Donors support saving species with matching dollars for the mission

Silver Spring, Md. (December 18, 2025) - Generous donors are supercharging an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) fundraising campaign to support sustainable conservation and species survival efforts. Through December 31, 2025, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom will match all donations to AZA SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE), up to $100,000. Starting in 2026, JoEllen Doornbos has pledged $250,000 per year for the next four years. To recognize and compliment JoEllen Doornbos' contributions, AZA is committing to match all donations to SAFE, up to $250,000 per year throughout the four-year campaign.

"For more than 60 years, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom has championed wildlife conservation around the world. Our support of AZA SAFE extends that legacy by aligning with trusted zoo and aquarium partners and aligning resources to protect at-risk species and the habitats they depend on," said Jen Wulf, vice president of brand marketing at Mutual of Omaha.

"Saving species is something none of us can do alone. I'm grateful for the collaborative spirit of AZA SAFE and honored to help ensure this critical work continues well into the future. I'm proud to contribute to a program that is making a measurable difference for species around the world," said JoEllen Doornbos.

The JoEllen Doornbos AZA SAFE endowment currently stands at more than $8.4 million. At the 2025 AZA Annual Conference in Tampa, Fla., AZA announced the launch of a campaign to grow the endowment to at least $10 million by 2029. These matching campaigns will fuel the endowment to provide grants to SAFE species programs in perpetuity.

"Many scientists believe that the Earth is currently in the midst of a sixth mass extinction event, in which we are losing more than 100 species each day. We cannot stop this, but by bringing AZA-accredited aquariums, zoos, and science centers together with other conservation organizations around the world, AZA SAFE can help save some species from extinction," said Dan Ashe, president and CEO for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. "With the help of generous individuals like JoEllen Doornbos, companies like Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, and granting organizations like the Arthur L. and Elaine V. Johnson Foundation, our animal and conservation experts are connecting with partners around the globe to address habitat loss, poaching and illegal trade - helping to protect our world's biodiversity."

There are currently 55 AZA SAFE species programs which protect threatened animals, build on established recovery plans, prioritize collaboration among AZA-accredited institutions with global conservation work in the field, implement strategic conservation and stakeholder engagement activities, and measure and report on conservation progress.
AZA conservation grant programs directly support AZA-member organizations working to advance SAFE species programs.

Recently, grant-funded AZA SAFE projects have:

• Enhanced staff capacity at the Zambian Department of National Parks and Wildlife to use technology and leverage law enforcement and wildlife field data to protect African elephants and black rhinos.
• Improved understanding of the movements and behavioral patterns of cold-stunned sea turtles that strand in the U.S. Northeast and are rehabilitated and released in Florida.
• Completed the Tree Kangaroo Rescue, Rehabilitation, Breeding and Research Centre, in Papua New Guinea, a new sanctuary for victims of the illegal wildlife trade.
• Spawned 16 coral species, enhancing coral research, resilience, and future reed restoration.
• Supported hiring and training technicians who assessed sloth bear populations in India and Sri Lanka.
• Built and installed nest boxes for thick-billed parrots, which have sustained habitat loss due to deforestation. The boxes created nesting options for breeding pairs to boost the population recovery of the species.
• Trained communities in Kenya and Tanzania to build lion-proof livestock enclosures to prevent retaliatory poisoning of lions and other species like vultures.

In addition to the match challenge, Mutual of Omaha is a dedicated partner and member of AZA's Commercial Member Engagement Council, and they continue to spotlight AZA institutions and SAFE species through their Emmy-nominated television series and complementary podcast.

Learn more about AZA SAFE and give here.

Download photos of donors on stage at the 2025 AZA Annual Conference and animals featured in grant-funded projects above,
Photo credits identified within photo file names.

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About AZA
Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science, and recreation. AZA is setting the global gold standard, accrediting 254 of the top zoos, aquariums, and related facilities in 13 countries. Look for the AZA accreditation logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in saving species and your link to helping animals all over the world. To learn more, visit www.aza.org.