About
Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) is a San Francisco-based nonprofit whose stated purpose is to ignite and empower innovative conservationists to protect wildlife and wild places. Rather than running its own field projects, WCN connects people, deploys resources, and equips the conservation community — supporting independent, entrepreneurial conservationists around the world and helping donors connect directly with proven programs on the ground.
What they do
- Conservation Partners — WCN supports a network of independent conservation organizations protecting species including African elephants, African manatees, Amazonian wildlife, Andean cats, bats, Bornean elephants, cheetahs, and many others.
- Wildlife Funds — pooled funds such as the Elephant Crisis Fund, Lion Recovery Fund, Pangolin Crisis Fund, Rhino Recovery Fund, and Sea Otter Fund that deploy money to effective projects for range-wide protection of threatened species; WCN reports more than 139 million dollars granted via these funds.
- Rising Wildlife Leaders — programs that invest in local conservation leadership, including a scholarship program that has awarded 217 scholarships across 47 countries since inception.
- The 100% Model — WCN states that 100 percent of donations designated for a specific partner or fund go directly to the field.
History
WCN was founded by Charles Knowles and Akiko Yamazaki, Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and philanthropists, together with John Lukas, a conservationist and former director of the White Oak Conservation Center. They built the organization around transparency, efficiency, and collaboration — supporting small-scale conservationists with big potential rather than imposing solutions from afar. More than two decades later, WCN describes itself as a global community spanning almost 70 countries. The IRS has recognized the organization as tax-exempt since October 2002.
Scale and impact
Figures published by WCN:
- Over 451 million dollars deployed to the field since inception (per its impact page; its financials page cites over 378 million dollars raised).
- More than 1,200 projects funded through its Wildlife Funds.
- Investments in more than 138 countries protecting 353 species.
- 324 conservation leaders supported through Rising Wildlife Leaders programs.
WCN notes a top ranking among wildlife conservation organizations from Charity Navigator.
Financials
According to IRS Form 990 data for the fiscal year ending December 2025 (via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer), WCN reported total revenue of 86,052,292 dollars, total expenses of 54,602,458 dollars, and net assets of 88,445,012 dollars. Contributions made up about 97 percent of revenue. WCN publishes audited financial statements, Form 990s, and annual reports on its website.
