For every investment we ask the question: “How will it be transformational for the painted wolf?”

The Painted Dog Fund invests in the conservation and recovery of the painted wolf through two categories: Projects and Initiatives.

We focus our efforts where painted wolves are most in need of support. Through careful analysis, we identify the regions and populations facing the greatest threats, and then partner with organisations already established on the ground.

These partners are often engaged in wider conservation activities, such as anti-poaching or protecting other species, and have strong relationships with local communities as well as with protected area authorities.

Working together, we co-develop targeted painted wolf conservation strategies and define what is needed to bring them to life. Through funding from the Painted Dog Fund, these strategies become practical projects that our partners lead and deliver.

The Fund also support projects run by existing painted wolf conservation organisations with long established track records.

For decades, the painted wolf has suffered from neglect compared to many other endangered species. In our landmark report, Securing the Future of the Painted Wolf, we identified a series of systemic challenges that continue to drive the species’ decline.

These challenges are surmountable, but they often lie beyond the capacity of a single, local organisation working in isolation. This is where the Painted Wolf Foundation steps in.

PWF designs and leads initiatives that address threats across the painted wolf’s entire range, not just in one place. By bringing together leading experts, fostering collaboration and outcome driven funding from the Painted Dog Fund, we ensure that these initiatives are prioritised, professionally managed and able to deliver a lasting large-scale impact for the species across Africa.

Investment Focus

Range-wide

Collaborative initiatives that will benefit all painted wolf landscapes, providing additional conservation tools to all conservation organisations.

Under-Resourced

Areas that are home to important known populations but where painted wolf conservation is either absent or severely under-resourced.

Crisis

Areas where a population of painted wolves is facing a critical immediate threat and urgent intervention is necessary.

Reintroduction

Former range areas that are under good management, and where there is strong potential for reintroduction.

Knowledge Gaps

Areas where the status of painted wolves is unknown, but anecdotal information suggests that painted wolf populations still persist.

Our Criteria for Investment

Trusted

We will invest in implementing partners that have been fully vetted, with a proven track record and a clear mandate to operate.

Collaborative

We will invest where there are clear collaboration benefits with structures to support them.

Priority

We will invest in the five priority areas: range-wide, under-resourced, crisis, reintroduction and knowledge gaps.

Transformational

We will invest if our funding will make a transformational difference for painted wolves.