Colchester Zoological Society

Charity Number: 1105621

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: £368,070 (2022)
Total Given Since 2004: £5 million
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: £214 - £322,070
Geographic Focus: International (focus on threatened species worldwide)
Application Process: No public application process

Contact Details

Address: Colchester Zoo, Maldon Road, Stanway, Colchester, Essex CO3 0SL

General Enquiries: 01206 331292

Email (General): admin@colchesterzoo.org

Website: https://www.colchesterzoologicalsociety.com

Note: There is no dedicated conservation grants application contact as they do not operate a public application process.

Overview

Colchester Zoological Society (formerly known as Action for the Wild until April 2025) was established in 2004 as the charitable arm of Colchester Zoo. In January 2025, the charity took over the running of the entire zoo, transforming it from a privately-owned operation into a fully charitable trust. Since 2004, the Society has donated over £5 million to conservation projects worldwide, focusing on providing both financial and technical assistance to threatened species conservation. The charity's primary project is the UmPhafa Nature Reserve in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, which they support with significant funding and expertise. In 2022, total charitable expenditure was £368,070, with the majority (£322,070) directed to UmPhafa, and the remainder distributed among approximately 12 international conservation organizations. The charity supports over 60 conservation projects globally, ranging from elephant orphanages in Zambia to red panda protection in Nepal.

Funding Priorities

Grant Distribution Model

Colchester Zoological Society operates through established partnerships rather than open grant rounds. In 2022, they distributed £368,070 across the following profile:

UmPhafa Nature Reserve (South Africa): £322,070 (flagship project)
Elephant Orphanage Project (Zambia): £10,000
Orangutan Foundation (Borneo): £7,500
Multiple smaller conservation partners: £214 - £2,000 each

Recent 2024 contributions included:

£7,500 to Orangutan Foundation for vet salary and post-release monitoring in Lamandau Wildlife Reserve
£1,747 to AEECL (Lemur consortium in Madagascar) for membership fees
£214 to Red Panda Network for Forest Guardian sponsorship in Nepal

Priority Areas

Species Focus:

Great apes (orangutans, gorillas)
Large mammals (elephants, rhinos, cheetahs)
Carnivores (Amur leopards, bears)
Birds (vultures, hornbills)
Primates (lemurs, tamarins)
Other threatened species (red pandas, Komodo dragons)

Conservation Approaches They Support:

Wildlife habitat protection and reserve management
Species breeding and reintroduction programs
Anti-poaching and ranger support
Veterinary care for wildlife
Community-based conservation education
Conservation research and monitoring
Orphaned animal rehabilitation

Geographic Focus:

Africa (particularly South Africa, Zambia)
Southeast Asia (Borneo, Indonesia)
South Asia (Nepal)
South America (Brazil)
Madagascar

What They Don't Fund

The Society does not explicitly list exclusions, but based on their funding pattern:

Projects unrelated to wildlife conservation
Projects outside the threatened species conservation remit
Organizations without established conservation credentials
Non-conservation charitable causes

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Governance and Leadership

The charity is governed by 5 trustees (as of 2024) and supported by 18 volunteers. The organization has no paid staff receiving over £60,000, and trustees receive no remuneration.

The charity transitioned leadership in 2025 when it took over full operations of Colchester Zoo from private ownership. The zoo's CEO and conservation team make decisions about project support in collaboration with the board of trustees.

Conservation Philosophy: The leadership emphasizes that conservation is “at the heart of all we do,” with a focus on long-term partnerships and providing both financial and technical support rather than one-off grants.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: This funder does not have a public application process.

Colchester Zoological Society supports conservation projects through established relationships and partnerships rather than accepting unsolicited applications. There is no application form, published eligibility criteria, or fixed deadlines for conservation funding requests.

The charity appears to identify and select conservation projects through:

Existing relationships with conservation organizations
Professional networks within the zoo community
European zoo breeding programs and species consortia
Projects identified by trustees and zoo staff with expertise in conservation

Some projects on their website are marked as “pending application,” suggesting there may be internal consideration processes, but these are not open to external organizations without prior engagement.

Application Success Factors

While there is no public application process, analysis of their funded projects reveals the following patterns:

Project Characteristics They Support:

Long-term partnerships: Most funded projects have received support for multiple years, suggesting they value sustained relationships over one-off grants
Species connection: Many funded projects involve species also held at Colchester Zoo (orangutans, elephants, lemurs, vultures, leopards), allowing for integrated conservation education
Hands-on involvement: Projects where zoo staff can provide technical expertise, not just money (e.g., veterinary support, reserve management advice)
Measurable conservation outcomes: Projects focused on tangible results like habitat protection, breeding programs, anti-poaching patrols
Community engagement: Initiatives that combine conservation with local community education and awareness

Funding Pattern Analysis:

One major flagship project (UmPhafa) receives substantial funding (£322,070 in 2022)
Approximately 10-12 smaller international projects receive £200-£10,000 annually
Membership fees paid to conservation consortia and networks (e.g., AEECL lemur consortium)
Multi-year commitments rather than short-term project grants

Organizations They've Supported:

Elephant Orphanage Project (Zambia)
Orangutan Foundation (Borneo)
Red Panda Network (Nepal)
Wildlife Vets International
Gyps Vulture Restoration Project
Lion Tamarins of Brazil Fund
AEECL Lemur Consortium (Madagascar)
Free the Bears (Laos/Cambodia)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No public application route: This funder does not accept unsolicited grant applications, making them unsuitable for standard grant-seeking approaches
Relationship-based giving: All funding appears to flow through established partnerships and professional networks in the zoo and conservation community
Species synergy matters: Projects involving species held at Colchester Zoo have a natural connection point for engagement
Technical partnership valued: They emphasize providing “financial AND technical assistance,” suggesting they prefer partnerships where their expertise adds value beyond money
Long-term commitment: Their funding model favors sustained multi-year support rather than one-off project grants
Scale varies dramatically: From £214 sponsorships to £322,000 reserve support, showing flexibility based on project and relationship
Professional conservation credentials essential: All funded partners are established conservation organizations with proven track records, not grassroots or startup initiatives

For grant writers: Unless your organization has existing connections to Colchester Zoo through professional conservation networks, zoo associations (such as BIAZA), or species conservation programs, this funder is unlikely to be accessible through standard grant application approaches.