10 Wildlife Charities Worth Donating To

You don’t have to wait until the next time you’re checking out at your local pet store to donate money to an animal charity (they really get you at the check-out line, don’t they?). Any one of the 10 wildlife charities that made our list would be well worth the donation…and feel free to share your own favorite wildlife charities with us in the comments below.

Defenders of Wildlife

As a national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the protection of native animals and plants in their natural communities, Defenders of Wildlife works to protect and restore America’s native wildlife, safeguard habitats, resolve conflicts, work across international borders and educate and mobilize the public.

Defenders was also the recipient of the Natural Resources Council of America’s award for Most Effective Action on Federal Policy.

International Exotic Animal Sanctuary

Founded in 1988, this nonprofit's mission is the care and welfare of its animal inhabitants (which at the time include bobcats, cougars, jaguars, amur leopards, lions, tigers and bears, among others), as well as educating the public about the animal's needs.

IEAS provides a permanent sanctuary for exotic animals that have been abused, abandoned, neglected, confiscated or who were previously owned by people unwilling or unable to provide for them. In addition to the shelter, the IEAS also educates the public through school programs, tour lectures, support for conservation programs and public appearances.

World Wildlife Fund

When a charity has been around for 50 years, you know it’s something you can trust.

WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.2 million members in the U.S. and close to 5 million globally. Its mission is “to conserve nature and reduce the most pressure threats to the diversity of life on Earth.” Through the help of donators, WWF will conserve 15 of the world’s most ecologically important regions by 2020, working to protect and restore species and their habitats, strengthening local communities’ ability to conserve the natural resources they depend on and mobilizing hundreds of millions of people to support conservation.

EcoHealth Alliance

EcoHealth Alliance, an organization which has been around for more than 35 years, is an international organization of scientists dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity.

Its work spans the U.S. and more than 20 countries in Central and South America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia to research ways for people and wildlife to share bioscapes for their mutual survival. On an international level, EcoHealth Alliance programs support conservationists in over a dozen countries at the local level to save endangered species and their habitats and to protect delicate ecosystems for the benefit of wildlife and humans.

WildAid

The mission of WildAid is simple—stop illegal wildlife trade in our lifetimes by reducing demand through public awareness campaigns and providing comprehensive marine protection.

According to the site, illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be worth $5-$10 billion per year, and has drastically reduced many wildlife populations around the world. With the support of people like you, as well as a global network of media partners, WildAid delivers high-impact, culturally sensitive multimedia campaigns that reach up to 1.5 billion people per week.

African Wildlife Foundation

If you have your heart set on finding a wildlife charity that works to help elephants, gorillas, zebras, rhinos and more, this charity is for you.

The heart of the African Wildlife Foundation lies in the work they’re doing with their species conservation programs, which look at species as part of their natural environment, using research as a backbone for all they do. With the help of African wildlife researchers, AWF uses educated, larger landscape conservation strategies to make plans of action that have been tested for effectiveness. 

Animal Place

Animals arrive at the Animal Place Sanctuary in Grass Valley, California from all over—factory farms, slaughterhouses, research facilities or simply as victims of neglect or cruelty cases. These abused and endangered animals have been coming to Animal Place for sanctuary since 1989, where they are given a permanent home and become part of an education and advocacy plan. In addition to the sanctuary, animals eligible for adoption are placed at Rescue Ranch, a 60-acre shelter that serves as Animal Place’s adoption and placement center. Animals there receive medical care and rehabilitation until they can be placed in pre-screened, pre-approved homes.

California Wilderness Coalition

The California Wilderness Coalition has led the charge in designating over 13 million acres of wilderness throughout California, including the Trinity Alps Wilderness, John Muir Wilderness, Magic Mount Wilderness and more. Money received by the Coalition goes towards what they call their “boots on the ground work,” which includes outreach in local communities, organizing support, meeting with local groups, chambers of commerce, city council members and members of Congress to advocate to protect California’s wild lands and rivers.

Wildlife Habitat Council

The Wildlife Habitat Council is a nonprofit, non-lobbying group of corporations, conservation organizations and individuals dedicated to restoring and enhancing wildlife habitat. The organization, which was formed in 1988, works with corporations and other landowners to create tailored voluntary wildlife habitat enhancement and conservation education programs on corporate facilities and in the communities where they operate. WHC programs focus on healthy ecosystems and connected communities.

WildCare

In addition to WildCare’s wildlife rehabilitation hospitals, this group also provides other resources to the local and larger community through on-site, in-classroom and in-the-wilderness programs. In addition, they provide a ‘Living with Wildlife Hotline’, which is available any time of day or night to help anyone deal safely with wildlife they may encounter in their own lives.