If you’re looking for the top wildlife organizations to support in 2026, this guide highlights 20 organizations that genuinely make a difference. These nonprofits are protecting endangered species, restoring and protecting wild habitats, and creating measurable change on the ground.
Every dollar—whether it’s one, ten, or fifty—helps protect wildlife and wild places for future generations. Choosing the right organization ensures your contribution is used transparently, efficiently, and exactly where it’s needed most.
In no particular order, here are my choices for the
20 Top Wildlife Organizations that deserve your donation in 2026
I love this sanctuary in the Samburu region of Northern Kenya. Many of Kenya’s orphaned elephants are discovered in this area, so it makes my heart sing knowing these traumatized babies can now be rehabilitated in their birthland rather than flown or trucked to the foreign, but more famous, elephant orphanage in Nairobi.
Iain Douglas-Hamilton’s research on wild elephant populations in Northern Kenya has taught the world much about elephant behavior and migrating patterns. His wildlife organization, ‘Save the Elephants,’ is focused on stopping poachers, thwarting traffickers, and ending demand for ivory.
3. Performing Animal Welfare Society
PAWS is at the forefront of efforts to rescue and provide appropriate, humane sanctuary for animals who have been the victims of the exotic and performing animal trades. Started by an animal trainer for the movie industry turned animal activist, PAWS focuses on elephants but has also rescued bears, tigers, monkeys, and other animals from the abusive life of entertainment.
Dr. Marker’s Cheetah Conservation Fund is a model for other wildlife organizations for her pioneering work engaging communities in Namibia to protect cheetahs.
Dedicated to conserving the world’s 40 species of wild cats, including tigers, lions, jaguars, and snow leopards. Panthera partners with local and international scientific institutions, communities, NGO’s, and government agencies.
Rescued from research laboratories, this sanctuary allows their 300 chimpanzee residents to live life as they were meant to.
The only organization working toward actual LEGAL rights for non-human species. Their mission: to change the common law status of at least some nonhuman animals from mere “things,” which cannot possess any legal rights, to “persons,” who possess such fundamental rights as bodily integrity and bodily liberty. What this organization is fighting for, if achieved, will be a game-changer for animals worldwide.
Save the Orangutan has launched a Forest Program to preserve and restore the critically endangered orangutans’ natural habitat. By supporting this organization, you are helping ensure that orangutans can continue to roam freely in the treetops of Borneo.
9. Center for Biological Diversity
Because the loss of biodiversity impoverishes society, the Center for Biological Diversity uses science, law, and creative media to protect the lands, waters, and climate that all species need to survive. An impressive ninety-three percent of their lawsuits have resulted in favorable outcomes for endangered species.
10. Animal Defenders International
Animal Defenders International (ADI) was founded in 1990. With offices in Los Angeles, London, and Bogota, ADI educates and campaigns across the globe for animals in entertainment and other industries. One of the busiest and most effective organizations I know of, but I find their website to be confusing and a turn-off to someone looking to get involved.
11. International Fund for Animal Welfare
Whether it’s working to end whaling, poaching, or seal hunts, this organization has no boundaries for its mission to save individual animals, animal populations, and habitats across the world. Founded in 1969, with projects in more than 40 countries, including China, IFAW provides hands-on assistance to all animals in need.
Defenders’ approach is straightforward – they “protect and restore imperiled species throughout North America by transforming policies and institutions and promoting innovative solutions” –making a lasting difference for wildlife and its habitats.
13. Wildlife Conservation Network
WCN saves endangered species in 24 countries around the world by supporting 14 independent wildlife conservationists working with different wildlife species. At their annual conferences in California, supporters can meet and hear from WCN’s conservationists.
I love this relatively small, but focused organization transforming the way people relate to whales and dolphins by bringing an end to their exploitation and by creating seaside sanctuaries, assisting with international marine mammal rescues, and advancing whale and dolphin science.
15. Oceana
The world’s oceans are in trouble, and this organization works with companies and legislators to bring about more sustainable practices for the long-term health of the ocean and its creatures.
16. Lion Guardians
Engaging local people to mitigate lion-human conflict over a million-acre area surrounding Kenya’s Amboseli National Park. Conflict continues to increase as climate changes and drought push hungry lions into unsafe territories to prey on livestock.
Audubon’s mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.
18. Akashinga
Akashinga has a structured approach to conservation, employing the relevant tactics and technology to defend wildlife from the ever-increasing threat of poaching within protected areas.
19. Wild Aid (Illegal Wildlife Trade)
Wild Aid is the only organization focused on reducing the demand for wildlife parts and products, with the strong and simple message: when the buying stops, the killing can too. Their mission is to end illegal wildlife trade.
20. Wildlife Direct
Wildlife Direct is a Kenya and US-registered organization founded and chaired by African conservationist Dr. Richard Leakey. Wildlife Direct provides support to conservationists in Africa directly on the ground.
Note: Charity Navigator provides an important service to donors interested in U.S. charities, but it is unable to capture the entire picture of the work and structure of some international wildlife organizations. Charity Navigator itself states: “We do not recommend using our ratings as the only factor in deciding whether to support a particular organization.”
5 Replies to “20 Top Wildlife Organizations for 2026”
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I think it’s important to check out their ratings on charitynavigator.org to be sure they’re the right place for you to give your money. For example, some of these organizations spend way too much on advertising or administrative salaries. I believe 300k+ is too much for a CEO salary but some of the charities on this list are not as highly rated on charitynavigator.org.
Thanks for bringing that up. I almost wrote about why I did not include their rankings in this post but here it is. Charity Navigator says they are not the end all in the decision making process for a good organization. I have been involved with NGO’s with high CN ratings and saw how ineffectual they were. So, I don’t rank their ranking super high in my decision process. They don’t cover all organizations, and the financial picture is only one piece of the pie, although an important one. That being said, use my list as a starting point and then go ck them out on CN and then decide for yourself. Hope that helps.
Its kind of a chicken and an egg situation too because the largest organizations, like The Nature Conservancy, get something like 90% of the environmental donations. They can afford to spend less on advertising. Whereas a smaller less known org may need to spend more in the beginning but it does not mean they are not using their other dollars ineffectively. I would rather give to a smaller, less known org a lot of the time and help them grow larger, if they are effective and even if they have to be spending a greater % on getting known. Hope that makes sense.
Thank you for this post Lori! I recently started my own blog how people can help animals. So I will definitely check out this post and others. Thank you for your commitment in helping animals. I also can’t believe you met Jane Goodall. That’s amazing 🙂
Thanks for the comment and glad you are starting a blog about animals. Let me know once its up. There are so few of us out there its nice to know about each other. Best,