Wildlife Conservation Network
Backing local conservationists to protect endangered wildlife around the world
Our editorial assessment
Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) takes a distinctive approach: rather than run its own field programmes, it finds and backs talented local conservationists and organisations, providing funding, training, and operational support so they can protect endangered species in their own regions. It is unusually efficient — Charity Navigator gives it a near-perfect four-star score (99.49 out of 100), and WCN structures its funding so that the large majority of donations flow to conservation in the field. For donors who want to support locally led, species-focused conservation with low overhead, it is a standout.
The problem they're solving
Effective, lasting conservation is usually led by people rooted in the places and communities where wildlife lives. WCN backs those local conservationists directly, helping protect endangered species like elephants, lions, and cheetahs while keeping overhead low and impact close to the ground.
About Wildlife Conservation Network
Wildlife Conservation Network supports independent, community-based conservationists around the world, channelling funding and support to on-the-ground efforts to protect endangered species and the ecosystems they depend on.
Where your dollar goes
What your donation could do
Your $100 funds frontline conservationists protecting endangered species.
Illustrative estimate based on figures this organisation publishes about its own programs — not a statement from the charity itself. Actual impact varies by program and year.
What donors say about Wildlife Conservation Network
Donors signed in with Google can rate Wildlife Conservation Network from one to five stars and share a short review of their experience — whether as a donor, volunteer, or beneficiary. Community ratings are displayed as their own criterion alongside our editorial metrics; they never alter the editorial 0–100 score.
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How this score was produced
The Charity Ranking score is our own editorial assessment, produced with a weighted rubric covering program spending, transparency and governance, evidence of impact, cost-effectiveness, and leadership. It draws on publicly available reports from independent evaluators such as GiveWell, Charity Navigator, and CharityWatch, but it is not a rating issued or endorsed by any of those organisations. The community rating shown above is a separate signal contributed by signed-in donors; it is displayed alongside our criteria but never feeds into the editorial score. Read the full methodology →