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Space for Giants USA Inc
New York, NY · EIN 471805681 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE D30 · Animal-Related · Medium ($1M-$10M) · spaceforgiants.org
revenue
$2.0M
expenses
$1.7M
net assets
$953K
employees
2
volunteers
4
program ratio
92%
mission · from form 990

To help protect Africas remaining natural ecosystems and the large wild animals they contain, while bringing major social and economic value to local communities and national governments.

profile · synthesized from sources

Conservation organization focused on protecting Africa's natural ecosystems and large wildlife, particularly elephants and giraffes, while promoting coexistence with local communities. Implements solutions like smart electric fencing, real-time monitoring systems, and national conservation investment strategies in partnership with governments and local stakeholders across multiple African countries.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Conservation Investment Programme
Supports national governments to develop nature-based economies through policy reform, investment strategies, and public-private partnerships in protected areas
EarthRanger
Real-time data integration platform for conservation management that connects trackers, alerts, and scout locations to improve wildlife protection
Human-Elephant Coexistence Programme
Implements smart electric fencing, real-time monitoring, and community engagement to reduce human-elephant conflict and protect livelihoods in Kenya, Uganda, and Gabon
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Wildlife Monitoring and Field Research 2 activities
    • Conservation Research and Data Collection
      Conducts scientific research on elephant movement patterns, human-elephant conflict, and conservation effectiveness. Maintains the world's longest dataset on human-elephant conflict in Laikipia, recorded over 655,655 kilometers traveled by collared elephants, and conducts IMET assessments. Publishes peer-reviewed research in journals such as Landscape Ecology and Land Use Policy.
    • Wildlife Monitoring and Tracking
      Deploys and monitors GPS collars on elephants to study movement patterns and support conservation planning. Assisted in deploying and monitoring 61 elephants, including 55 in Laikipia, Kenya and five in Angola.
  • Law Enforcement Professional Development 1 activity
    • Capacity Building for Conservation Law Enforcement
      Trains rangers, investigators, prosecutors, and judicial personnel in wildlife crime response, environmental law enforcement, and trans-frontier cooperation. Provided training to over 920 law enforcement and judicial personnel in 2022 and trained over 500 personnel across the KAZA region in trans-frontier wildlife crime response.
  • Tree Planting and Reforestation Initiatives 1 activity
    • Carbon and Landscape Management Initiatives
      Implements carbon projects and landscape management programs to support sustainable natural resource use and ecosystem restoration, applying public and private management strategies to halt degradation and restore African landscapes.
  • Wildlife Conservation in Africa 1 activity
    • Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation through Fencing and Monitoring
      Implements human-elephant coexistence projects by building and maintaining electric fencing, installing solar-powered and mobile fencing systems, and deploying real-time monitoring technologies to reduce crop-raiding. Has constructed and maintained 350 kilometers of fencing across Kenya, Uganda, and Gabon since 2016, reducing crop-raiding by 90% in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area and protecting the livelihoods of over 290,000 people.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Advocacy and Policy Development for Wildlife Conservation
      Engages in policy advocacy by developing legislative and policy documents, standard operating procedures, and international forums to strengthen wildlife crime prosecution. Developed 25 policy documents in 2022, launched the Forum for Wildlife and Environmental Crimes Prosecutors with 12 member states, and secured co-management agreements such as for Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve in Uganda.
    • Wildlife Crime Case Handling and Law Enforcement Support
      Supports judicial processes and law enforcement in African conservation areas by reviewing, handling, and monitoring wildlife crime cases. Recovered over 1,495 kilograms of illegal bushmeat between 2020 and 2021 and handled over 5,400 wildlife crime cases across 7 countries in 2022.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.98M
Contributions & grants$1.97M99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$11K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.69M
Program expenses92%
Admin / overhead4%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$99K
Grants paid out$1.40M
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$955K
Cash$621K
Investments$0
Liabilities$2K
Net assets$953K
Liquid reserves4.4 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +26.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Martha Cochran Executive Director 20 $60K
board members · 4
  • Chelsea Congdon Brundige — Secretary
  • Craig Caukin — Director
  • Max Graham — Chairman
  • Sheila Walker — Treasurer
relationships · 25

Who they work with

  • &Beyond Partner — Collaborated to open Suyian Lodge in northern Kenya, supporting conservation and community-based tourism.
  • &Beyond Partner — Partnered to open Suyian Lodge in northern Kenya.
  • &Beyond Partner — Partnered with Space for Giants to open Suyian Lodge in northern Kenya.
  • Administração Nacional das Áreas de Conservação Partner — Partnered with Space for Giants to develop a conservation economy in Mozambique, including through investment strategies and business unit objectives.
  • African Leadership University Partner — Partnership to invest in young African conservation leaders through internships and field training.
  • African Leadership University Partner — Partnership to invest in young African conservation talent through internships and field training.
  • African Leadership University Partner — Partnership to train and invest in young African conservation leaders through internships and field experience.
  • Big Give Champion Fund Funder — Provides matched funding through the EarthRaise campaign, contributing up to £50,000 in matching grants.
  • Conservation Justice Partner — Collaborates to address human-wildlife conflict in Gabon.
  • Gabonese Ministry of Agriculture Government — Signed an agreement with Space for Giants to support coexistence initiatives between forest elephants and local farmers.
  • Giants Club Coalition — Space for Giants leverages the Giants Club to secure political will for conservation investment and policy reform.
  • Government of Gabon Government — Collaborates on the installation and management of electric fences to promote human-elephant coexistence.
  • Green 14 Partner — Initiative launched to provide carbon finance for conservation in Africa's heritage landscapes.
  • Kenya Wildlife Service Partner — Collaborated to develop Standard Operating Procedures for illegal wildlife trade exhibit management and deliver training using Rapid Reference Guides.
  • Lily James Partner — Appointed as Global Supporter, using her platform to advocate for wildlife conservation.
  • Space for Giants Government — US entity receives donations designated for the UK-based parent organization "Space for Giants".
  • Speak Out For Animals Partner — Partnered to train over 120 investigators, prosecutors, judicial officers, and magistrates on the Rapid Reference Guide in Zimbabwe.
  • UK Charity Regulator Government — Registered as a charity in the UK
  • US Internal Revenue Service Government — Registered as a 501c3 nonprofit in the US
  • Uganda Wildlife Authority Partner — Collaborated to develop Standard Operating Procedures for illegal wildlife trade exhibit management and launched second edition of Rapid Reference Guide.
  • Uganda Wildlife Authority Partner — Partner in negotiations to co-manage Pian Upe Game Reserve through a collaborative management partnership.
  • University of Cambridge Partner — Collaborates with experts such as Bill Adams, Emeritus Chair of Conservation and Development, whose endorsement references the organization's research contributions.
  • brilliant organisations Partner — Collaborates with various organizations to advance conservation goals
  • local communities Partner — Collaborates with local communities to implement conservation programs that benefit people and wildlife.
  • national governments Government — Works closely with national governments to develop and implement conservation strategies.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Collaborative Landscape Management
    methodology: public-private_landscape_management
    By forming public-private and community-inclusive partnerships, the organization improves conservation outcomes through shared governance, financing, and adaptive innovation, because large-scale, durable ecosystem protection requires coordinated action across jurisdictions and sectors.
  • Context-Adaptive Human-Wildlife Coexistence
    methodology: context_adaptive_conservation
    By tailoring human-elephant conflict interventions to local ecological, cultural, and economic conditions—rather than applying uniform solutions—the organization increases adoption and effectiveness of coexistence strategies because locally relevant designs produce better behavioral and ecological outcomes.
  • Evidence-Based Adaptive Management
    methodology: evidence_based_adaptive_management
    By using real-time monitoring and scientific research to inform and iteratively adjust conservation strategies, the organization improves long-term outcomes because adaptive, data-driven interventions respond effectively to dynamic ecological and social conditions.
  • Integrated Conservation and Development
    methodology: integrated_conservation_and_development
    By aligning biodiversity protection with social and economic development, the organization generates long-term community and governmental support for conservation, ensuring sustainability because local stakeholders see tangible benefits from protecting wildlife.
  • Wildlife Justice System Strengthening
    methodology: wildlife_justice_system_strengthening
    By building legal capacity, providing practical tools, and strengthening justice systems in collaboration with governments and enforcement agencies, the organization deters wildlife crime because effective prosecution creates systemic deterrence and improves rule of law.