Stiftung Artenschutz

What Stiftung Artenschutz does

Stiftung Artenschutz is a German nonprofit foundation (Stiftung) established in 2001 and registered in the Stiftungsregister of Bezirksregierung Münster (file reference 15.2.1. - A17-), with its operational head office in Berlin Mitte (Bundespressehaus, Schiffbauerdamm 40). The foundation functions as a Gemeinschaftsinitiative — a joint initiative of zoological gardens, animal parks, and conservation NGOs in the German-speaking region — coordinated by Managing Director Dr. Tobias Kohl under Chairman Prof. Dr. Jörg Junhold, with a lean staff of five employees. Its mission is the long-term protection of threatened animal species and their habitats, and it operates as a grant-making and scientific-coordination body rather than a service vendor or product company.

The foundation's core methodology is the One Plan Approach, which treats ex situ (zoo-based captive breeding) and in situ (wild, field-based) populations as equally important management units for global metapopulation conservation — a framework formalized in 2018 as the basis for all European Endangered Species Programmes (EEP/EAZA ex situ programmes). All activities are aligned with IUCN guidelines and Species Survival Commission standards, and the foundation holds IUCN member status as well as membership in the Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft. The foundation runs two primary grant programmes: the Amphibien-Fonds (Amphibian Fund) and the Kurzzeitprojekte (Short-term Projects Program), with individual grants capped at approximately 5,000 EUR and project durations of up to 12 months. Flagship initiatives include the Sulawesi Biodiversity Conservation project, the EcoSounds Madagascar acoustic-monitoring project, and the Gelbwangen-Schopfgibbon (Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon) project in Vietnam's Kon Ka Kinh National Park, with field operations spanning 13+ countries across Southeast Asia, South Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

The foundation's revenue model is exclusively donation- and grant-based, with inflows from German zoo associations (notably VdZ – Verband der Zoologischen Gärten e.V.), individual member zoos (Leipzig, Heidelberg, Dresden, Hellabrunn, Aquazoo Düsseldorf), private supporters, and charitable campaigns such as the 24 Gute Taten advent calendar. No commercial products, services, or pricing tiers are offered; the foundation's output is grant disbursement, scientific coordination, and conservation project management. Operational infrastructure is standard for a small nonprofit: WordPress CMS website, CleverReach for newsletter distribution, PayPal and Bank für Sozialwirtschaft AG for donation processing, Google Analytics for web analytics, and GDPR-compliant data handling. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and no equity, debt, or PE/VC funding is involved.

Name

Stiftung Artenschutz

Legal name

Stiftung Artenschutz

Website

https://stiftung-artenschutz.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stiftung Artenschutz is a German nonprofit foundation (est. 2001) that disburses small grants (~5,000 EUR) to wildlife conservation projects worldwide, serving as a joint initiative of German-speaking zoos, animal parks, and conservation NGOs. It applies the IUCN-aligned One Plan Approach to coordinate ex situ and in situ species protection across 13+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Grant Funding

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation (BPADALAE)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation funding
• Species protection grants
• Amphibian conservation programs
• Metapopulation management
• Ex situ in situ conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Münster

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grant Disbursements: The foundation receives donations and redistributes grant funding to conservation projects. The Amphibien-Fonds accepts applications up to approximately 5,000 EUR per project. Funding comes from zoological associations, zoos, and private supporters in the German-speaking region.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Stiftung Artenschutz is a German nonprofit foundation that provides grant funding and scientific coordination for the conservation of threatened animal species and their habitats worldwide. It operates two main funding programmes — the Amphibien-Fonds for amphibian conservation and Kurzzeitprojekte (Short-term Projects) covering all taxonomic groups — and supports specific conservation projects across multiple continents including Sulawesi, Madagascar, and Vietnam. The foundation applies the One Plan Approach, integrating ex situ (zoo-based) and in situ (field-based) conservation, aligned with IUCN and EAZA standards.

Product overview

Stiftung Artenschutz operates as a conservation foundation offering two primary funding programs: the Amphibien-Fonds (Amphibian Fund) for dedicated amphibian conservation projects worldwide, and Kurzzeitprojekte (Short-term Projects Program) for broader species conservation initiatives. These are complemented by specific conservation projects including Sulawesi Biodiversity Conservation, EcoSounds Madagaskar, and the Gelbwangen-Schopfgibbon Project. The organization functions as a non-profit foundation rather than a technology product company, focusing on grant-making and project coordination rather than software offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Amphibien-Fonds: A specialized grant program supporting worldwide amphibian conservation, research, breeding programs, and public education initiatives
• Kurzzeitprojekte

Products and services

• Amphibien-Fonds (Amphibian Fund) A dedicated funding programme supporting worldwide conservation and research projects for threatened amphibian species, including breeding programmes, reintroduction efforts, capacity building, and habitat protection. Open to conservation researchers and NGOs through open grant calls with maximum funding of approximately 5,000 EUR per project.
• Kurzzeitprojekte (Short-term Projects Programme) A short-term funding programme supporting worldwide conservation and research projects for all taxonomic groups, including breeding programmes, species reintroductions, training, habitat protection, and public education initiatives. Maximum 12-month project duration with funding capped at approximately 5,000 EUR per application.
• Sulawesi Biodiversity Conservation Project A conservation initiative protecting Sulawesi's endangered wildlife including the Sulawesi flying fox and other threatened species in their natural habitat in Indonesia.
• EcoSounds Madagaskar An acoustic monitoring project in Madagascar using sound recordings to study and monitor endangered bird species and biodiversity.
• Gelbwangen-Schopfgibbon Project A conservation project for the Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon in Vietnam's Kon Ka Kinh National Park, aiming to protect and expand habitat while working with local communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 2009, the Amphibien-Fonds has funded dozens of amphibian conservation projects across multiple continents, with multiple annual funding cycles.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VdZ – Verband der Zoologischen Gärten e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with the Association of Zoological Gardens of Germany. The VdZ and Stiftung Artenschutz formed a unique alliance to support long-term conservation of threatened animal species. The VdZ is a key founding partner and funding source for the foundation's grant programmes.
• Aquazoo DüsseldorfminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAquazoo Düsseldorf is a partner in the Amphibien-Fonds programme, contributing to funding and expertise for amphibian conservation projects.
• Zoo LeipzigminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZoo Leipzig is a partner in the Amphibien-Fonds programme, contributing to funding and expertise for amphibian conservation.
• Zoo HeidelbergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZoo Heidelberg is a partner in the Amphibien-Fonds and co-funder of specific projects such as Peruvian stubfoot frog conservation.
• Zoo DresdenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZoo Dresden is a partner in the Amphibien-Fonds programme, contributing to amphibian conservation funding.
• Tierpark Hellabrunn MünchenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTierpark Hellabrunn München is a partner in the Amphibien-Fonds and has funded projects such as the Salamander-Chytridpilz study and the Starry Night Harlequin Frog project.
• DTG – Deutsche Tierpark-Gesellschaft e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman Tierpark Society is a partner in the Amphibien-Fonds programme.
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStiftung Artenschutz is an official member of the IUCN. The foundation follows IUCN guidelines and Species Survival Commission standards in all its activities. The One Plan Approach adopted by the foundation is aligned with EAZA ex situ programmes.
• DGHT – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman Herpetology and Terrarium Science Society is a partner in the Amphibien-Fonds programme.
• DWV – Deutscher Wildgehege-Verband e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman Wildlife Enclosure Association is a partner in the Amphibien-Fonds programme.
• VZP – Verband deutschsprachiger Zoopädagogen e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of German-speaking Zoo Educators is a partner in the Amphibien-Fonds programme.
• BdZ – Berufsverband der Zootierpfleger e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional Association of Zoo Keepers is a partner in the Amphibien-Fonds programme.
• ZGF (Zoologische Gesellschaft für Arten- und Populationsschutz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZGF is a partner in the Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon project in Vietnam, contributing to the Kon Ka Kinh National Park conservation initiative.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust: Jersey-based conservation trust that integrates zoo-based captive breeding with field conservation, closely aligned with the One Plan Approach. Highly comparable as a wildlife conservation foundation bridging ex situ and in situ work through grants and direct program delivery.
• Zoologische Gesellschaft für Arten- und Populationsschutz (ZGF): German conservation foundation supporting species and population protection projects worldwide, including the Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon project in Vietnam with Stiftung Artenschutz. Closely comparable as a German nonprofit funding field conservation through grants and partnerships.
• Chester Zoo Foundation: UK zoo-based conservation foundation funding field projects to prevent extinction of threatened species worldwide. Comparable as a zoo-rooted grant-making foundation combining captive breeding expertise with international field conservation funding.
• Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute: US zoo conservation center supporting field conservation projects for endangered species across multiple continents. Comparable as a zoo-affiliated foundation funding field-based species protection through structured grant programs.

Broad incumbents

• BUND (Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland): German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation, addressing biodiversity, species protection, and habitat conservation nationally and internationally. Comparable German nonprofit conservation funder with membership and donation model.
• NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland): One of Germany's oldest and largest environmental NGOs, funding species and habitat conservation across Germany and internationally. Comparable as a German nonprofit conservation grant-maker with donor-driven funding model.
• Zoological Society of London (ZSL): UK-based zoological society operating London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo while running international field conservation programs. Comparable as a zoo-rooted conservation foundation funding and implementing species protection projects globally.
• WWF Deutschland: Germany's largest nature and environmental conservation organization, operating across species protection, habitat preservation, and policy advocacy globally. Comparable as a German nonprofit funder of conservation projects, though far larger and broader in scope.

Others

• EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria): Umbrella association of European zoos that coordinates the EEP/EAZA ex situ breeding programmes which Stiftung Artenschutz aligns with. Comparable as a zoo network shaping species conservation standards in Europe, though EAZA is a professional association rather than a grant-making foundation.

Regional players

• Nordens Ark: Swedish nonprofit foundation operating a zoo and wildlife park while running conservation breeding and field programs for threatened Nordic and international species. Comparable as a Nordic zoo-rooted conservation foundation integrating ex situ and in situ approaches.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/stiftung.artenschutz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stiftung-artenschutz
• Instagraminstagram.com/stiftung_artenschutz

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stiftung Artenschutz