24th October 2024

THE FUEL TO SAVE A SPECIES

New Fund launched today!

Dear Pack Member

The Painted Wolf Foundation (PWF) and Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) are proud to announce the launch of the Painted Dog Fund, a new partnership aimed at raising funds to urgently protect and recover Africa’s most persecuted predator.

The Fund, with the aim of raising $4 million in the next three years, will become a critical funding mechanism for investments driven by PWF and forms part of WCN’s portfolio of Wildlife Funds which have deployed over $100 million for elephant, lion, pangolin and rhino. 

This is a hugely exciting opportunity for the painted wolf and a critical step in the evolution of the Painted Wolf Foundation. Thank you for all your support in our journey. Together we can secure the future of the painted wolf.

With very best wishes

Nick

Nicholas Dyer
CEO

Why a new Fund?

Previous painted wolf conservation efforts have been critically underfunded compared with those of other endangered species, with many populations left unprotected.

The Painted Dog Fund aims to address this and bring critical conservation funding to all areas where painted wolves exist or have the potential to exist.

The Painted Dog Fund follows PWF’s deliverable strategy developed with WCN and outlined in its report: Securing the Future of the Painted Wolf. It is designed to double painted wolf numbers by 2055.

What is PWF’s role?

In our partnership with WCN, the Painted Wolf Foundation manages the Fund.

PWF researches and analyses potential investment opportunities and helps develop programmes with partners that can deliver a transformational change for the species. 

Carefully designed proposals for funding are taken to the Painted Dog Fund’s Granting Committee, jointly comprised of conservation experts from PWF and WCN.

Following granting, PWF closely monitors the grantees’ projects to offer continuous expert support and ensure that the Fund’s investments are performing.

The Painted Wolf Foundation is the engine
The Painted Dog Fund provides the fuel

Our Partner

The Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) is a Silicon Valley-born nonprofit, deploying a venture capital-style funding model to change the way the world finds and supports wildlife conservation initiatives. WCN partners with independent, community-based conservationists around the world and has raised over $300 million for community-led conservation efforts across all seven continents. 

WCN has a strong history in building powerful species focused Wildlife Funds having founded the Lion Recovery Fund, Elephant Crisis Fund, Rhino Recovery Fund and the Pangolin Crisis Fund. 

These Wildlife Funds have deployed more than $100 million towards the conservation of these species, and one hundred percent of do/nations to these Funds goes directly to the field – with zero removed for overhead.

The Painted Dog Fund will join this portfolio.

Investments to date

Over the past two years the Painted Wolf Foundation has been running the WCN Wildlife Funds’ model internally as proof of concept in preparation for the launch of the Painted Dog Fund. 

This has included the operation of the joint PWF/WCN Granting Committee, a rigorous application process with strong governance.

Since the beginning of 2023, PWF has distributed, or is in the final process of distributing, over $350,000 in grants to organisations and initiatives across Africa. The primary focus has been to bring painted wolf conservation interventions to unprotected populations.

All the money raised for the purpose of granting was segregated and restricted for programmatic funding only.

Painted Wolf / Painted Dog?

Lycaon pictus is the scientific name for the Painted Wolf, Painted Dog, Cape Hunting Dog and the African Wild Dog. They are all the same species but are known by these different monikers in English.

The Painted Wolf Foundation made its choice because it corresponds most closely to the scientific name and no conservation organisation uses that name. The latter PWF considered concerning in the run up to the release of David Attenborough’s acclaimed documentary Dynasties: Painted Wolves.

The Fund has chosen the name Painted Dog to distinguish it from the Painted Wolf Foundation and is a name familiar to many of WCN’s donors across the United States. 

PWF celebrates all the names by which the species is known by and will never be dogmatic over any one. We exist to keep the species alive and not just a name.

Who should I donate to?

The Painted Wolf Foundation and the Painted Dog Fund act in tandem , each providing a critical service to securing the future of the painted wolf. Whichever organisation you choose, your donation brings huge benefits to the species. 

Painted Wolf Foundation

The Painted Wolf Foundation manages the Painted Dog Fund. It is responsible for analysing and developing the investment opportunities and providing continuous monitoring and support to ensure the highest investment impact. PWF also provides specific support services such as conservation training and creates initiatives that benefit all painted wolf populations across all geographies. 

Painted Dog Fund

Painted Dog Fund pools donations together to amplify their impact to multiple organisations working across Africa to save painted wolves. 100% of funds raised are invested in these projects. 

There is no wrong choice and both need your support to secure the future of the painted wolf. Funds surplus to the needs of the Painted Wolf Foundation are channelled to the Painted Dog Fund. 

It all started with a Book!

Back in 2014, Peter Blinston and Nicholas Dyer met in Mana Pools, Zimbabwe and decided to write a book together – with all profits going to the species.

In 2018, together with Diane Skinner, they formed the Painted Wolf Foundation to receive this money – which eventually amounted to over $200,000.

In 2020, Di consulted extensively with the painted wolf conservation community and WCN and developed the strategy we now adopt.

Her dream was to bring this Fund to fruition. Di sadly passed in 2022, but we must acknowledge that the Painted Dog Fund is very much part of her legacy and we know she would be proud that it has been born today.

The Painted Wolf Foundation and the Painted Dog Fund are the only Africa-wide organisations totally focused on securing the future of the painted wolf.

We cannot do this alone, but together with your help, we can save the painted wolf from extinction!