Creating a New Network to Empower Conservation From the Ground Up
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Charlie Knowles
This story is part of the Architects of Impact series, highlighting stories of innovation that demonstrate how our Community is mobilizing to ensure a world that works for all people and the planet.
Charlie Knowles grew up with wildlife in his backyard and service in his bones. So when he retired early, he knew he wanted to do something that mattered. He started by tutoring math at a local high school to try and figure out how to fix our education system, but soon realized, “That was way too hard, and it would be much easier to save all the world’s wildlife instead.”
Read Charlie’s 2024 interview with us
That pivot would eventually lead to the creation of the Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), which Charlie co-founded in 2002 and now chairs. What started as a casual endeavor with one bold bet—Jane Goodall keynoted their second annual event—has since raised more than $430 million for wildlife conservation efforts around the world and partnered with 150 organizations. Yet those figures only tell part of the story.
A Model Built on Trust
WCN is different by design. “We don’t implement projects ourselves,” Charlie says. “We partner with and support those on the front lines, helping them scale impact through funding, capacity building, and collaboration.” Today, WCN supports 38 species-specific conservation projects and seven species funds, along with a program to elevate emerging conservation leaders. Their approach prioritizes trust, transparency, and efficiency, all values that have been at the core of Charlie’s work from the beginning.
“As a philanthropist, I was more interested in creating impact and having funding go to the field than being schmoozed by a fundraiser,” he says. That instinct now defines WCN’s model. Donors can designate where 100 percent of their money goes, with over 92 percent of WCN funds directed to programs. They are then connected directly to the people doing the work and have the opportunity to foster relationships and make visits that build real accountability.
Charlie’s been a Forward Global member since 2003, when a friend convinced him to join what was then The Philanthropy Workshop. “I was aiming to get a broad overview from both a practical standpoint, what people were doing, and also from an intellectual standpoint, in terms of best practices. I also wanted to expand my network of people in the field. Forward Global ticked all three boxes,” he says. The friendships and collaborations formed in that first cohort have stood the test of time. Four Forward Global members now serve on WCN’s board.
What’s kept him engaged is the quality of the Community: “Forward Global continues to align closely with my values. It’s a rare community that balances ambition with reflection, and action with thoughtfulness. The conversations are honest, the people are generous with their insight, and there’s a shared commitment to using influence and resources responsibly.”
Scaling with Purpose
That ethos runs through WCN’s structure as well. One of the board members Charlie is proudest to serve alongside is Peter Lalampaa, a Samburu warrior from Kenya who earned a WCN scholarship to pursue graduate studies. Peter now leads the Grevy’s Zebra Trust. “He has a very thoughtful understanding of the community, the ecosystem, and the impact we have,” Charlie says. “Having those kinds of voices represented in WCN’s core is incredibly valuable.”
When asked what philanthropy still gets wrong, Charlie doesn’t hesitate to say that transparency, efficiency, and collaboration are still lacking across the field: “Too many organizations try to do everything themselves instead of working together. From the beginning, WCN viewed the world through a lens of abundance. If another organization is doing great work, even if they’re technically a competitor, we invite them to partner with us and help raise their profile.”
That abundance mindset also shapes how WCN engages donors. “You’ve got to meet philanthropists where they are,” he says. “It’s vitally important to listen to their interests and connect them directly to the people doing the work. That’s how long-term connection and greater impact happen.”
Now, more than two decades in, Charlie’s focus is on scale and staying power. “The next few years are about strengthening our funds, expanding high-performing partnerships, and investing more deeply in capacity building for conservation leaders,” he says. He’s also working to improve how WCN communicates its impact, so donors and partners can better see the change their support makes possible.
Forward Global continues to be part of that ecosystem. “This Community matters. It has a quiet but powerful multiplier effect. It shapes how people think, lead, and collaborate across sectors,” he says. “I would encourage members to lean into one another even more, because some of the most meaningful impact comes not from programs alone, but from the long-term relationships and shared values this network helps cultivate.”
Check out the New York Times article where he was mentioned for hosting a celebration for Jane Goodall’s 90th birthday.
