Koalas are one of Australia’s most iconic species. Yet, populations are suffering a serious decline due to habitat loss, disease, bushfires, and road accidents. Between 2018 and 2021, Australia lost 30% of its koala population and the species is now officially extinct in 47 electorates. Some remaining populations are estimated at just 5–10 koalas. Fortunately, charities are working hard to bring the beloved koala back from the brink of extinction. So, we had to ask: What are the best charities that help koalas?

The best charities that help koalas are the Australian Koala Foundation and Friends of the Koala. Other charities such as Koala Clancy Foundation and Landcare Australia also plant trees and facilitate land management projects to expand koala habitat.

Whether you want to invest in research to eradicate dangerous diseases in wild koalas, rewild and expand koala habitat, or ensure that every sick or injured koala receives the care it needs, there is a charity for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities that help koalas are all about, how they work, and what your best way would be to make a contribution.

Here’s What All the Best Charities That Help Koalas Have in Common

The charities on this list were chosen based on their mission, impact and transparency ratings, and achievements.

They operate across Australia to protect vulnerable wild koala populations.

Many of the charities on this list focus on conservation management and conduct rewilding projects to expand koala habitats and mitigate human-koala conflict.

Other charities on this list focus their efforts on rescue, rehabilitation, and release programs to serve ill or injured koalas. 

Yet, they all share the same goal; to ensure the iconic koala thrives for generations to come.

These Are the 9 Best Charities That Help Koalas in 2025

Below are our favorite charities that help koalas (you can click on their link to directly jump to their section in this article):

Best Charities That Help Koalas

Australian Koala Foundation

Friends of the Koala

Landcare Australia

Wildlife Warriors

Greenfleet

Aussie Ark

Koala Clancy Foundation

International Fund for Animal Welfare

Koala Conservation Australia

(At the end of this article we’ll also share our six-step approach on how you can select the best charity to support.)

Australian Koala Foundation: Conserving the Wild Koala and Its Habitat

The Australian Koala Foundation was founded in 1986 by Barry Scott and Steve Brown to cure koala diseases and save their declining numbers. Today, the charity is the principal non-profit organization dedicated to the effective management and conservation of the koala and its habitat. 

According to their financial report, the Australian Koala Foundation spent 83% of their expenditure on education and conservation programs, and 15% on administration costs.

“To diminish the threat to the survival of koalas and be an example so as to increase the consciousness of all global citizens and enable them to reverse the rapid degeneration of all the world’s flora and fauna.” x

Australian Koala Foundation

The Australian Koala Foundation works to protect koalas in their natural habitat through advocacy, research, and conservation management. For example, they developed the Koala Habitat Atlas to map koala populations across Australia and identify conservation hot spots. Moreover, they have formed the Koala Protection Act to protect tree species covering the entire geographic range of the koala. And, through their Koala Kiss project, they are working to identify ways to link fragmented koala habitat caused by deforestation. 

Since their founding, the Australian Koala Foundation has remained committed to improving conservation efforts for koalas to allow them to thrive in the wild. For example, 2018 marked the completion of the Koala Habitat Atlas, a first-of-its-kind scientific achievement that maps the entire habitat of a single species. Furthermore, they have allocated over $15 million to research and conservation for the wild koala since their inception and they successfully advocated for the koala to be listed as vulnerable in 2012, and then endangered in 2022, to increase federal protection for the species. 

You can donate directly to the Australian Koala Foundation through their website. You can also support the charity by symbolically adopting a koala or contributing to their plant a tree project. 

Friends of the Koala: Save Koalas From Extinction

Friends of the Koala was founded in 1986 by John and Audrey Hyde to protect koalas in the New South Wales Northern Rivers; an area that’s home to one of the last significant, genetically diverse koala populations. Today, the charity is the only organization that focuses on all aspects of koala conservation to ensure their survival. 

According to their financial report, Friends of the Koala spent 72.7% of their expenditure on koala care and rehabilitation and 8% on conservation work. 

“To make a key contribution to Australia’s biodiversity by ensuring the conservation of the iconic koala and the preservation and enhancement of koala habitat.”

Friends of the Koala

Friends of the Koala operates a 24-hour koala rescue service with an on-site koala hospital to care for and rehabilitate injured or ill koalas. Members of the public can notify the charity of a koala in distress via their hotline, when a team of trained volunteers are dispatched to assess the situation. While in care, each koala receives specialized veterinary care and is monitored daily until it’s time for release. In addition, the charity manages habitat restoration projects throughout the Northern Rivers region and conducts research to eradicate diseases in koalas, such as koala chlamydia.

Since their founding, Friends of the Koala has rescued 5,922 injured or sick koalas and nursed them back to health. In addition, they have restored 59 hectares of koala habitat and planted 811,977 native trees and plants. For example, in 2021, the charity received 4,794 calls through their koala rescue hotline and rescued 321 koalas. In the same year, they enhanced 14 km of wildlife corridors, formed 20 landowner partnerships, and issued 72,100 trees to protect vital koala habitat.

You can donate directly to Friends of the Koala through their website. You can also support the charity by symbolically adopting a koala or a tree. 

Landcare Australia: Actively Caring for the Land and Water That Sustains Us

Landcare Australia was initially launched in a small Victoria town in 1986, before receiving a great boost of support in 1989 from former Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, driven by the vision to support the landcare community and native wildlife, like the iconic koala. Today, the charity works to improve biodiversity, build resilience in Australia’s food and farming systems, and create stronger communities. 

According to their financial report, Landcare Australia spent 66.9% of their expenditure on partnerships, fundraising, and grants, 14% on community engagement, and 13% on landcare services. 

“Working at the forefront of community and corporate engagement in natural resource management and environmental project delivery.”

Landcare Australia

Landcare Australia works to protect native wildlife, including koalas, and natural landscapes across Australia through collaboration, habitat restoration, and education. For example, through their Koalas in Our Backyard project, the charity raises awareness of the threats facing koalas and restores vital habitat. Furthermore, through their 20 Million Trees program and their Konica Minolta Landcare Grant Project, the charity works with local communities to deliver large-scale restoration projects to ensure koalas and other native wildlife thrive for generations to come. And, their WildSeek project brings together environmental organizations and university researchers to create a drone solution for surveying koala populations. 

Since their founding, Landcare Australia has remained committed to protecting the natural lands and wildlife of Australia, including koalas. For example, in 2019, they formed a landmark $1 million partnership with WIRES to support the regeneration of wildlife habitats impacted by bushfires, including koala habitat. Furthermore, in 2022, the charity planted 192,181 plants and trees, funded 1,136 conservation projects, and conducted 307 biodiversity surveys. Moreover, through their Koalas in Our Backyards project, the charity planted 8,560 trees across 77 landholder properties over 113 project sites to expand koala habitat. 

You can donate directly to Landcare Australia through their website. You can also support the charity by joining a local landcare group or leaving a bequest.

Wildlife Warriors: Protect Our Wildlife and Wild Places

Wildlife Warriors was founded in 2002 by Steve and Terri Irwin to involve caring people in the protection of injured, threatened, or endangered wildlife in Australia. Today, the charity remains committed to ensuring the survival of wildlife, people, and habitats without being detrimental to the existence of each other, including koalas. 

According to their financial report, Wildlife Warriors spent 64.6% of their expenditure on animal care, operating costs, and staffing, and 35.4% on conservation projects. 

“To be the most effective wildlife conservation organization in the world, through the delivery of outstanding outcome-based programs and projects, inclusive of humanity.”

Wildlife Warriors

Wildlife Warriors protects native wildlife in Australia, including the endangered koala, through various conservation projects and partnerships with like-minded organizations. For example, their Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital provides treatment for sick and injured koalas. Plus, hand-raised orphans are given a chlamydia vaccine before release to give them a fighting chance in the wild. Furthermore, the charity conducts research to eradicate koala diseases through advanced diagnostics, treatment strategies, and long-term solutions. Furthermore, they run a 24-hour wildlife rescue unit to respond to wildlife emergencies. 

Since their founding, Wildlife Warriors has treated and rehabilitated over 11,000 sick or injured koalas through their wildlife hospital. Furthermore, since 2018 they have received more than 37,000 wildlife emergency calls from the public and traveled 5.5 million km to rescue wild animals in need. In addition, in collaboration with Australia Zoo and Crime Stoppers, they have launched a financial reward system for people who report wildlife crime activities to ensure those responsible are prosecuted. On top of that, the charity runs wildlife reserves covering 35 different ecosystems in Cape York, Australia, including vulnerable koala habitats. 

You can donate directly to Wildlife Warriors through their website. You can also support the charity by attending one of their awareness events or campout for conservation.

Greenfleet: Growing Forests & Climate Hope for Future Generations

Greenfleet was founded in 1997 as a project of The Foster Foundation to offer Australian motorists a tree-planting program to re-capture CO₂ emissions and promote fuel-efficient technologies. Today, the charity works to rewild Australia, with a particular focus on expanding koala habitat.

According to their financial report, Greenfleet spent 55.8% of their expenditure on forestry planting and maintenance, 21.3% on supporter engagement, and 3.7% on thought leadership and research. 

“Planting native biodiverse forests in Australia and New Zealand to restore nature and capture carbon emissions.”

Greenfleet

Greenfleet restores legally protected habitats for native wildlife, particularly koalas, across Australia and New Zealand. As these forests grow, they also fight the impacts of climate change, as well as improve soil and water quality. Greenfleet influences this forest growth by way of their expert Revegetation Team, which focuses on planting locally native tree species at their restoration sites, such as Blue Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis), a preferred food source for koalas. They also conduct a comprehensive assessment of each potential site to determine whether the land can support the growth of a biodiverse forest. And lastly, they work closely with landholders and the Australian Government to ensure they follow best practices for mixed-species environmental plantings. 

Since their founding, Greenfleet has planted more than 10.8 million trees across New Zealand and Australia, creating more than 550 legally protected forests and revegetating 10,950 hectares of land, including habitat specifically for koalas. For example, in 2023, the charity planted 493 hectares of koala habitat. Furthermore, since 2021, their revegetation projects have included nearly 1,000 hectares of koala habitat to provide homes and food for populations of this iconic species. Moreover, their project at Hiddenvale, Queensland, integrates road safety with revegetation design to direct koalas to cross under local roads safely. 

You can donate directly to Greenfleet through their website. You can also support the charity by offsetting your emissions or planting a milestone forest. 

Aussie Ark: Protecting Australia’s Wildlife

Aussie Ark was founded in 2011 as the Devil Ark by the Director of Australian Reptile Park (ARP), John Weigel, to save the Tasmanian devil from extinction. Today, the charity is the largest independently owned conservation organization in New South Wales, dedicated to protecting iconic Australian species like the koala. 

According to their financial report, Aussie Ark spent 31% of their income on sanctuary expenses and education, 30% on research and conservation, and 39% on employee expenses. 

“To protect Australia’s threatened species and to create healthy ecosystems within Aussie Ark sanctuaries and through rewilding.”

Aussie Ark

Aussie Ark protects vulnerable species across Australia, including koalas, through collaboration with like-minded organizations, community engagement, and the establishment of their two animal sanctuaries. For example, their Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary encloses 400 hectares of wilderness, whereby the charity protects native populations through the removal of invasive weeds and the introduction of predators like foxes and cats. The charity also works to establish insurance populations of threatened species, like the koala, through a comprehensive breeding program for eventual release into the wild. 

Since their founding, Aussie Ark has protected 3,500 acres of vital habitat for endangered species in Australia, including koalas. In addition, the charity has rewilded 228 animals, bred 3,186 individuals, and planted 48,000 trees. Today, their sanctuaries are home to 50 mammal species, 278 bird species, 42 species of reptiles, and 18 frog species. Furthermore, they have removed over 50 hectares of Scotch broom weeds from the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary to allow native plants, like eucalyptus, to thrive. 

You can donate directly to Aussie Ark through their website. You can also support the charity by purchasing items from their online shop or through workplace giving.

Koala Clancy Foundation: Planting Trees for Koalas

Koala Clancy Foundation was founded in 2016 by Janine Duffy to re-establish and maintain koala habitat across the Western Plains of Victoria, Australia. Today, the charity is inspiring travelers and local communities to help ensure a future for wild koalas. 

According to their financial report, Koala Clancy Foundation spent 94% of their expenditure on conservation efforts and 2% on fundraising and education

“We’re not just expanding existing koala habitat, we’re creating brand new, climate-resilient forests that koalas can depend on into the future.”

Koala Clancy Foundation

Koala Clancy Foundation runs tree-planting projects across the Western Plains of Victoria to ensure the survival of local koala populations. They also get local communities involved by organizing school excursions to encourage students to remove invasive weeds, particularly boneseed, from koala habitats and run corporate tree-planting projects for local businesses. In addition, they promote sustainable tourism to protect koalas through their Sustainable Koala Watching Code, which educates the public on the best ways to observe wild koalas without disturbing them. Furthermore, they conduct research to better understand the behavior of koalas and develop more targeted conservation projects. 

Since their founding, Koala Clancy Foundation has planted 129,697 koala trees through the help of their 650 volunteers, with a survival rate of 88% based on their 2020 plantings. In addition, they have successfully removed 4.1 million boneseed weeds from koala habitat. For example, in 2023, they planted 8,618 new trees across 4.47 hectares of land around the Moorabool River and planted 1,500 koala trees in the Balliang Plains. 

You can donate directly to Koala Clancy Foundation through their website. You can also support the charity by purchasing items from their online shop or booking a wildlife tour.

International Fund for Animal Welfare: Saving Individual Animals Worldwide

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) was founded in 1969 by Brian Davies to stop the commercial hunting of whitecoat seals off the east coast of Canada. Today, the charity is an international organization protecting endangered animals from cruelty and suffering worldwide, including koalas.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“Fresh thinking and bold action for animals, people, and the place we call home.”

International Fund for Animal Welfare

The International Fund for Animal Welfare runs multiple projects worldwide, with a focus on rescuing and rehabilitating animals from human and natural disasters, including koalas. For example, they use detection dogs to track koala scat in order to learn more about how koalas recover from bushfires, and collect data about the health of local koala populations. Moreover, their Northern Rivers project in New South Wales includes a combination of rescue, rehabilitation, landscape conservation, and policy work to ensure koalas thrive for generations to come. Lastly, they are working with Bangalow Koalas to join fragmented koala habitats with a protected wildlife corridor and strengthen land clearing laws. 

Since their founding, the International Fund for Animal Welfare has remained dedicated to ending the suffering of animals on a global scale, including koalas. For example, the charity has planted over 89,000 trees in Australia with 7 partners and more than 238 volunteers across 4 states to reverse the devastation caused by bushfires. Furthermore, their dedicated advocacy efforts contributed to the classification of koalas from vulnerable to endangered, meaning more funding will be allocated to their conservation in the future. Additionally, they published a report detailing the impacts of the 2019/2020 bushfires on koala populations to raise awareness of the devastation caused and inspire action to protect the iconic koala. 

You can donate directly to the International Fund for Animal Welfare through their website. You can also support the charity by signing one or more of their petitions or by leaving a gift in your will. 

Koala Conservation Australia: Koala Care and Rehabilitation

Koala Conservation Australia was founded in 1973 by Jean and Max Starr as a licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility to help sick and injured koalas. Today, the charity has expanded their mission to ensure the survival of koalas through education, conservation, and rehabilitation. 

According to their financial report, Koala Conservation Australia spent 63% of their expenditure on veterinary care and facility costs, and 21.6% on conservation efforts and education.

“To lead the world in the care and conservation of wild koalas, to increase knowledge and understanding of the species and to work collaboratively to ensure their survival into the future.”

Koala Conservation Australia

Koala Conservation Australia runs the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital in New South Wales to rescue, treat, and rehabilitate injured or sick koalas before releasing them back into the wild. The facility is fully equipped with a treatment clinic, intensive care units, and rehabilitation yards. It also doubles up as a visitor attraction with a museum for koalas to educate the public. Furthermore, the charity offers a free learning resource for students and teachers to find out more about koalas and inspire the next generation of conservationists. In addition, they run a Wild Koala Conservation Breeding Program in a scientifically controlled facility, which is as close to the koala’s natural habitat as possible to prevent humanization in individuals which can hinder their success in the wild.

Every year, Koala Conservation Australia admits around 250 koalas to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital with the help of their 200 volunteer staff. All of their staff are fully trained in fireground search and rescue and have completed Fireground Awareness Training. They have also established a new koala breeding facility with a state-of-the-art clinic and a research laboratory in Cowarra State Forest which has one of the most significant koala populations in Australia. 

You can donate directly to Koala Conservation Australia through their website. You can also support the charity by symbolically adopting a koala or leaving a gift in your will. 

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities that help koalas. However, you may have a particular charity you want to support. Let’s look at what you can do to ensure your contribution has the most significant impact.

• Check out the charity website. Charities that are worthy of your donations are transparent in their mission and their figures. Familiarize yourself with their history, mission, and values. Their website usually is the best place to start.
• Identify the charity’s mission. Without a goal, the charity is likely to fail. If the charity’s mission isn’t clear, it’s probably worth looking for a charity that does have a clear mission. 
• Check if the charity has measurable goals. An effective charity has clear goals. You want to know your donation will help the charity reach its goals. But if it doesn’t have targets, it’s likely to fail or squander your gift. The charity should be able to account for its spending and supply evidence of the work they do.
• Assess the successes or goals the charity has achieved. You wouldn’t invest in a business if it kept missing its targets. In the same way, charities are like this too. If no one is assessing a charity’s progress in reaching its targets, the chances are they’re not making a substantial positive change.
• Check the charity’s financials and stats. Trustworthy organizations will publish financial statements and reports each year. Some might be exempt from having to do so, but they should be able to provide them to public members who are interested in donating.
• Locate sources who work with or benefit from the charity. Word of mouth and first-hand experience of a charity’s work lets you know the charity’s quality. If you’re able to do so, check out the charity for yourself or speak to someone familiar with it. This way, your donation will go to the right place. 

How Can You Best Support These Charities?

After you’ve made your decision, it’s time for you to decide on how you’d like to help the charities you’ve chosen. Check how you can help – each charity runs specific programs that have unique aims. Find out what the aim of such programs is and whether they are right for you. 

Here are a few ways you can help your chosen charity:

• Donate money. You can find donation pages on the website of most charities. Your donation can be a one-time payment, or you can set it to be deducted regularly at different intervals. You can mostly pay via credit card, but some charities also take PayPal or Bitcoin payments.
• Buy their official merchandise. Charities can also raise money by selling merchandise. So, you can support them by buying the mugs, shirts, caps, pens, pencils, and any other such items they may be selling. Ideally, you should buy as much as you can to share and spread the word about the charity’s activities.
• Engage in volunteer work. As you’ve seen from our descriptions above, some charities engage in a lot of local and grassroots programs. You can help by taking on and organizing the program in your local area.
• Help their fundraising efforts. You can spread the word about the charity in your workplace, school, church, etc., and hold creative fundraising drives on social media or offline within your small circles.
• Share their stories. Most charities have compelling stories that you can share with your audience to attract more people to the cause.

Final Thoughts

Now it is up to you to select the charity that resonates most with you. And whichever charity you end up choosing and contributing to, we are sure that they will immensely appreciate your support. Hopefully, the information within this article has made this selection process a bit easier for you to support charities dedicated to helping koalas—based on the causes that matter most to you.

Stay impactful,

PS: Finally, I want to leave you with a thought-provoking TED talk from Dan Pallotta, a leading philanthropic activist and fundraiser, about what is wrong with the way we think about charities – and what we can do about it:

Sources

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