Orangutan Foundation International

What Orangutan Foundation International does

Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) is a California-registered 501(c)(3) public nonprofit dedicated to the conservation of wild orangutans and their rainforest habitat in Indonesian Borneo. Founded in 1986 by Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas — one of the "Trimates" alongside Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey — the organization operates from a Los Angeles headquarters (822½ Wellesley Avenue) with field operations centered on the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) in Pasir Panjang near Pangkalan Bun, the Camp Leakey research station inside Tanjung Puting National Park, and the 188,000-acre Lamandau Wildlife Reserve. OFI's program portfolio spans rescue, rehabilitation and release of displaced orangutans; long-term wild orangutan research (over 100,000 hours of behavioral observations across three generations, recognized as the world's longest continuous study of any wild mammal); forest protection and patrol; community education; and a GIS mapping program built on ESRI software and donated Digital Globe satellite imagery that is considered one of the best conservation databases in Kalimantan.

OFI's core operating metrics include 330 displaced orangutans currently housed at OCCQ, more than 500 orangutans returned to the wild through rehabilitation since 1971, and direct employment of nearly 200 local Indonesians in conservation field roles. The organization runs an ecosystem of sister entities in the UK, Canada, Australia, Indonesia (YAYORIN), Taiwan, Germany, and Lithuania, formal partnerships with the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry and the Directorate General of Nature Resources and Ecosystem Conservation, and cause-marketing relationships with Axiology Beauty, Down Under Enterprise, and Orangutan Organics. Dr. Galdikas passed away on March 24, 2026, and Frederick Bohap Galdikas now serves as President.

Revenue mechanics are typical of a mid-sized international conservation nonprofit and are not publicly disclosed. Funding sources include one-time and recurring individual donations (processed via Stripe and PayPal through Neon One), the $100/year Foster Parent Program, planned-giving bequests, corporate matching gifts, cause-marketing royalties, merchandise sales (books and apparel), virtual gifts such as $25 tree-planting contributions, and grants (including a 2003 USAID grant via World Education). Distribution and engagement run through the orangutan.org website, a Constant Contact-powered monthly e-newsletter, social channels (Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube), the annual Run Wild 5K fundraising race, film screenings such as the IMAX "Born to Be Wild 3D," and Dr. Galdikas's publications. Customer base is structurally long-tailed — individual conservation supporters comprise the primary segment, with no major institutional donor concentration disclosed.

Name

Orangutan Foundation International

Legal name

Orangutan Foundation International

Website

https://orangutan.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Orangutan Foundation International is a California-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that rescues, rehabilitates, and releases wild orangutans in Indonesian Borneo, runs the world's longest continuous wild-mammal study at Camp Leakey, and funds operations through donations, foster sponsorships, and cause-marketing partnerships with individual conservation supporters worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH), Conservation, Research & Volunteer Experiences (THAJAIAJ), Environmental Conservation & Sustainability Volunteering (EDAIAGAB)

Keywords

• Orangutan conservation
• Wildlife rehabilitation
• Rainforest protection
• Primate research
• Habitat preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting orangutan conservation and welfare programs
2. Foster Parent Program: Annual contributions of $100 per orangutan to support medical, dietary, and emotional care of rehabilitating orangutans
3. Merchandise and Virtual Gifts: Sale of merchandise including books, apparel, and virtual gifts such as tree planting contributions
4. Planned Giving and Legacy Donations: Bequests and legacy planned giving programs for long-term support
5. Corporate Matching Gifts: Corporate partnerships where employers match employee donations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Orangutan Foundation International rescues, rehabilitates, and releases displaced and orphaned orangutans through the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) facility and Tanjung Harapan release camp. The organization also conducts the world's longest continuous wild orangutan research at Camp Leakey, protects rainforest habitat through forest patrols and reserve management (including the 188,000-acre Lamandau Wildlife Reserve), and delivers community education and palm oil training programs in Indonesia. Fundraising for these programs is enabled through an online donation portal, Foster Parent sponsorships, merchandise sales, and planned giving vehicles.

Product overview

Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) is a nonprofit conservation organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a unified software product. Its core conservation offerings include the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) — a rehabilitation facility housing ~330 displaced orangutans — and Camp Leakey, a research station within Tanjung Puting National Park that has conducted the world's longest continuous study of any wild mammal since 1971. OFI's digital engagement layer consists of an Online Donation Platform (supporting Stripe, PayPal, and Neon One), a Foster Parent Program with individual orangutan sponsorship, an Online Store selling books and merchandise, Legacy Planned Giving, and an E-Newsletter. Supporting programs include Forest Protection & Patrol, Community Education & Outreach, GIS Mapping (powered by ESRI and Digital Globe satellite imagery), Reforestation & Land Purchase, the Run Wild 5K race, and Orangutan of the Month profiling. OFI also operates the Rusti Honolulu Zoo program and publishes annual reports from 2012 through 2024. The organization does not offer a public-facing API or SaaS product; its web presence serves as a donation-processing and public education interface for its field conservation work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) A rehabilitation facility in the Dayak village of Pasir Panjang near Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan, providing critical medical, dietary, and emotional care for displaced and orphaned orangutans during their rehabilitation back to the wild. Currently home to 330 displaced orangutans.
• Foster Parent Program A sponsorship program enabling individuals to support specific orphaned orangutans at the OCCQ for $100/year each. Foster parents contribute directly to the medical, dietary, and emotional care that displaced orangutans need. Fully tax-deductible, with an official tax acknowledgment letter sent directly from OFI.
• Camp Leakey Research Station A orangutan research center within Tanjung Puting National Park, Indonesian Borneo, serving as the base for OFI's longest continuous study of any wild mammal in the world. Founded in 1971, it has enabled over 100,000 hours of wild orangutan observations documenting life histories across three generations.
• Forest Protection and Patrol Program A land protection initiative involving the purchase and guarding of forested land outside Tanjung Puting National Park, establishment of reserves such as the 188,000-acre Lamandau Wildlife Reserve, deployment of forest patrol teams, and employment of nearly 200 local Indonesians in conservation work.
• Online Donation Platform A web-based donation processing platform enabling one-time and recurring donations to OFI's conservation, rehabilitation, and forest protection programs. Supports credit card donations via Stripe/Neon One and PayPal recurring donations, with tax acknowledgment letters issued to donors.
• Community Education and Outreach Educational programs for local Indonesian schools, public lectures in North America/Europe/Asia, conferences and seminars, Zero Tolerance palm oil training programs for major Indonesian palm oil companies, and tree planting programs for degraded area restoration.
• GIS Mapping Program A geographic information system program using high-resolution satellite imagery combined with ground GPS field surveys to produce conservation maps. The maps identify intact forest, prime orangutan habitat, areas of logging and agriculture, and high-priority wildlife corridors, supporting OFI's forest protection planning and Sponsor Acres campaign.
• Tanjung Harapan Release Camp A dedicated rehabilitation release camp inside Tanjung Puting National Park, established at the request of the Park Authority. Central to the successful return of nearly 900 wild-born ex-captive orangutans back to secure wild canopies.
• Earthwatch Expeditions at Camp Leakey Volunteer research expeditions launched in 1984 at Camp Leakey, bringing global citizen-scientist teams to gather behavioral data alongside the expert local field team. Over 820 volunteers participated across 74 teams in the first decade.
• Rusti — Honolulu Zoo Orangutan Program A permanent loan program for Rusti, an adult male orangutan rescued from a backyard zoo in New Jersey in 1997. OFI designed his large open-air enclosure at the Honolulu Zoo in Hawaii. OFI owns Rusti and he was later joined by Violet from the San Diego Zoo.
• Orangutan Foundation International Online Store An e-commerce storefront offering merchandise including books authored by Dr. Galdikas (Reflections of Eden, Orangutan Odyssey), Fiftieth Anniversary Apparel, and virtual gifts such as tree-planting contributions.
• Legacy Planned Giving Program A planned giving program allowing donors to support OFI's mission as a lasting legacy through bequests and estate planning arrangements.
• Corporate Matching Gifts Program A corporate partnership program enabling employers to match employee donations to OFI, amplifying the impact of individual contributions to orangutan conservation.
• Eyes on the Forest Monthly E-Newsletter OFI's monthly digital newsletter providing updates on OFI and orangutan conservation news, stories, events, and field reports, distributed via email to supporters.
• Run Wild 5K Race An annual fundraising race/5K walk event to support orangutan conservation, hosted annually at venues like Philadelphia Zoo to engage supporters and raise awareness through community athletic events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ orangutans returned to the wild through rehabilitation and release programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Orangutan Foundation International Australia (OFIA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Australian sister organization established in 2013 by Kobe Steele and Stephen Van Mil.
• Orangutan Foundation Canada (OFC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Canadian sister organization established in Vancouver, B.C. Tax-deductible charity status granted by Canadian government in 2012.
• World EducationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003USAID grant partner for GIS mapping project to survey and establish baseline digital data for Tanjung Puting National Park area.
• Yayasan Orangutan Indonesia (YAYORIN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 July 1993Sister organization established in Pangkalan Bun, Central Borneo by Dr. Galdikas' husband Pak Bohap bin Jalan and former student Edy Hendras, focusing on educating Indonesians about orangutans and forest conservation.
• Orangutan Foundation TaiwancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Established to address orangutan smuggling to Taiwan and conduct public education about exotic pet trade harms. Credited with helping pass 1991 Taiwanese law banning primate imports.
• Indonesian Ministry of ForestryflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOFI coordinates its conservation programs with support from the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry, including formal collaboration on park protection and wildlife conservation initiatives in Indonesian Borneo.
• Directorate General of Nature Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (Ditjen KSDAE)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOFI works closely with this Indonesian government agency responsible for nature conservation, coordinating forest protection and orangutan rehabilitation programs.
• Camp Leakey Research StationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOFI operates Camp Leakey within Tanjung Puting National Park, conducting long-term wild orangutan research and serving as a base for field operations.
• Orangutan Foundation United Kingdom (OFUK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister organization established in the UK, helping support OFI's conservation programs in Borneo. Became independent in 2005 with Dr. Galdikas as honorary chairperson.
• Australian Orangutan Project (AOP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent Australian organization that funds OFI and OFUK projects, established by Leif Cocks.
• Orang-Utans in Not e.V. (Orangutans in Peril)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman organization founded in Leipzig in 2007 aiming to protect wild orangutans on Borneo and Sumatra.
• Axiology BeautyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCosmetics brand that donates 6% of yearly earnings to OFI as a fundraising partner.
• Honolulu ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome to Rusti the orangutan on permanent loan from OFI, featuring a large open-air enclosure designed by OFI.
• Lamandau Wildlife ReservecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner188,000-acre protected ecosystem co-managed by OFI where rehabilitated wild-born ex-captive orangutans are released into the wild.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Borneo Nature Foundation: UK-registered nonprofit conducting scientific research and conservation in Borneo's peatland forests, including orangutan habitat restoration. Comparable in research-driven conservation model and Indonesian field operations, but with broader species focus.

Broad incumbents

• International Animal Rescue: Global animal welfare and conservation nonprofit with primate rescue and rehabilitation programs in Indonesia. Comparable in wildlife rescue mission and international donor base, though operating across multiple species and geographies.
• World Wildlife Fund: Largest global conservation organization with active orangutan and Borneo forest programs, including Heart of Borneo initiative. Overlaps with OFI in habitat protection and donor-driven model, but as a much broader portfolio player.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: Major international conservation organization with global programs including orangutan habitat work in Borneo. Overlaps with OFI in species conservation and protected area management, but operates at a vastly larger scale across many species.

Direct peers

• Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme: PanEco's program focused on Sumatran orangutan conservation, rescue, and reintroduction. Operates the Jantho Reintroduction Station and Quarantine facility. Directly comparable in mission, geographic focus, and rehabilitation model, but on a different Indonesian island.
• Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation: Indonesia-based nonprofit operating the largest orangutan rescue and rehabilitation program in the world, with major facilities in Borneo. Directly comparable mission of orangutan rescue, rehabilitation, and release, with substantially larger scale and government backing.
• The Orangutan Project: Australian nonprofit that funds orangutan conservation projects including OFI's sister organization Australian Orangutan Project. Highly comparable in mission, donor base, and support of field programs in Borneo and Sumatra.
• Orangutan Outreach: US-based nonprofit focused on orangutan conservation, public education, and supporting rescue projects in Borneo and Sumatra. Comparable in donor-facing model and digital fundraising approach, though smaller scale than OFI.

Emerging players

• Centre for Orangutan Protection: Indonesian advocacy organization focused on orangutan protection through investigation, law enforcement support, and awareness campaigns. Comparable mission but with a stronger advocacy/law enforcement angle than OFI's rehabilitation focus.

Others

• Jane Goodall Institute: Similar legacy primate conservation organization founded by one of the 'Trimates' alongside Dr. Galdikas. Comparable in founder-driven brand, research station model, and international fundraising structure, though focused on chimpanzees and other primates in Africa.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ofiorangutan
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@orangutanfoundationinternatio
• Facebookfacebook.com/OrangutanFoundationInternational
• Instagraminstagram.com/orangutan_foundation_intl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/orangutan-foundation-international

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Orangutan Foundation International