Fundraising for conservation

28/07/2016 in RZSS

If are you are reading this, chances are you’re already aware of RZSS and our charitable aims. We have been privileged to hold a place in the hearts and minds of generations of people – not only here in Scotland, but around the world. Our two parks – RZSS Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park - welcome around one million visitors each year, yet it still surprises me how many people are unaware that we are an independent charity. As such, we receive no direct government support, and every piece of work we undertake on behalf of threatened species is made possible through the support of people just like you.

Our award winning education teams work tirelessly to connect the next generation with nature and inspire our future conservationists. The reach of our education programmes is extensive to say the least, and we have engaged with over one million children over the last four decades. However it is reported that only one in five children in Scotland today feel a connection to the natural world[1], so it is clear that more must be done.

Our conservation teams are actively working to safeguard species around the world; from securing a future for the Scottish wildcat to reducing the threat of snares to chimpanzees in Uganda. Too many of the incredible animals with which we share our planet are in peril. It is estimated that over the last 40 years[2], the Earth has lost half of its wildlife and action is needed now.

As we continue striving to make a difference, the support we receive from our members, donors and partners is absolutely crucial. There are nearly 200,000 registered charities in the UK, competition is high and the sheer number of calls for support can seem overwhelming. Encouragingly though, recent figures suggest that 79% of us take part in charitable activities – with the estimated total amount donated to charity by UK adults in 2014 sitting at £10.6 billion[3]. RZSS is grateful to be one of the many recipients of such donations. We hope that over the coming years, as more people become aware of our charitable status and the conservation projects in which we are involved, support for our work will grow.

Currently, for every £1 we spend on fundraising activities, we generate ten times that in income. Last year we received around £2.1million in support from people around the world – all of which goes towards helping us achieve our charitable aims. Thanks to support of people like you, we have seen our projects go from strength to strength. A number of key milestones were reached over the last 12 months, most notably the Whitley Award given to the Giant Armadillo Conservation Project in Brazil, and the 25^th Anniversary of the Budongo Conservation Field Station in Uganda. We have much to be proud of.

As a Society we are also working to improve the ways in which we communicate our work. We hope that through initiatives such as this new Development blog, we can ensure our supporters can fully appreciate the difference they are helping us make. As members of the Fundraising Standards Board and Institute of Fundraising, we remain committed to ensuring we continue to operate ethically, transparently and consistently in the best interests of the species we represent, and the supporters just like you, who fund our work.

We would like to take this opportunity – on behalf of everyone at RZSS – to thank you for helping us take huge, tiger length strides towards a sustainable future for our planet. By supporting RZSS in our charitable efforts, you are helping us make fundamental progress for animals, people and our incredible natural world.

To donate to RZSS and make a difference today, visit https://www.justgiving.com/rzss/ or text RZSS09 £10 to 70070. Or, to find out how you can get even more involved in helping our work, contact the Development team today at supportus@rzss.org.uk

Laura-Jane Sheridan
Development Manager