Fauna & Flora International, Inc. (Washington, DC)

General

• Mission:

Our vision is of a sustainable future for the planet, where biodiversity is effectively conserved by the people who live closest to it, supported by the global community.

Our mission is to act to conserve threatened species and ecosystems worldwide, choosing solutions that are sustainable, based on sound science and take into account human needs.

Fauna & Flora International (FFI) was founded in 1903 and is the world’s first international conservation organization. We have been working for more than a century on innovative approaches that inspire others and make a lasting impact on global biodiversity – the variety of life on Earth. The pioneering work of FFI’s founders led to the creation of critically important protected areas in Africa, including Kruger and Serengeti National Parks.

Expanding beyond its African origins, FFI has continued to champion the conservation of biodiversity, to secure a healthy future for our planet where people, wildlife and wild places coexist. We work to build the capacity of our local partners to conserve endangered species like the Sumatran tiger, or threatened ecosystems such as the fruit and nut forests of Central Asia. Lasting local partnerships have been at the heart of our conservation activities for more than one hundred years.

The Urgent Need for Conservation
Biodiversity is critical for the life support systems that all species, including humans, rely on – from provision of freshwater to shelter and food. Without species diversity, ecosystems are more vulnerable to natural disasters, human disturbance and climate change. Sadly, the stunning array of species is under serious threat from habitat loss, pollution, hunting and myriad other pressures. Biodiversity is being lost at 1,000 times the natural rate.

FFI addresses these threats through a portfolio of projects in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Eurasia and the Americas. Headquartered in the UK, FFI operates more than 100 projects in 40 countries, choosing priority projects with a committed local partner and a critical need to save endangered wildlife and habitat. In the US, we maximize our impact by focusing on a subset of endangered species and habitat priorities across these regions – our Flagships.

Operating Philosophy and Our Impact
We build on the capacity of our partners—community members, local organizations, government agencies. Collaborating with our partners, rather than establishing an FFI infrastructure where we work, has always been our way of doing business.

Our lean, entrepreneurial structure and style allow us to engage quickly and effectively on critical environmental issues, maximizing the value of donor investment, and positioning us for impact and sustainable results. In some cases, FFI teams are comprised of field biologists. In others, FFI might place a hydrologist with a local NGO to improve watershed protection, or a resource economist to study local livelihood patterns within a government ministry. In every project, FFI works closely with partners to ensure each conservation action is led and directed by local people. Our approach is working:

• We pioneered successful reintroductions of captive species to the wild. The Arabian oryx was down to just nine when we intervened; today almost 900 live wild in Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Israel. Now we are working with partners in a last ditch attempt to save the northern white rhino from extinction.

• The mountain gorilla project launched in Rwanda in the 1970s is widely considered one of the most successful conservation collaborations ever. A 2010 census reports 786 gorillas–an increase of over 12% since the last census in 2003—despite decades of armed conflict and acute humanitarian crises.

• In Cambodia, our innovative approach—the community crocodile sanctuary—has virtually eliminated crocodile poaching, while tripling rice yields through organic farming and dramatically reducing unsustainable logging.

• History:

FFI in the United States
In 2003, Katie Frohardt was recruited as the Executive Director for FFI in the United States (known as FFI, Inc.), a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. FFI, Inc. has built a strong track record of success by providing technical and financial support to its Flagship projects globally while keeping US infrastructure small. This focused approach has produced tangible conservation results on the ground.
Guided by a notable Board of Directors, FFI, Inc. enjoys the support of more than two dozen foundations, including MacArthur, Marisla, Newman’s Own, McKnight, and William H. Donner. The US Fish & Wildlife Service’s International Program is another strong partner and together with generous individuals supports many FFI flagship teams globally.

Our commitment to lean, effective US operations has earned us Charity Navigator’s highest four-star ranking for years, indicating that we “outperform the majority of nonprofits in America with respect to fiscal responsibility.” We routinely move more than .92 of every contributed dollar out to FFI field teams and partners, delivering strong value for investment.

• Year established:1981

Registration

• Organization type:Grantseeker
• Country of registration:United States
• Year established:1981
• Tax Determination Letter:Received Determination Letter
• IRS Section:501(c)(3)
• IRS Subsection:None

Web Listing

• Guidestar listed:Yes
• Charity Navigator listed:Yes
• Give.org listed:Yes