Arcus Foundation

The Arcus Foundation seeks to protect the great apes and to strengthen protections from threats to their habitats.

Arcus supports various efforts to conserve apes living in the wild and to provide and maintain sanctuary for apes that have been forced to live in captivity. With Arcus’ help, two of the largest sanctuaries in the U.S. now serve as models of top-quality long-term care for chimpanzees. We are also working to stop the destruction of ape habitats in Africa and Asia. In order to provide interactive, online monitoring of great ape habitats around the world, Arcus, in collaboration with several international partners, launched the Great Apes Mapper, an online portal that provides real-time monitoring.

Support is limited to activities that specifically impact gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, bonobos and gibbons.

We invite you to join us.

Great Apes in the Wild

This program works to ensure that viable populations of great apes are protected from extinction and living in habitats that are managed sustainably and holistically, as well as integrated with economic development objectives.

Great Apes in Captivity

This program aims to strengthen an international commitment to protect great apes in the wild and care for them in captivity by providing them with effective sanctuaries. The program aims to halt the use of great  apes in entertainment or invasive medical research.

Great Apes and Ethics

This program's goal is to increase the recognition of and respect for the rights and intrinsic value of the great apes, especially the right to live free of abuse, exploitation and private ownership. Ultimately, we seek to significantly decrease the need for sanctuaries and to improve the great apes' well-being and their chances of survival.

Special Opportunities

From time to time, the Arcus Foundation may support organizations and projects that do not fall within the guidelines of the Arcus Great Apes Program. Such opportunities are limited and occur only at the initiation of the Foundation. The Foundation will not accept unsolicited requests for funds in this area.