Impact & Stories
Every grant tells a story.
The Richard G. Ruggiero Savanna and Forest Elephant (RGR SAFE) Fund was established to support exceptional people doing practical, ethical, field-grounded conservation for Africa's savanna and forest elephants. Through annual grants, we invest in conservationists and their projects that protect elephants, strengthen local capacity, advance scientific knowledge, and foster coexistence between people and elephants.
Here we share the impact of those investments through updates from our grant recipients, field stories, photographs, and reflections on the work made possible through the Fund.
We also celebrate Richard's enduring legacy by sharing stories from colleagues, students, friends, and family whose lives and careers were shaped by his mentorship, generosity, and unwavering commitment to conservation.
Together, these stories remind us that conservation is ultimately about people—their curiosity, courage, and commitment to leaving the natural world better than they found it.
© Richard G. Ruggiero
Impact
Inaugural Year (2025) Support
This fund honors Richard’s legacy of impact and contributions in his memory have already helped advance elephant conservation systems in meaningful ways.
Savanna elephants
Our funding has contributed to a dedicated scholarship for emerging leaders focused on elephant conservation through Save the Elephants and in memory of Richard’s long-time colleague Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamiton, CBE (1942-2025).
Forest elephants
Our funding has provided support for human-elephant conflict mitigation in Central Africa through the Nouabalé-Ndoki Foundation in Republic of Congo, including practical approaches to protecting livelihoods, elephant systems, and their habitats in shared landscapes.
Stories
Coming Soon!
NEW for 2026
Richard G. Ruggiero Memorial Scholarship
In partnership with the Center for Wildlife Studies, the Richard G. Ruggiero Savanna and Forest Elephant (RGR SAFE) Fund is pleased to support the next generation of conservation leaders through four scholarships for the Conservation Standards online course.
© Richard G. Ruggiero