An Interview With Anthony Ramos, director of marketing and communications, Wildlife Trust

Wildlife Trust was founded in 1971 by British naturalist, author and television personality Gerald M. Durrell, who is perhaps best known for his many entertaining books based on his life’s work with animals, as well as a dozen series on the BBC.

Wildlife Trust has expanded its mission to include not only endangered species conservation and training for local scientists, but also international conservation organization development, resolution of human-wildlife conflicts, integrated conservation and community development projects, as well as a new field linking environment and health called “Conservation Medicine.”

Here, we talk with Director of Marketing and Communications Anthony Ramos about the organization and its fundraising strategies and challenges.

FundRaising Success: How do you fund your mission?
Anthony Ramos: Wildlife Trust is funded by foundations, government grants, private donors and corporate partners.

FS:What are the biggest challenges your organization faces as far as fundraising is concerned? How do you overcome them?
AR: In tightened economic times, as with most organizations, one must work harder and smarter to gain new donors, to generate awareness and raise more funds from a diversified base of contributors.

FS: Do you foresee any big changes in the way you reach potential donors and other supporters in the near future?
AR: We employ both traditional and electronic communications strategies to touch donors in a meaningful way. We strive to be more responsive and interactive with our various constituencies.

FS: How would you describe your fundraising philosophy?
AR: We believe our programs drive the energy and passion of our donors, scientists and associates. Wildlife Trust is a unique organization filling a niche in conservation science. Through wildlife and habitat conservation, our scientists are also discovering the routes of emerging infectious diseases as they pass from wildlife to humans due to environmental changes. Our opportunity is to communicate all this in a way that is accessible to our target audience.