A while back I was inspired to donate to a field recording-related cause. I couldn’t find much info about sound-related charities, so I reached out to people online. I received some great responses (thank you!). To help others in their search, I decided to post a running list here.
Do you love field recording? Are you keen about nature and wildlife preservation? Interested in supporting a sound-related cause? Check out the list below to make a donation to a field recording charity.
Sound and Hearing Causes
- Quiet Parks International. “Quiet is a fast depleting resource.” An organization dedicated to “the preservation of quiet for the benefit of all life”. Led in part by community field recordist Gordon Hempton, donations go to helping schoolchildren experience quiet, purchase sound measurement equipment, educate others, and more.
Field Recording Causes
- Wildlife Sound Recording Society. Established in 1968 and now presided over by wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson, the society’s goals include encouraging recording wildlife sounds, appreciating understanding of animal language, and more. Memberships also available.
Wildlife Causes
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology. A popular resource for bird recordists, the Cornell Lab’s mission focuses around understanding and protecting birds, through education and conservation.
- World Animal Protection. A more general animal-focused cause, this organization that aims to stop the exploitation of animals in the wild, as well as protect pets, and fight against factory farming.
General Nature and Wildlife Causes
- Big Life Foundation. Focusing on 1.6 million acres of an East Africa ecosystem, this foundation specializes on wildlife and habitat preservation, mitigating wildlife-human conflict, and community education. Includes one-time donations and monthly donations to its Ranger Club.
- The Nature Conservancy. An all-encompassing conservatory which aims to “transform nature’s future”. Initiatives include tackling climate change, protecting land and water, providing food and water sustainably, and building healthy cities.
- World Wildlife Foundation. With over 1 million supporters, this popular organization’s work focuses on protecting vulnerable places, species and communities worldwide in six areas: forest, marine, freshwater, wildlife, food, and climate.
- International Union for Conservation of Nature. A group of 1,400 organizations and 17,000 experts that work together to “conserve nature and accelerate the transition to sustainable development.”
- The Wildlife Trusts. Covering over 2,300 nature reserves in nearly 99,000 hectares in the UK, this trust’s goals are “saving wildlife and wild places and helping people to get closer to nature” by working with schools, farmers, companies, community groups and organizations, and politicians. Also welcomes volunteers.
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Sounds of Your Park. Want to listen to user-submitted nature recordings submitted worldwide? This new site was created to “celebrate the acoustical beauty and diversity of the world’s national parks and other protected areas” with an aim to educate and help preserve natural areas. Donations go directly to helping server costs.
Sound Design
- Afrorack. A Chicago-based organization which provides modular synths and sound design tools to children and young adults of color.
Do you know another worthwhile sound-related cause? Contact me and I’ll add it to the list.
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