Okapi Conservation Project
Okapi Conservation Project is a US-headquartered non-profit, founded in 1987 and operating under Wildlife Conservation Global, that protects the endangered okapi and 13,700 km² Ituri Rainforest Reserve in the DRC via anti-poaching support, agroforestry, healthcare, women's empowerment, and school education programs funded by global individual donors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersJacksonville, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Okapi Conservation Project does
Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) is a US-incorporated non-profit conservation organization founded in 1987, headquartered at 1615 Riverside Avenue in Jacksonville, Florida, and operating under parent entity Wildlife Conservation Global (WCG). Its mission is the conservation of the okapi — an endangered giraffid endemic to the Ituri Rainforest of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) — and the 13,700 km² Okapi Wildlife Reserve that the species inhabits. OCP delivers this mission through three integrated core programs: Wildlife Protection (supporting 330 ICCN-deployed anti-poaching ecoguards with rations, logistics, and camera-trap wildlife monitoring), Community Assistance (a six-nursery agroforestry program producing 70,000+ trees annually, a healthcare operation via the Okapi Dispensary with eight staff, and five women's empowerment groups since 2006), and Conservation Education (curricula and outreach to 125 schools plus a seven-station radio broadcast network airing 2-3 times weekly). The organization is governed by a long-standing Contract of Collaboration with ICCN, renewed every five years since June 1987, and operates within a co-management framework alongside the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
OCP's business model is donation-driven and globally distributed, with no physical product sales and no enterprise contracts. Revenue comes from individual donations (one-time and recurring) collected through its website via the DonorPerfect platform, including a monthly "Guardians of the Okapi" sponsorship subscription, supplemented by a Round Up giving integration and referral traffic from a 20+ partner zoo network. Suggested giving tiers range from $50 (tree planting, 10 native trees) to $500 (emergency wildlife care), with the recurring Guardians program functioning as the closest analog to a subscription revenue line. The customer segments are split between program beneficiaries in DRC (local Mbuti and Epulu-area communities, ICCN ecoguards, schools) and global individual donors in NA/EU markets; institutional partners (ICCN, WCS, zoos) are non-paying collaborators rather than customers. Headcount is reported at 1-10 employees, and no revenue, grant totals, or financial statements are disclosed in the source material.
Okapi Conservation Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Okapi Conservation Project
- Legal name
- Okapi Conservation Project
- Website
- https://okapiconservation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Okapi Conservation Project is a US-headquartered non-profit, founded in 1987 and operating under Wildlife Conservation Global, that protects the endangered okapi and 13,700 km² Ituri Rainforest Reserve in the DRC via anti-poaching support, agroforestry, healthcare, women's empowerment, and school education programs funded by global individual donors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Okapi Conservation Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wildlife Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Threatened & Endangered Species (TES) / Protected Species Surveys & Compliance (EUAHAHAD)
Keywords
Where Okapi Conservation Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Jacksonville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Okapi Conservation Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters globally. Monthly sponsors join the Guardians of the Okapi program for steady ongoing support.
- Zoo Partner Programs: Partnerships with zoos worldwide where visitors can learn about okapi conservation and support OCP efforts
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | One-Time Donation |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly Sponsorship - Guardians of the Okapi |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Okapi Conservation Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Okapi Conservation Project is a nonprofit that protects the endangered okapi and the 13,700 km² Ituri Rainforest through three integrated programs: Wildlife Protection (anti-poaching ecoguard support and biodiversity monitoring), Community Assistance (agroforestry, healthcare via the Okapi Dispensary, and women's economic empowerment), and Conservation Education (school curricula and radio broadcasts). It also engages global supporters through donations, monthly sponsorships, and awareness events like World Okapi Day.
Product overview
Okapi Conservation Project is a non-profit conservation organization (not a software technology company) that operates three integrated core programs: Wildlife Protection (anti-poaching ecoguard support), Community Assistance (agroforestry, healthcare via Okapi Dispensary, and women's empowerment), and Conservation Education (school curricula and radio broadcasts). These programs work together synergistically—protecting wildlife requires supporting the communities who share the ecosystem. Additional initiatives include World Okapi Day awareness events and the Okapi Coffee Challenge fundraising campaign. The organization was founded in 1987 under a Contract of Collaboration with ICCN (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature) and partners with WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) for reserve management.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wildlife Protection Program Supports ICCN ecoguards through the Reserve Management Unit to combat poaching, illegal mining, and encroachment in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. Includes anti-poaching patrols, law enforcement support, and biodiversity monitoring covering 13,700 km² of primeval rainforest.
- Community Assistance Program Multi-faceted community support including agroforestry programs, women's empowerment groups, and healthcare services, aimed at Indigenous Mbuti people and local villages around the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.
- Conservation Education Program School-based education providing curricula, educational materials, and outreach to communities around the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, complemented by radio broadcasts on seven stations covering conservation topics, climate change, and Reserve management.
- Okapi Dispensary (Healthcare Service) Medical facility in Epulu providing healthcare to ICCN ecoguards, OCP and WCS staff and families, local residents, and the Indigenous Mbuti people, with main care center, recovery wing, and maternity ward staffed by eight medical professionals.
- Agroforestry Program Sustainable farming initiative operating six nurseries in Epulu, Mambasa, Niania, Biakato, Wamba, and Mungbere, producing and distributing over 70,000 trees annually (nitrogen-fixing and native fruit/nut trees) to reduce slash-and-burn agriculture.
- Women's Empowerment Groups Economic empowerment program supporting five women's groups across the Reserve since 2006, providing materials, sewing machines, training and administrative assistance for income-generating activities including school uniform and clothing production, with centers in Mambasa (2019) and Epulu (2021).
- Guardians of the Okapi Monthly Sponsorship Recurring monthly donation program giving individual supporters ongoing access to the OCP community and steady funding for conservation operations.
- World Okapi Day Annual awareness event held on October 18th to build international and community awareness of okapi conservation and forest protection.
- Okapi Coffee Challenge
Quantifiable outcome
- 60% drop in poaching incidents
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Okapi Conservation Project
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Okapi Conservation Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Okapi Conservation Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ICCN (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature)coreGovernment agency tasked with protecting DRC's flora and fauna. OCP operates under a Contract of Collaboration with ICCN, renewed every 5 years since founding in June 1987. ICCN ecoguards work under Reserve Director appointed by WCS, with OCP providing rations, logistical support, and community education assistance.
- WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society)coreCo-manages the Okapi Wildlife Reserve with ICCN under a Co-management structure. The Reserve Director is appointed by WCS. OCP supports WCS through contracts to assist ecoguards with rations, patrol logistics, and community education programs.
- Wildlife Conservation Global (WCG)coreParent organization of Okapi Conservation Project. WCG provides organizational oversight and support; OCP operates under WCG governance. The Jacksonville, FL headquarters address is shared with WCN (Wildlife Conservation Network).
- Zoo PartnersminorNetwork of zoos worldwide where visitors can see okapi and learn about conservation efforts. These partnerships raise awareness and direct supporters to OCP donation channels.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Okapi Conservation Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- World Wildlife Fund: Largest global conservation NGO with multi-species, multi-habitat programs across Africa including the DRC. Operates a much broader portfolio but competes with OCP for the same institutional donor pool.
- Fauna & Flora International: UK-based conservation NGO with active programs across Africa and a comparable species-and-habitat approach. Competes with OCP for European institutional donor funding.
- Conservation International: Global conservation NGO focused on biodiversity hotspots, including the Congo Basin. Operates at a much larger scale but pursues the same combination of protected-area management and community-based conservation.
- Wildlife Conservation Society: Large, established conservation NGO and OCP's direct co-management partner for the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. Operates globally with a portfolio far broader than okapi, but is the most institutionally comparable organization to OCP.
- African Wildlife Foundation: Africa-focused conservation NGO with a similar portfolio of anti-poaching, community livelihoods, and habitat protection programs across Central and East Africa.
Direct peers
- Save the Elephants: Species-focused wildlife conservation nonprofit operating in Africa with a comparable mix of anti-poaching work, scientific monitoring, and community engagement. Similar donor base and program structure.
- Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund: Species-specific conservation nonprofit protecting another great ape in Central Africa with a similar long-tenured, field-based model. Directly comparable in mission structure, founder-led governance, and donor base.
- Snow Leopard Trust: Single-species conservation nonprofit dedicated to protecting the endangered snow leopard, combining field research, community programs, and donor-driven funding. Closely analogous operating model to OCP.
Emerging players
- Rainforest Trust: Conservation nonprofit focused on purchasing and protecting threatened rainforest habitats, including in the Congo Basin. Comparable in focus on habitat protection rather than single-species work.
- Panthera: Wild cat conservation NGO using a similar species-focused field model with partnerships in range-state governments. Analogous operating philosophy around dedicated species protection programs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Okapi Conservation Project social profiles
Digital presenceOkapi Conservation Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Okapi Conservation Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Okapi Conservation Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Okapi Conservation Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Okapi Conservation Project
What does Okapi Conservation Project do?
Okapi Conservation Project is a nonprofit that protects the endangered okapi and the 13,700 km² Ituri Rainforest through three integrated programs: Wildlife Protection (anti-poaching ecoguard support and biodiversity monitoring), Community Assistance (agroforestry, healthcare via the Okapi Dispensary, and women's economic empowerment), and Conservation Education (school curricula and radio broadcasts). It also engages global supporters through donations, monthly sponsorships, and awareness events like World Okapi Day.
Is Okapi Conservation Project a public or private company?
Okapi Conservation Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Okapi Conservation Project founded?
Okapi Conservation Project was founded in 1987. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Okapi Conservation Project based?
Okapi Conservation Project is headquartered in Jacksonville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Okapi Conservation Project make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are zoo Partner Programs.
Who are Okapi Conservation Project's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are World Wildlife Fund, Fauna & Flora International, Conservation International, Wildlife Conservation Society and African Wildlife Foundation. Direct peers are Save the Elephants, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and Snow Leopard Trust. Emerging players are Rainforest Trust and Panthera.
Does Okapi Conservation Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Okapi Conservation Project.
What industry is Okapi Conservation Project in?
Okapi Conservation Project's product category is Wildlife Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAB, Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAA, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8300.