24 Wildlife Conservation Organizations Worthy of Your Donations

by Courtney Mroch | More from this Blogger

09 Nov 2007 10:55 AM

The other day I listed 79 animal rights, welfare, and service organizations worthy of your donations based on ratings generated by Charity Navigator and the American Institute of Philanthropy. These were organizations that scored either four stars from Charity Navigator (their highest rating) or "A"s from the American Institute of Philanthropy.

Using the same methodology, the list below represents the top rated wildlife conservation organizations that you can feel confident are utilizing your donation dollars in the most efficient and effective manner possible.

Again, charities are listed in alphabetical order and are linked to their websites, if applicable.

1. African Wildlife Foundation - Mission: To protect Africa's wildlife and lands.

2. American Bird Conservancy - Mission: To conserve America's wild birds and habitats.

3. Animal Place - Mission: Provides a sanctuary for abused and abandoned farm animals.

4. Caribbean Conservation Corporation - Mission: To protect sea turtles in the Caribbean and Atlantic.

5. Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International - Mission: Works to save African gorillas.

6. The Elephant Sanctuary - Mission: Provides a sanctuary for aging zoo elephants and retired performing elephants.

7. Georgia Wildlife Federation - Mission: To conserve Georgia's natural areas.

8. International Crane Foundation - Mission: Advocates for cranes.

9. International Rhino Foundation - Mission: Provides technical, administrative, and financial services and programs to help both rhinos in captivity and in the wild.

10. National Wild Turkey Federation - Mission: To conserve wildlife turkey habitats and wild turkey hunting traditions.

11. Orangutan Foundation International - Mission: Orangutan conservation.

12. Pheasants Forever - Mission: To protect and enhance pheasant, quail, and other wildlife habitats.

13. Return to Freedom - Mission: Provides sanctuary for American wild horses.

14. Safari Club International Foundation - Mission: Funds and manages wildlife conservation, outdoor education, and humanitarian services programs worldwide.

15. Snow Leopard Trust - Mission: To protect the endangered snow leopard and its habitat in Central Asia.

16. Trout Unlimited - Mission: To protect rivers and fisheries.

17. Turtle Island Restoration Network - Mission: To protect all manner of endangered marine species and their environments.

18. U. S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation - Mission: To support America's wildlife conservation programs.

19. The WILD Foundation - Mission: To protect wilderness around the world and the wildlife within it.

20. The Wild Salmon Center - Mission: To identify and protect the Pacific Rim's best wild salmon ecosystems.

21. Wildlife Alliance - Mission: To preserve and protect all wildlife and their domains, be it on land or sea.

22. Wildlife Conservation Society - Mission: Uses science, conservation, and education to save wildlife and their habitats.

23. Wildlife Trust - Mission: To protect nature worldwide.

24. World Wildlife Fund - Mission: To conserve nature.

Question to Readers

Do you support any of the charities listed above?

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Learn more about Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a wife, a proud pet parent, and a writer. She's been with her husband, high school sweetheart Wayne Pryor, over 20 years, married 11 of those. She's "mom" to Mr. Meow, a.k.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger

pleasecroak (5) 17 Nov 2007 07:20 PM

Make this a â€Å"hop til you drop” holiday shopping season, and set aside a small portion of your spending for a green gift to save frogs and other amphibians that, otherwise, are hopping toward the most significant mass extinction since the dinosaurs. Last month, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) reported: â€Å"Of the major vertebrate groups that have been assessed comprehensively, over 30 percent of amphibians, 23 percent of mammals and 12 percent of birds are threatened.”

The good news is, there is a logical, relatively simple plan to avert the amphibian extinction crisis. It’s called Amphibian Ark, and you can make a donation at www.amphibianark.org. Amphibian Ark is a joint effort of three credible, proven conservation organizations â€" the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG), and the IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG).

Amphibian Ark brings the most threatened amphibian species into â€Å"protective custody” before they disappear due to loss of habitat, pollution, and even an â€Å"amphibian chytrid fungus” that’s spreading across the planet, possibly exacerbated by global warming (Kermit’s right: it’s not easy being green). Amphibian Ark puts the species in dedicated, biosecure facilities at zoos, aquariums, and other institutions around the world for safekeeping and breeding. These rescued amphibians will be reintroduced into the wild when the original threats have been controlled.

Emilyloose (5) 13 Aug 2008 08:25 AM

Dear Courtney,

Thanks so much for listing The WILD Foundation on your list! I can tell that people read your blog entries and trust your opinions - we've had several people "click thru" to WILD's website from your list - THANK YOU! We actually also just started a blog of our own (seems like the thing to do these days), and we try to post news items on wilderness, wildlife and native people. You can read it here: http://vancemartin.wordpress.com!

Enjoy - Emily Outreach and Communications Manager

Courtney Mroch (9169) 13 Aug 2008 08:51 AM

Thanks for your comment, Emily! So glad people have found your organization because of something I wrote. And thanks for the heads up on the blog. I'll be sure to check it out. You never know, I might read something that sparks a blog idea!