THE DAVID SHEPHERD WILDLIFE FOUNDATION
The Foundation is currently focusing on raising funds and actively working for the survival of tigers, elephants, rhinos and other critically endangered mammals in the wild. The Foundation concentrates its focus on field projects where even limited funding makes a real difference to the survival of wildlife and their habitat. It also runs active enforcement, training and education projects.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that total income decreased to £1,261,717 from £2,635,606 in the prior year, resulting in a net deficit for the period. Despite this, the charity holds unrestricted reserves of £554,637, which the Trustees consider to be in line with their policy of covering four to six months of core costs. The auditor confirmed that the use of the going concern basis of accounting is appropriate with no material uncertainties identified.
What the accounts disclose
“for every £1 donated to DSWF we spent 71p on conservation and education activities, 18p on direct fundraising (including event costs) plus another 6p on allocated support costs”
“It is the policy of the Trustees that reserves held by DSWF should at least total the sum of all restricted funds not yet distributed and certain unrestricted funds. Unrestricted reserves held should be sufficient to cover DSWF forecast core costs for a minimum of four to six months, plus an amount to cover all cessation expenses for a further maximum six-month period in the event of the charity being wound up. This is currently calculated as £450,000.”
“The aggregate of donations, ticket purchases, auction purchases and other payments made to the charity by trustees in the year was £12,594.” — page 59
“DSWF has one trading subsidiary - DSWF Trading Company Limited.” — page 26
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Georgina 'Peanut' Lamb — Chief Executive
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (18/11/2022)
- Received assets from another charity (07/01/2016)
Trustees
- Melanie Shepherdchair
- Andrew Gordon Brown
- Barry Timothy Page
- CHRISTOPHER CHARLES BLANCHARD COWDRAY
- Fiona Elizabeth Luck
- Rodney Birrell
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £1.3m | £1.8m |
| 31/03/2024 | £2.6m | £1.8m |
| 31/03/2023 | £1.8m | £1.8m |
| 31/03/2022 | £1.6m | £1.5m |
| 31/03/2021 | £1.6m | £1.2m |
Common questions
Is THE DAVID SHEPHERD WILDLIFE FOUNDATION financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that total income decreased to £1,261,717 from £2,635,606 in the prior year, resulting in a net deficit for the period. Despite this, the charity holds unrestricted reserves of £554,637, which the Trustees consider to be in line with their policy of covering four to six months of core costs. The auditor confirmed that the use of the going concern basis of accounting is appropriate with no material uncertainties identified. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Buzzacott Audit LLP.
Who funds THE DAVID SHEPHERD WILDLIFE FOUNDATION?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE DAVID SHEPHERD WILDLIFE FOUNDATION as a grant recipient include THE ALBORADA TRUST, MRS D M FRANCE-HAYHURST FOUNDATION, THE ROGER RAYMOND CHARITABLE TRUST, THE HOSKING CHARITABLE TRUST, FONTHILL FOUNDATION.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE ALBORADA TRUST | FY2022 | £242k | |
| THE ALBORADA TRUST | FY2024 | £200k | |
| MRS D M FRANCE-HAYHURST FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £117k | |
| THE ROGER RAYMOND CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £51k | |
| THE ROGER RAYMOND CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2024 | £50k | |
| THE HOSKING CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £30k | |
| THE ALBORADA TRUST | FY2023 | £25k | |
| FONTHILL FOUNDATION | FY2025 | £20k | Development of curriculum linked secondary school conservation programme, and library-based conservation activities for young children |
| THE HOSKING CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2022 | £20k | |
| THE HOSKING CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £20k | |
| THE REED FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £15k | Christmas Challenge |
| THE OPENWORK FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £15k | Sponsored Grant |
| THE OPENWORK FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £11k | Sponsored Grant |
| THE HAREBELL CENTENARY FUND | FY2023 | £10k | |
| FONTHILL FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £8k | Development of curriculum linked secondary school conservation programme, and library-based conservation activities for young children |
| THE SIR EDWARD LEWIS FOUNDATION | FY2025 | £5k | DSWF is an adaptable and flexible, non-bureaucratic organisation responding promptly to conservation threats by supporting trusted, reputable individuals and or |
| THE SIR EDWARD LEWIS FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £5k | Conservation threats and helping save critically endangered mammals in Africa and Asia |
| THE BRITFORD BRIDGE TRUST | FY2025 | £5k | Secondary |
| THE SIR EDWARD LEWIS FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £5k | Conservation of critically endangered mammals |
| THE LINDER FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £5k | General Charitable Causes |
| CHAPMAN CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £1k | |
| MARJORIE COOTE ANIMAL CHARITY TRUST | FY2022 | £500 | |
| MARJORIE COOTE ANIMAL CHARITY TRUST | FY2023 | £0 | One-off grant |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE BERYL EVETTS AND ROBERT LUFF ANIMAL WELFARE TRUST LIMITED | 2 | £14k |
| THE MILLENNIUM OAK TRUST | 1 | — |
| THE FIDELITY UK FOUNDATION | 1 | £179k |
| ROYAL SOCIETY OF WILDLIFE TRUSTS | 1 | £93k |
| MOONDANCE FOUNDATION | 1 | £93k |
| THE ERANDA ROTHSCHILD FOUNDATION | 1 | £76k |
| CHK Foundation | 1 | £30k |
| THE MARK LEONARD TRUST | 1 | £20k |
Charities like this
- THE WILDLIFE AID FOUNDATION
- SAVE THE RHINO INTERNATIONAL
- SHALDON WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED
- PANTHERA WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED
- Sheldrick Wildlife Trust UK
- THE WILDLIFE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE DAVID SHEPHERD WILDLIFE FOUNDATION | £1.3m | — | — | unclear | 18.0% | no doubt |
| THE WILDLIFE AID FOUNDATION | £2.0m | £60,000 - £69,999 | 1 | unclear | 3.1% | no doubt |
| SAVE THE RHINO INTERNATIONAL | £3.4m | £90,001 - £100,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SHALDON WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED | £293k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| PANTHERA WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED | £803k | — | 4 | above | — | no doubt |
| Sheldrick Wildlife Trust UK | £10.4m | £80,001 - £90,000 | 1 | within | — | no doubt |