giving program, chimpanzee enrichment activities, and an Amazon Wish List for donating needed supplies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chimp Sponsorship Program Subscription-based sponsorship program that lets individual supporters sponsor a specific former research chimpanzee, funding food, enrichment, labor, and routine veterinary tasks averaging $39,000 per chimp per year.
• Group Tours Paid two-hour guided tours offering visitors behind-the-scenes access to observe former research chimpanzees in their sanctuary environment, booked through FareHarbor or Airbnb Experiences.
• Chimpcation (Volunteer Vacation) Paid week-long volunteer vacation program for adults and groups; participants help with chimpanzee habitat maintenance, food preparation, enrichment activities, and garden harvesting. Registration is $1,150 per person and groups are limited to 6 participants per trip.
• Spring Brachiate (College Volunteer Vacation) Paid alternative spring break program for college students (4-6 participants) spending five weekdays volunteering at the sanctuary, including exclusive Chimp Chat sessions. Registration is $550 per student, with transportation from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport provided.
• Photography Workshop Paid all-day wildlife photography workshop led by sanctuary photographers, giving participants the opportunity to photograph chimpanzees in outdoor habitats from elevated viewing platforms.
• Chimp Trails Hiking Hiking trails on sanctuary grounds with a requested $2 suggested donation, offering eco-tourism experiences in the Blue Ridge Mountains; Chimp Trails Annual Pass available for regular hikers.
• Education Programs Educational offerings including online webinars, at-home education resources, in-classroom presentations, and a teacher portal to support learning about chimpanzees for schools and the general public.
• Legacy Society (Planned Giving) Planned giving program that recognizes individuals and couples who include Project Chimps in their wills, trusts, or as beneficiaries of retirement accounts and life insurance policies; members are invited to annual Legacy Society lunch events.
• Project Chimps Shop (Merchandise) Online merchandise storefront selling branded items, with revenue supporting sanctuary operations.
• Amazon Wish List Curated Amazon Wish List through which donors can purchase and ship specific food, enrichment toys, medical supplies, and facility equipment directly to the sanctuary.
• Overnight Lodging On-site cabin accommodations at the 19th century homestead available for visitors and volunteer groups during their stay.
• Fundraising Events Annual and recurring ticketed fundraising events including Great Ape Escape 5K-ish, Chimp-or-Treat, Easter Egg Hunt, Cheers for Chimps, Choppers for Chimps, and Chimp Fest.
• Dog Park On-site dog park amenity for visitors with canine companions.
• Private Event Rentals Facility rental of sanctuary grounds for private events such as corporate gatherings and celebrations.
• Chimpanzee Sanctuary Care Core lifelong care service: residential care for former research chimpanzees at a 236-acre forested sanctuary in Blue Ridge, Georgia, with indoor villas, the 6-acre Peachtree Habitat outdoor enclosure, and individualized medical and behavioral support for 104+ residents.

Quantifiable outcome

• 104 chimpanzees provided lifelong sanctuary care
• +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

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Host Families (Volunteer Program)minorOthersLocal volunteers who provide free lodging and transportation to Spring Brachiate participants. Project Chimps matches students with host families after deposit is made.
• Halmos College of Natural Sciences and OceanographyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Ozga from Nova Southeastern University's Halmos College is conducting a plaque study examining oral pathogen commonalities between chimpanzees and humans, using samples from Project Chimps along with wild chimps from Gombe and museum specimens.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Save the Chimps: Large chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida housing over 200 chimpanzees on 150 acres. Direct peer in scale, mission (research chimp retirement), and donation-dependent operating model.
• Primarily Primates: Texas-based accredited primate sanctuary operated by the Animal Protection Society. Comparable as a member of the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance with similar animal welfare accreditation profile.
• Chimp Haven: The federal chimpanzee sanctuary in Keithville, Louisiana, also receiving former research chimpanzees under the same NIH retirement policy that Project Chimps was founded to address. Most directly comparable peer in mission, resident population, and funding model.
• Center for Great Apes: Florida-based sanctuary providing permanent residence to orangutans and chimpanzees retired from entertainment, research, and the pet trade. Highly comparable as a private, accredited primate sanctuary with similar visitor and sponsorship programs.

Emerging players

• The Wildcat Sanctuary: Minnesota-based nonprofit sanctuary for big cats and other wild animals. Comparable as an accredited (GFAS) nonprofit sanctuary offering tours, volunteer programs, and sponsorship models to fund lifetime animal care.

Regional players

• Chimp Eden: Jane Goodall Institute South Africa sanctuary for chimpanzees. Comparable in primate welfare mission and Jane Goodall affiliation (Project Chimps also carries Goodall endorsement), though geographically distinct.
• Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust: Uganda-based chimpanzee sanctuary (Ngamba Island) and conservation organization. Comparable as a primate-focused sanctuary combining resident care, tourism, and conservation education.

Broad incumbents

• International Fund for Animal Welfare: Large international animal welfare nonprofit with broader species and policy scope. Comparable as a donation-supported organization with wildlife rescue/rehabilitation components and donor cultivation programs.
• Best Friends Animal Society: Largest no-kill animal welfare/rescue organization in the U.S., operating a sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. Comparable as a nonprofit sanctuary relying on donations, volunteers, and visitor experiences, though broader in species scope.

Others

• North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance: The industry coalition of accredited primate sanctuaries of which Project Chimps-affiliated staff (Holly Lickteig) interned. NAPSA is the most relevant ecosystem peer for understanding competitive positioning and accreditation standards in the primate sanctuary sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/projectchimps
• YouTubeyoutube.com/projectchimps
• Facebookfacebook.com/projectchimps
• Instagraminstagram.com/projectchimps
• TikToktiktok.com/@projectchimps
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/project-chimps

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Project Chimps