Save The Rhino International

Charity Number: 1035072

Annual Expenditure: £2.0M
Geographic Focus: Throughout London, China, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £2,000,000 (approximately)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 4-8 weeks (within one month of quarterly meeting)
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £2,000,000 (for a 2-year project)
  • Geographic Focus: Africa and Asia (Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam)

Contact Details

Website: www.savetherhino.org

Email: info@savetherhino.org

Phone: 020 7357 7474

Pre-application contact: Dr Jo Shaw, CEO (jo.shaw@savetherhino.org) - strongly recommended to email with a one-page explanation before submitting a full application

Overview

Save the Rhino International (founded 1992, charity number 1035072) is Europe's largest single-species rhino charity in terms of funds raised, grants made, and profile. The organization raises approximately £2 million annually to support conservation programs across Africa and Asia for all five rhino species. Under CEO Dr Jo Shaw's leadership since July 2023, SRI focuses on protecting rhinos in the wild, reducing illegal trade, supporting community-led conservation, and connecting experts worldwide. The charity maintains long-term relationships with specific field programs and partner organizations, emphasizing strategic funding that delivers measurable conservation impact. With 87% of income spent on charitable activities and a 99.08% program expense ratio, SRI is recognized for its efficient deployment of resources directly to conservation efforts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

SRI operates a rolling grant application system with quarterly decision-making. Applications are reviewed at Trustees' meetings held in March, June, September, and December.

  • Minimum grant: £1,000 per year per project
  • Maximum grant: Up to £2,000,000 (for a 2-year project)
  • Application method: Rolling basis with quarterly decision cycles
  • Geographic scope: Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Indonesia, Vietnam

Priority Areas

SRI currently prioritizes funding in the following strategic areas:

Strategy 3 - Stop Illegal Markets

  • Improving law enforcement
  • Changing consumer behavior
  • Closing markets used by poachers

Strategy 4 - Capacity Building

  • Training and skilling rhino conservation professionals (rangers)
  • Providing workshops and training
  • Improving ranger welfare

Strategy 5 - Coordination

  • Improving coordination within and between rhino conservation agencies
  • Connecting conservation professionals

Strategy 7 - Sustainable Financing

  • Developing sustainable financing mechanisms
  • Creating structures to adequately fund priority rhino conservation efforts

Additional funded activities:

  • Anti-poaching and monitoring patrols
  • Environmental education programs
  • Community conservation initiatives
  • Demand reduction activities
  • Biological management of rhino populations

What They Don't Fund

  • New field programs (unless with existing partner organizations or overlapping priority programs)
  • Privately owned rhino projects
  • Research technology development
  • Captive rhino populations (except Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary)
  • Student field trips
  • General awareness campaigns
  • Populations with fewer than 20 unrelated founders
  • Projects without clear conservation impact or monitoring/evaluation plans
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Governance and Leadership

Leadership

Dr Jo Shaw, CEO (since July 2023)

Dr Shaw has 25 years of wildlife conservation experience, including roles as African Rhino Lead for WWF International and Senior Manager: Wildlife Portfolio for WWF South Africa. She holds a PhD in Animal Ecology from the University of Witwatersrand with research on black rhino ecology. Dr Shaw began her conservation career as a volunteer with Save the Rhino over 20 years ago.

On her priorities, Dr Shaw stated: “Organised crime remains a serious threat to rhinos, other wildlife and the people who protect and live alongside them. Syndicates continually adapt their tactics and areas of focus, and co-ordination is key to ensure we can get ahead. International collaboration and sustained investment into best practise tools, including anti-money laundering investigations, are needed to dismantle the dangerous criminal networks involved.”

Cathy Dean, Grants Lead (former CEO 2001-2023)

Cathy led the organization for 22 years and remains involved in a part-time capacity overseeing grants.

Board of Trustees

  • George Stephenson - Chair
  • Claire Curtin - Trustee
  • Adam Barber - Trustee
  • Joe Steidl - Trustee
  • Megan Greenwood - Trustee

David Stirling serves as Honorary President (co-founder)

Trustees meet quarterly to review grant applications and monitor organizational performance. No trustees receive remuneration from the charity.

Senior Management Team

  • Ashley Beck - Finance and Operations Lead
  • Jimmy Rutherford - Grants Manager
  • Linda Moore - Fundraising and Partnerships Lead
  • Ellie Eden - Grants Officer

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Pre-application contact (strongly recommended)

Email CEO Dr Jo Shaw with a short explanation (maximum one page) outlining your proposed project. She will indicate whether it is worth developing a full proposal and ensure alignment with SRI's priorities.

Step 2: Download application form

Access the grant application form from the SRI website at www.savetherhino.org/about-us/grants/grant-applications/

Step 3: Submit completed application

Send the completed form directly to Dr Jo Shaw. Applications can be submitted at any time throughout the year.

Step 4: Initial review

Jo Shaw reviews applications, may ask immediate questions, and consults external experts for specific aspects if needed.

Step 5: Trustee review

Applications are tabled at quarterly Trustees' meetings (held in March, June, September, and December). Dr Shaw provides recommendations based on organizational priorities and weighted criteria.

Decision Timeline

  • Quarterly meetings: March, June, September, December
  • Notification: Within one month of the Trustees' meeting
  • Total timeline: 4-8 weeks from submission to decision (depending on meeting schedule)

Trustee Decisions

Trustees may:

  1. Approve funding
  2. Request additional information before making a decision
  3. Reject the application

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, SRI notes they have “a long term relationship with specific field programmes and organisations” and are “unlikely” to add entirely new programs. This suggests a relatively low success rate for organizations outside their existing partner network.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions are mentioned. However, given the emphasis on pre-application consultation with the CEO, unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to engage in dialogue about future opportunities.

Application Success Factors

Critical Alignment Factors

1. Existing Partnership or Strategic Overlap

SRI explicitly states: "We will usually only consider funding a new programme if applicants represent one of their partner organisations or if applicants' programme overlaps with one of their priority field programmes." New applicants should clearly demonstrate how their work aligns with or supports existing SRI-funded programs.

2. Focus on Priority Species

Strong preference for projects supporting Critically Endangered species (black, Sumatran, and Javan rhinos) over Near Threatened species (white and greater one-horned rhinos).

3. Geographic Alignment

Projects must be in countries where SRI actively works: Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Indonesia, or Vietnam.

4. Strategic Priority Match

Applications must clearly address one or more of SRI's current strategic priorities (law enforcement, ranger capacity/welfare, coordination, or sustainable financing).

Direct Advice from the Funder

Pre-application consultation is essential: “Before you apply to us, we strongly recommend that you email our CEO, Dr Jo Shaw, with a short explanation (maximum one page) so that she can indicate to you whether it is worth developing a full proposal.”

Review grant-making policy carefully: “We recommend that you read our Grant-making Policy carefully before you apply to us, in order to understand our mission, priorities and strategic objectives.”

Example Funded Projects

  • North Luangwa Conservation Program (NLCP), Zambia: Protection and growth of reintroduced black rhino population, including anti-poaching patrols
  • Lolesha Luangwa, Zambia: Environmental education program working with 21 local schools surrounding North Luangwa National Park
  • Association of Private and Community Land Rhino Sanctuaries (APLRS), Kenya: Coordination of security efforts and biological management for rhinos on non-state land
  • Save the Rhino Trust (SRT), Namibia: Monitoring and protecting desert-adapted black rhino in Kunene and Erongo Regions
  • Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia: Anti-poaching patrols, habitat restoration, and monitoring for Javan rhinos

Key Language and Terminology

  • “Long-term relationship” - SRI emphasizes sustained partnerships rather than one-off grants
  • “Conservation impact” - All projects must demonstrate clear, measurable conservation outcomes
  • “Monitoring and evaluation” - Evidence-based approaches with robust M&E frameworks are essential
  • “Coordination” - Collaboration with other conservation actors is highly valued
  • “Capacity building” - Supporting the people protecting rhinos (rangers, conservation professionals)
  • “Community-led conservation” - Engaging local communities in conservation efforts

Common Reasons for Rejection (Inferred)

  • Applications from organizations outside SRI's partner network without clear strategic overlap
  • Projects focusing on white or greater one-horned rhinos (unless within priority programs)
  • Privately owned rhino operations
  • Research-focused projects without direct conservation application
  • Projects lacking clear monitoring and evaluation frameworks
  • Applications in geographic areas outside SRI's current focus
  • General awareness campaigns without specific behavioral change objectives

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Pre-application consultation is critical - Do not submit a full application without first contacting CEO Dr Jo Shaw with a one-page summary. This saves time and ensures alignment.
  1. Partnership pathway is preferred - Unless you are an existing partner organization or your work directly supports/overlaps with SRI's priority field programs, success is unlikely. Focus on demonstrating how your project connects with their established network.
  1. Prioritize Critically Endangered species - Black, Sumatran, and Javan rhino projects receive preference over white and greater one-horned rhino conservation.
  1. Align with current strategic priorities - Target funding requests toward law enforcement, ranger capacity/welfare, inter-agency coordination, or sustainable financing mechanisms rather than general protection activities.
  1. Build long-term relationships - SRI values sustained partnerships over one-off projects. Demonstrate potential for ongoing collaboration and impact.
  1. Emphasize measurable impact - Include robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks that demonstrate clear conservation outcomes.
  1. Time your submission strategically - With quarterly decision cycles, plan submissions to align with upcoming Trustees' meetings (March, June, September, December) to minimize waiting time.

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