Wildlife Restoration Foundation

What Wildlife Restoration Foundation does

Wildlife Restoration Foundation (WRF) is a U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 86-3749212) founded in 2021 by Julie Anton Randall as the organizational home for the Zoo-Park Partnerships for America's Keystone Wildlife Project, which she initiated in 2019 with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the National Park Service, and NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. WRF's core function is to facilitate collaborative field-conservation partnerships between AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, federal protected areas (National Parks, Forests, Wildlife Refuges, Marine Sanctuaries), Tribal Nations (through the InterTribal Buffalo Council representing 80+ Tribes), and park gateway communities — with active partnerships spanning Yellowstone, Wind Cave, Badlands, Isle Royale, Yosemite, Glacier, Big Cypress, Padre Island, Valles Caldera, and Flower Garden Banks, plus bison and wildlife transfers to the Cheyenne River Sioux, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, and Seneca Nations.

Its product surface is a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a software platform: Zoo-Park Partnerships (ZPPs) and Aquarium-Sanctuary Partnerships (ASPs) for species recovery; the Bison Program (Zoo-Bison Conservation Herds, Zoo-Tribe Partnerships, Champions for the American Bison); the Collaborating with Wildlife Program (Beary Program, Watching Out for Wildlife); the biennial North American Bison Summit and the Collaborating with Wildlife Summit; and the WildLifeLine catalog, which sells mission-critical conservation supplies and equipment at unit prices ranging from $31.25 to $9,062.50. The underlying technology is a partnership-facilitation platform — web presence, donor/catalog commerce, and operational tracking via ZPP/ASP Summary Action Plans, Field Results Logs, and Portal Files — with no disclosed proprietary AI/ML components.

WRF's business model is a hybrid of tax-deductible donations and charitable contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations; targeted sponsorships tied to specific programs, places, or wildlife (e.g., Phil the bison, the Beary Program); WildLifeLine catalog sales; and grants from partners such as the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. It does not disclose revenue, headcount, or financials publicly. Customer and beneficiary segments include AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums (primary), Tribal Nations (primary), federal protected-area agencies (primary), park gateway communities (secondary), and individual donors/supporters (secondary). Geographically WRF operates across North America with U.S. focus and growing Canada/Mexico engagement via NABS.

Name

Wildlife Restoration Foundation

Legal name

Wildlife Restoration Foundation

Website

https://wildlifeandparks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wildlife Restoration Foundation is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit that facilitates Zoo-Park, Aquarium-Sanctuary, and Zoo-Tribe conservation partnerships between AZA-accredited zoos/aquariums, federal protected areas, and 80+ Tribal Nations across North America to restore wildlife populations and habitats.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Conservation & Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (BPAGAIAI), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation partnerships
• Habitat restoration programs
• Tribal bison conservation
• Zoo-park collaboration
• Nonprofit conservation foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: WRF operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity receiving tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund wildlife restoration programs.
2. WildLifeLine Catalog Sales: Direct sales of mission-critical supplies, equipment and services through the WildLifeLine catalog. Donors can purchase specific items needed by Zoo-Park Partnerships to fight disease, raise animals, ward off invasive species, and create wildlife safe havens.
3. Sponsorships and Targeted Giving: Donors can direct contributions to specific places, animals, or programs, including bison conservation efforts like Phil the bison, Beary Program, and specific ZPP projects.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Wildlife Restoration Foundation (WRF) is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit that facilitates conservation partnerships between AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums and U.S. National Parks, Forests, Wildlife Refuges, and Marine Sanctuaries, as well as Tribal Nations. Its sellable offerings include the WildLifeLine catalog of mission-critical conservation supplies and equipment for partner projects, the biennial North American Bison Summit and Collaborating with Wildlife Summit, the Bison Program, and targeted initiatives such as the Beary Program, Watching Out for Wildlife (W.O.W.), and Zoo-Tribe Partnerships for Tribal Buffalo Herds.

Product overview

The Wildlife Restoration Foundation operates as a nonprofit conservation organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a traditional product platform. The core offerings include Zoo-Park Partnerships (ZPPs) and Aquarium-Sanctuary Partnerships (ASPs) which facilitate collaborative wildlife conservation between AZA-accredited institutions and protected lands. The Bison Program encompasses Zoo-Bison Conservation Herds, Zoo-Tribe Partnerships for Tribal Buffalo Herds, the biennial North American Bison Summit (NABS), and Champions for the American Bison initiative. The Collaborating with Wildlife Program includes the North American Collaborating with Wildlife Summit and Watching Out for Wildlife (W.O.W.) initiatives focused on human-wildlife coexistence in park gateway communities. WildLifeLine provides a catalog of conservation supplies and equipment needed by partnership projects. Together, these programs aim to directly improve wildlife population viability through partnerships with zoos, aquariums, parks, Tribes, and communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WildLifeLine: A catalog program that delivers mission-critical supplies, equipment and services most needed by National Parks and their dedicated zoo and aquarium partners.
• Zoo-Park Partnerships (ZPPs)
• Aquarium-Sanctuary Partnerships (ASPs)
• North American Bison Summit (NABS)
• Champions for the American Bison
• Collaborating with Wildlife (CW) Summit
• Beary Program
• Watching Out for Wildlife (W.O.W.)

Products and services

• Zoo-Park Partnerships (ZPPs) Collaborative conservation partnerships between AZA-accredited zoos and National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, Forests, and Marine Sanctuaries that improve wildlife population viability through ex situ breeding, husbandry, rehabilitation, and head-starting of native species for release to wild habitats.
• Aquarium-Sanctuary Partnerships (ASPs) Partnerships between aquariums and Marine Sanctuaries for wildlife recovery, rehabilitation, and habitat restoration in ocean environments, including coral health, sea turtle rehabilitation, fish restoration, and abalone and giant sea bass cultivation.
• Zoo-Tribe Partnerships for Tribal Buffalo Herds Partnerships between zoos and Tribal Nations to establish or strengthen Tribal buffalo herds, prioritizing Tribal leadership, cultural values, and food sovereignty while ensuring conservation integrity. WRF coordinates surplus animal identification, transfer logistics, and fundraising.
• Zoo-Bison Conservation Herds

Quantifiable outcome

• 74 bison transferred from The Wilds to Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019WRF is an AZA Conservation Partner developing wildlife field conservation action plans for Zoo-Park Partnerships and Aquarium-Sanctuary Partnerships facilitated between AZA-accredited zoos/aquariums and National Parks, Forests, Wildlife Refuges and Marine Sanctuaries. AZA founded America's Keystone Wildlife Project with NPS and NOAA in 2019.
• National Park ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Co-founded America's Keystone Wildlife Project with AZA and NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries in 2019. NPS partners with zoos and aquariums through WRF-facilitated Zoo-Park Partnerships.
• NOAA Office of National Marine SanctuariescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Co-founded America's Keystone Wildlife Project with AZA and NPS in 2019. NOAA partners with aquariums through WRF-facilitated Aquarium-Sanctuary Partnerships for marine conservation.
• National Marine Sanctuary FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides grant support for Aquarium-Sanctuary Partnerships (ASPs) facilitated by WRF.
• Custer Gallatin National ForestsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWRF works with Gardiner and Hebgen Lake District Rangers to design Gateway Community-Based Workshop Series for Recreation-Wildlife Coexistence engaging Yellowstone gateway communities.
• The WildscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWRF assists The Wilds in transforming their production herd into a leading model for conserving wild bison traits, behaviors, and grasslands ecosystem benefits. Partnership includes assisting with herd management, prairie restoration, and Tribal buffalo program partnerships.
• InterTribal Buffalo Council (ITBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWRF partners with ITBC (composed of 80+ federally recognized Tribes) to facilitate Zoo-Tribe Partnerships supporting Tribal buffalo restoration, culture, and long-term herd sustainability. ITBC connects Tribes with entities that have surplus animals.
• Red River ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWRF facilitates Red River Zoo's Zoo-Park Partnership with Wind Cave National Park for black-footed ferret conservation and bison herd development. Zoo received bison from National Park in 2022.
• Lehigh Valley ZoosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLehigh Valley Zoo has an existing Zoo-Tribe Partnership facilitated by WRF with the Seneca Nation for bison transfer and conservation.
• Detroit Zoological SocietysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDZ supports genomic work on wolves reintroduced to Isle Royale National Park and conducts moose population studies related to new predator presence.
• Naples ZoosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNaples Zoo supports Big Cypress National Preserve with surgically implanted transmitters in Scout snakes for python removal and trail cameras for Florida panther monitoring.
• Northeastern Wisconsin ZoosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEW Zoo night-monitors black-footed ferrets in Badlands National Park to assist in sylvatic plague vaccination programs.
• Oakland ZoosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOakland Zoo fundraises for Glacier National Park grizzly bear monitoring equipment including GPS collars, culvert trap repairs, and Goat Lick underpass fencing.
• San Francisco ZoosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Francisco Zoo raises California red-legged and Mountain yellow-legged frogs for release at Yosemite National Park and monitors for Chytrid fungus.
• Texas State AquariumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTSA has Aquarium-Sanctuary Partnerships with Padre Island National Seashore and Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary for marine species recovery, sea turtle rehabilitation, and coral restoration.
• Moody GardenssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoody Gardens working divers sample deep ocean corals and remove abandoned fishing gear at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.
• Tennessee AquariumsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTennessee Aquarium raises fish species from Flower Garden Banks exhibit to maturity for potential Gulf of Mexico population replenishment.
• Aquarium of the PacificsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAquarium of the Pacific raises white abalone and giant sea bass for restoration off the California coast in partnership with Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.
• Grizzly & Wolf Discovery CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGWDC's rescued grizzlies test bear-resistant containers; partners with Yellowstone on I am Bear Safe program to prevent human-bear conflicts.
• Albuquerque Biological ParksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerABQ BioPark builds bat boxes and bee boxes for deployment at Valles Caldera National Preserve to support native wildlife.
• Oceans & Wildlife Institute (OWI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOWI is co-host of the Collaborating with Wildlife Summit. A US 501c3 nonprofit advancing wildlife resiliency through wildlife rescue, research, and workforce development. Home to Wildlife Rescue Operations Center and Texas State Aquarium.
• Columbus Zoo and AquariumsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerColumbus Zoo's conservation center The Wilds created North American Center for Bison Conservation with WRF, federal/state agencies, and tribal entities.
• Cheyenne River Sioux TribecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuccessfully received 74 bison from The Wilds through WRF and ITBC facilitation. Partnership exemplifies collective commitment to ecological and cultural preservation.
• Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Sioux TribecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceived two bison calves from Red River Zoo to join Tribal buffalo herd on Lake Traverse Reservation, South Dakota, to diversify herd genetics.
• Seneca NationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGakwi:yo:h Farms on Allegany Territory received four bison through Zoo-Tribe Partnership with Lehigh Valley Zoo and ITBC.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Wildlife Federation: One of the largest U.S. wildlife conservation nonprofits. Comparable as a fellow conservation NGO with national reach, donor-based revenue, and wildlife partnership programming, though NWF operates at far greater scale and across broader issue areas than WRF.
• The Nature Conservancy: One of the world's largest environmental nonprofits with active land, water, and species programs. Comparable in mission space but operates at a vastly larger scale and uses a portfolio of land acquisition, policy, and partnership tools.
• World Wildlife Fund (U.S.): Major global conservation nonprofit with active U.S. species and habitat work. Comparable mission space; one of WRF's partnership development directors previously worked at WWF.

Direct peers

• Defenders of Wildlife: U.S. wildlife conservation nonprofit focused on imperiled species and habitat protection. Directly comparable mission and stakeholder mix to WRF, though Defenders leans more heavily on policy advocacy and litigation than WRF's facilitation model.
• National Parks Conservation Association: Independently operated U.S. nonprofit dedicated exclusively to the National Park System. Directly comparable given WRF's focus on National Parks as the primary beneficiary of its ZPP programming.
• InterTribal Buffalo Council: Coalition of 80+ federally recognized Tribes working on buffalo restoration. Directly comparable as a fellow Tribal buffalo conservation organization, and an active WRF partner rather than competitor.
• American Bison Society (National Wildlife Federation program): Historic bison conservation initiative now housed within NWF. Closely comparable given overlapping focus on bison herd genetics, Tribal partnerships, and zoo conservation herds — directly relevant to WRF's Bison Program.
• National Park Trust: Smaller nonprofit focused on protecting and enhancing U.S. National Parks through land acquisition and youth programs. Closely comparable in scale and park-centric mission, though with a different programmatic emphasis.
• Association of Zoos and Aquariums: WRF's founding partner and the umbrella accreditation body for U.S. zoos and aquariums. Comparable as the convener of AZA-accredited institutions that WRF partners with for field conservation programming.

Regional players

• Yellowstone Forever: Official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park supporting wildlife, research, and education programs. Comparable as a park-focused conservation nonprofit, though with single-park geographic focus rather than WRF's national scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Wildlifeandparks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wildlife-restoration-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/wildliferestorationfoundation

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 Wildlife Restoration Foundation