9 Best Charities for Protecting Penguins (Complete 2024 List)

9 Best Charities for Protecting Penguins (Complete 2024 List)

By
Carla Shaik

Read Time:22 Minutes

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Penguins are one of the two most endangered groups of seabirds in the world, with over two-thirds of the 18 species listed as vulnerable or endangered. And it’s estimated that 50% of Emperor Penguins and 75% of Adelie Penguins will disappear within the next 40 years if global warming continues at the current rate. Fortunately, charities around the world are now fighting to protect these iconic birds from further threats. So we had to ask: What are the best charities for protecting penguins?

The best charities for protecting penguins are the Global Penguin Society and Birdlife International. Charities such as Penguin Rescue and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds do amazing work rescuing and rehabilitating penguins affected by oil spills and illness.

Whether you want to save vulnerable penguin species from extinction, tackle climate change that is impacting penguin populations worldwide, or invest in innovative research studies to better understand these incredible seabirds, there is a charity for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities for protecting penguins are all about, how they work, and what your best way would be to make a contribution.

Did you know that you can also protect penguins by giving yourself the gift of a penguin-tracking bracelet? Each bracelet comes with a real penguin to track, you gain knowledge of their amazing stories, age, and how many chicks they have, and be able to follow their incredible passage on an exclusive tracking map. All in partnership with the Global Penguin Society, to where a portion of all proceeds are donated. You can find out more here: www.myfahlo.com/penguin-tracking-bracelet/

Here’s What All the Best Charities for Protecting Penguins Have in Common

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

They operate all over the world, from North America to South Africa, protecting endangered penguin populations. 

Many of the charities on this list focus their efforts on restoring vital penguin habitats and establishing marine reserves. Others focus their attention on rescuing and rehabilitating injured or ill penguins.

Furthermore, many of these charities conduct scientific research studies on penguin species to formulate more effective conservation management plans.

Yet, they all share the same goal; to ensure the survival of penguins for generations to come. 

These Are the 9 Best Charities for Protecting Penguins in 2024

Below are our favorite charities for protecting penguins (you can click on their link to directly jump to their section in this article):

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

1

Global Penguin Society: We Protect Penguins

Logo for Global Penguin Society
Penguins Need Cleaner Oceans

🔎

Their transparency & ratings:

The Global Penguin Society is part of the Wildlife Conservation Network, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. The charity also has a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“Fostering the conservation of all penguin species and their associated ecosystems, generating science, management guidelines, and education.”

Global Penguin Society

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What they do:

The Global Penguin Society collaborates with like-minded partners and other conservation projects worldwide to conduct scientifically-backed management plans to save penguin species from extinction. For example, they track and monitor penguin populations to assess how they are responding to climate threats in Patagonia, Argentina, New Zealand, and Chile. They also publish and distribute educational booklets, posters, and digital education kits to primary schools, both in English and Spanish. Furthermore, they provide recommendations to CITES and other relevant organizations to stop the illegal trade of penguins.

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, the Global Penguin Society has successfully protected 32 million acres of coastal and marine habitats, which has benefited 2.4 million penguins around the globe. They have also distributed over 5,000 educational resources for free in 5 Spanish-speaking countries, and 6,500 children have visited penguin colonies in person through their education programs. For example, in 2014, they also helped to establish the IUCN SSC Penguin Specialist group, which brings together 52 global penguin experts to drive successful conservation management projects for penguins. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate directly to the Global Penguin Society through the Wildlife Conservation Network website. You can also support the charity by fundraising or by purchasing items from the Wildlife Conservation Network online shop

Did you know that you can also protect penguins by giving yourself the gift of a penguin-tracking bracelet? Each bracelet comes with a real penguin to track, you gain knowledge of their amazing stories, age, and how many chicks they have, and be able to follow their incredible passage on an exclusive tracking map. All in partnership with the Global Penguin Society, to where a portion of all proceeds are donated. You can find out more here: www.myfahlo.com/penguin-tracking-bracelet/
2

Birdlife International: Protecting Birds and Nature

Logo for Birdlife International
We are BirdLife

🔎

Their transparency & ratings:

Birdlife International has a Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar

“To conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources.”

Birdlife International

⚒️

What they do:

Birdlife International protects all bird species around the world, including penguins, through their network of bird watchers, scientists, and volunteers. For example, through their innovative Data Zone tool, they track endangered bird species and identify vital biodiversity areas to formulate effective conservation management plans. Furthermore, they are working with numerous international partners including the American Bird Conservancy and RedLAC, to close the gap in key conservation areas across Mexico and Chile, which are home to 5 endangered species of penguin. 

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What they’ve achieved:

Today, Birdlife International is a global organization consisting of over 115 national and international partners and 2 million scientists and bird lovers, working together to save all bird species, including penguins. Since their founding, they have identified and documented over 13,000 key bird biodiversity areas and are now the official scientific source of information on bird species for the IUCN Red List. For example, in 2021, the charity established 595,000 km2 of ocean as a new Marine Protected Area along the North Atlantic Current, which is home to nearly 5 million birds from 21 species. This area is also one of the most important vital ocean habitats for penguins and migratory bird species in the world

Ways to contribute:

You can donate directly to Birdlife International through their website. You can also support the charity by becoming a Species Champion or by fundraising.

3

Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB): Saving Seabirds

Logo for Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds
Saving seabirds: SANCCOB's dedication to conserve the African penguin and southern African seabirds

🔎

Their transparency & ratings:

According to their financial report, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) spent 89.5% of their income on sanctuary operating costs and conservation activities.

“To reverse the decline of seabird populations through the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of ill, injured, abandoned, and oiled seabirds – especially endangered species like the African Penguin.”

Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB)

⚒️

What they do:

The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) provides a 24-hour rescue and rehabilitation service for sick and injured seabirds, including penguins. They particularly focus on major disasters such as oil spills along the South African Coastline. Furthermore, through their Chick Bolstering Program, they care for abandoned chicks in their specialized Chick Rearing Unit in Cape Town which includes artificial incubators and dedicated equipment for hand-rearing penguins. In addition, the charity conducts marine conservation projects, both locally and internationally, to assess seabird populations and raise awareness of the perils facing marine life, including microplastics and climate change

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Every year, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds rehabilitates over 2,000 injured, sick, and oiled seabirds, including penguins. Since 2011, they have also rescued around 1,000 African Penguin eggs and released 8,000 rehabilitated individuals through their Chick Bolstering Program. And in 2021, they performed over 200 vital, life-saving surgeries on South African Penguins and other species through their two rehabilitation centers in Cape Town and Gqebera. In the same year, they also hosted 26 participants in their veterinary experience program to train more first responders and medical professionals.

Ways to contribute:

You can donate directly to the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) through their website. You can also support the charity by symbolically adopting a penguin or by purchasing items from their wish list.

4

Oceanites: Monitoring the Vastly Warming Antarctic Peninsula

Logo for Oceanites
Oceanites' Mission

🔎

Their transparency & ratings:

Oceanites has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator

“We conduct and evaluate vital research on Antarctic penguin populations in support of climate science.”

Oceanites

⚒️

What they do:

Oceanites protect and study the 3 species of penguin that are trying to adapt to the 37.4 – 41oF rise in temperature in the region, due to climate change. They do this by monitoring and tracking penguin populations and identifying the most imminent threats. They then use this critical scientific data to support the Antarctic Treaty System on tourism and krill fishing, by acting as a non-governmental observer at meetings of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). The charity also spreads climate change awareness by distributing free copies of their children’s eBook series, ‘Ron Counts Penguins’ and by producing public webinars focused on Antarctica

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, Oceanites has made more than 2,100 site visits and collected data from over 250 Antarctic locations, where populations of Adelie and Chinstrap Penguins have plummeted. This information will be used to increase awareness of climate change on a global scale. Furthermore, they established the first Antarctic Travelers Code which has now been adopted by all 54 countries involved in the Antarctic Treaty System. In addition, they monitor and maintain the Seminal Antarctic Site Inventory Project which is the only monitoring project of the whole Antarctic Peninsula

Ways to contribute:

You can donate directly to Oceanites through their website. You can also support the charity by buying their merchandise or by following them on social media

5

Galapagos Conservancy: Conserving One of the World’s Great Ecological Wonders

Logo for Galapagos Conservancy
Climate Change and Galápagos Penguins

🔎

Their transparency & ratings:

The Galapagos Conservancy has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“As a leader in direct on-the-ground conservation action, we work with partners to save imperiled species, build a more sustainable society, and rewild the complex ecosystems of the Archipelago”

Galapagos Conservancy

⚒️

What they do:

The Galapagos Conservancy protects the inhabitants of the diverse Galapagos Islands, including the endangered Galapagos Penguin, through restoration and species conservation. For example, they conduct cutting-edge research in the Galapagos Marine Reserve to better understand native species and their habitats. With this information, they then advocate against illegal fishing practices and formulate management plans to ensure these species survive. They also offer conservation grants to like-minded organizations to support targeted research projects that protect vulnerable Galapagos species. For example, they fund the construction and monitoring of Galapagos Penguin nests around Mariela Island, which has been affected by climate change and invasive predator species. 

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, the Galapagos Conservancy has remained dedicated to protecting the unique species only found on the Galapagos Islands, including the Galapagos Penguin. For example, since 1998, they have actively protected 76,448sq miles of the Galapagos Marine Reserve which is home to over 3000 species. Since 2010, they have funded the building of 120 artificial nests for Galapagos Penguins. These nests account for 43% of penguin breeding activity on Mariela Island. And in 2021, the charity awarded 53 conservation and community impact grants and trained 430 local teachers in sustainability education. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate directly to the Galapagos Conservancy through their website. You can also support the charity by making a gift in honor or by volunteering

6

Pew Charitable Trusts: Using Data to Make a Difference

Logo for Pew Charitable Trusts
Protecting East Antarctica and the Southern Ocean

🔎

Their transparency & ratings:

Pew Charitable Trusts has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Silver Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“We address the challenges of a changing world by illuminating issues, creating common ground, and advancing ambitious strategies that lead to tangible progress.”

Pew Charitable Trusts

⚒️

What they do:

Pew Charitable Trusts advances environmental conservation through research, collaboration, and advocacy, particularly in the Antarctic which is home to millions of penguins. For example, through their Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project, they are working with the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources to establish a large-scale network of marine protected areas around Antarctica to safeguard Emperor Penguin food sources and foraging grounds. They offer support to scientists advancing knowledge and innovation in ocean protection through their Marine Fellows Program, such as monitoring the impact of fisheries and improving marine habitat restoration practices. 

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, Pew Charitable Trusts have secured protection for nearly 9 million km2 of ocean across Antarctica. For example, in 2020, they released their ‘Breaking the Plastic Wave’ report, a first-of-its-kind analysis of ocean plastic analysis. This led to the development of the Breaking the Plastic Wave Pathways Tool which is a free software tool designed to assess the movement of plastic in supply chains to identify new solutions to the problem. Through this tool, they estimate that annual flows of plastic pollution into the oceans can be reduced by 80% by 2040

Ways to contribute:

You can support the Pew Charitable Trusts by joining one of their campaigns or you can keep up to date with their work by following them on Instagram.

7

Penguin Rescue: Rescue. Restore. Release

Logo for Penguin Rescue
Penguin Rescue NZ- What we do

🔎

Their transparency & ratings:

According to their financial report, Penguin Rescue spent 58.8% of their expenditure on penguin welfare and volunteer expenses, 33.5% on habitat conservation and research, and 7.3% on fundraising. 

“Providing sanctuary for penguins.”

Penguin Rescue

⚒️

What they do:

Penguin Rescue is a sanctuary located in North Otago, New Zealand, to rescue, rehabilitate, and protect native penguin species, especially the endangered Yellow-eyed Penguin. All penguins that are admitted to the sanctuary are checked over by a vet who then provides the most appropriate treatment. Once the penguins are released back into a breeding colony, the charity monitors the health and productivity of the whole colony. By rehabilitating sick individuals, the charity aims to conserve the last remaining populations of Yellow-eyed Penguins as well as other vulnerable species. The charity also conducts scientific research on local penguin populations to further improve conservation efforts across New Zealand. 

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, Penguin Rescue has protected vulnerable penguin populations across New Zealand. For example, in 2021, they admitted 64 injured or ill Yellow-eyed Penguins to their sanctuary, with a 100% successful re-release rate. And thanks to the work of the charity, Yellow-eyed Penguin nests have increased by around 400% in Okahau Point and Katiki Point since 1981. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate directly to Penguin Rescue through their website. You can also support the charity by advocating for better protection of New Zealand’s penguins or by becoming a member of the organization.

8

Penguin Foundation: Learn. Discover. Protect

Logo for Penguin Foundation
Penguin Foundation - Google Impact Challenge | Australia - Finalist

🔎

Their transparency & ratings:

According to their financial report, the Penguin Foundation spent 58.06% of their expenditure on grants for conservation projects and 41.94% on other expenses, including upkeep of the sanctuary and research. 

“Raising funds to protect Phillip Island’s native wildlife and enhance the natural environment through research, conservation and education programs.”

Penguin Foundation

⚒️

What they do:

The Penguin Foundation raises funds to protect the native wildlife on Phillip Island, Australia, including threatened populations of Little Penguins. For example, they funded the development of an eco-system level model to identify changes in penguin feeding security within the Bass Strait, Victoria, and to monitor Little Penguin’s interactions with shipping lanes. They also identify and screen for emerging diseases that may impact the health of Little Penguin populations. They also support the establishment of new and existing wildlife rehabilitation centers on Phillip Island and participate in wildlife rescue

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Since their inception, the Penguin Foundation has remained committed to protecting Little Penguins and other vulnerable wildlife on and around Phillip Island. For example, in 2001, they rescued and rehabilitated 96% of Little Penguins that were affected by a major oil spill. All individuals were then released back into the wild. Then, they funded the development of Australia’s first-ever sailing drone to explore penguin feeding grounds in the waters off Phillip Island. This drone monitors water temperature, salinity, and fish abundance to formulate effective conservation management plans. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate directly to the Penguin Foundation through their website. You can also support the charity by symbolically adopting a Little Penguin or by becoming a Business Partner.

9

Falklands Conservation: Conserving the Natural Environment of the Falkland Islands

Logo for Falklands Conservation
WATCH GROUP ISLANDS PLAN

🔎

Their transparency & ratings:

According to their financial report, Falklands Conservation spent 90.6% of their expenditure on charitable activities and 9.4% on raising funds.

“Working to protect the wildlife in the Falkland Islands for future generations.”

Falklands Conservation

⚒️

What they do:

Falklands Conservation partners with governments, industry leaders, and conservation experts to conserve the biodiversity of the Falkland Islands. They do this by running on-the-ground conservation projects, surveys, and scientific studies. They also rehabilitate penguins affected by devastating oil spills at their Oiled Seabird Rehabilitation Facility in Stanley, Falklands Islands. Furthermore, the charity conducts annual seabird monitoring to count penguins, petrels, and albatrosses to identify breeding trends and assess mortality rates at numerous sites across the islands. 

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Since their inception, Falklands Conservation has established and protected 22 vital bird areas as well as 16 important plant areas across the islands. For example, in 2019, the charity helped to shape the developing oil industry regulatory framework to protect species in and around the Falkland Islands, including a variety of penguin species. This includes improving the island’s preparedness for future oil spill events and working with local governments to offset industry impacts on local wildlife. Moreover, through their seabird monitoring program, they have counted over 28,000 penguins. This information will be used to support future conservation efforts.

Ways to contribute:

You can donate directly to Falklands Conservation through their website. You can also support the charity by symbolically adopting a penguin or by becoming a member of the organization.

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities for protecting penguins. 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. These 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 protecting penguins – 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:

The way we think about charity is dead wrong | Dan Pallotta

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