Showcasing
nature conservation stories
Executive Summary
The WildEarth Impact Foundation (WEIF) is a South African registered non-profit company (NPC) and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) with the overarching vision of showcasing nature conservation stories.
Our Mission
To showcase conservation stories that inspire impactful environmental action whilst delivering demonstrable, positive outcomes for nature & local communities.
We are facing an unprecedented extinction pandemic. There has been average 69% decline in global wildlife populations in just the last 50 years. South Africa’s biodiversity, despite ranking as the 3rd most biodiverse in the world, is greatly endangered.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT BIODIVERSITY LOSS
HUMANS ARE ACCELERATING THE DESTRUCTION OF NATURE
- Humans have caused the loss of 83% of all wild mammals and half of all plants (World Economic Forum, 2021)
- No less than 75% of the world’s terrestrial habitats have been “severely altered” due to human activities in the last 100 years (United Nations, 2019)
- Even in the most protected areas, animals are not completely shielded from human activities— vehicle collisions and edge effects from nearby development continue to stress wildlife populations (Rice University, 2023)
ACROSS AGE GROUPS, PEOPLE AREN’T AWARE OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS
- 60% of threatened species have either insufficient or no evidence of [public] conservation attention (Durham University, 2024)
- More than 45% of national curriculum frameworks make no reference to climate change or biodiversity loss (UNESCO, 2023)
- Only 20% of surveyed adults made the connection between biodiversity and life’s necessities, such as food, fresh air, or clean water (WWF, 2023)
CONSERVATION FUNDING ISN’T REACHING THE LOCAL LEVEL
- An increase of six times the current conservation funding is needed to reach the COP15 targets (Statista, 2024)
- Less than 1% of tracked adaptation finance supports community-based or locally led projects (UNEP, 2023)
- Only 2% of funding are for local women’s initiatives, despite their role in 80% of wild food collection in subsistence societies (IIED, 2023)
OUR APPROACH TO IMPACT
WEIF seeks to amplify conservation action and elevate the visibility of grassroots leaders through compelling, resonant storytelling.
Inspire
the next wave of
nature conservationists
Rewild
South Africa’s
natural ecosystems
Shape
the standards of natural history storytelling, ecotourism, and nature conservation
Empower
local communities to exercise agency in nature conservation and ecosystem services
OUR FLAGSHIP PROJECTS
Intended projects & initiatives across strategic pillars
WildEarth Education (WildED)
The goal: to take 1 million children from around the world on a virtual, interactive safari
In the words of the late Nelson Mandela, “Education is a powerful tool that can change the world”. By immersing young people in nature, we can inspire the next generation of wilderness champions. Together with WildEarth, WEIF will enable classrooms from around the world to participate in interactive and curated safaris. Students have the opportunity to engage with real-time wildlife experiences together with expert WildEarth guides to facilitate the process. This program offers a unique and free education experience that brings the African wild into the classroom, offering a transformative dimension to nature education.
WEIF CONSERVATION STORIES ACADEMY
The goal: to create a social enterprise dedicate to wildlife and conservation storytelling
The world’s storytellers—from filmmakers and photographers to writers and directors—shape the ways in which we see the world. In South Africa, local communities are most affected by biodiversity loss— they are the most dependent on ecosystem services. Yet, local communities are also powerful agents of change when empowered to share their stories and solutions. WEIF aims to establish the Conservation Stories Academy, a one-of-its-kind social enterprise for local communities to engage in nature conservation storytelling. The Academy will train and upskill candidates from local communities to become storytellers, wildlife filmmakers, producers, editors, and directors. Beyond training, the Academy will support successful candidates to either gain meaningful employment within the social enterprise or support their entrepreneurial ambitions to create as well as share their own stories.
GOVERNANCE
As a registered non-profit, our funding comes from grants, donations, corporate social initiatives, and partnerships with other non-profit organisations that align with our values. In line with our PBO status and U.S. Section 501(c)(c) fiscal sponsorship agreement, all funds received are used only for the charitable purposes of WEIF, as outlined in our strategic approach and Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI).
As equally mandated by our PBO status and fiscal sponsorship agreement, all funding received by WEIF is ring-fenced and is at no point mixed with the commercial operations of WildEarth Group.
01.
Section 18A Tax-Deductible Donations
Bona fide donations made in cash or property in kind to WEIF by South African taxpayers—both individuals and/or companies—are entitled to a deduction from taxable income by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) in terms of section 30 and 10(1)(cN) of the Income Tax Act, 1962.
Upon receiving proof of donation, WEIF will issue a Section 18A receipt that will allow contributors to claim any applicable tax relief. To receive a Section 18A receipt, kindly contact weif@wildearth.tv with proof of donation.
02.
U.S. Tax-Deductible Donations
We are honoured to partner with Empowers Africa, a Section 501(c)(3) public charity, to serve as our U.S. fiscal sponsor. Empowers Africa supports programs and grantees in areas of human empowerment, wildlife protection, and land conservation in sub-Saharan Africa.
U.S. tax donors are able to make tax-deductible donations to WEIF via Empowers Africa. Learn more here.
Our Partners
