AZA – Conservation Endowment Fund

The AZA Conservation Endowment Fund (CEF) supports the cooperative conservation-related scientific and educational initiatives of AZA and its member institutions. Every major type of conservation and animal care initiative is represented — research, field conservation, education, animal welfare, animal health and captive breeding.

In support of 2008 Year of the Frog, AZA has established a new AZA Amphibian Fund to directly support amphibian conservation projects around the world.

2008 Awards

Here are the 2008 CEF and Amphibian Fund awards (in PDF).

CEF Highlights

Since 1991, the CEF has provided more than $4 million to over 258 projects worldwide. For over ten years, the Walt Disney World Company and the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund have provided significant financial support to the CEF, nearly doubling the number of proposals funded each year. Take a look at some recent CEF projects.

The numbers

Here are some CEF statistics:

The CEF funds approximately one-third of the proposals received every year. The average award is $17,176.
Of all the CEF funding categories — which include Animal Health, Animal Welfare, Conservation Education, Wildlife Management and Captive Breeding, Field Conservation, and Research — Field Conservation receives the most proposals and Animal Health receives the fewest.
Half of all CEF proposals focus upon mammals. Proposals focusing upon amphibians and invertebrates account for only 3% of all proposals received.
Most CEF applications come from larger zoos and aquariums, even though applications from both large and small institutions meet with success at essentially the same rate. CEF encourages proposals from our smaller institutions.
Many CEF projects are collaborations among AZA zoos and aquariums and state, federal and international wildlife agencies, academia and major conservation NGOs.

Previous CEF Award Winners

Take a look at the CEF award winners from 1991 to the present.

How to Donate to CEF

The CEF gives us all a way to join together in conserving wild animals and wild places. For more information on ways you can support the CEF, please contact CEF or call 301-562-0777, ext. 245.

Donate now!