AFTA Associates, Incorporated

Fact Sheet

AFTA Associates, Incorporated (AFTA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that designs and manages wildlife conservation education and development programs that link the business of conservation to the well being of local communities

Market Focus: Serving conservancy organizations, artisan and conservation enterprise groups, wildlife conservation donors and gift-giving consumers.

Participants:

Conservancy Organizations – African Wildlife Foundation, Wildlife Trust, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Michoacan Reforestation Fund, Wild Camel Protection Foundation, International Crane Foundation, International Snow Leopard Trust, Lemur Conservation Society, Project Seahorse, Smithsonian Conservation and Research - Friends of the National Zoo, and Wildlife Conservation Network, Amazon Conservation Team

Artisan and Conservation Enterprise Groups : Aid To Artisans, Aid Through Trade; Dupoto Women's Group; Comparte, Pere Pedro Opeka's Village; Irbis Enterprises; Indigenous groups of Panama, Michoacan, Oaxaca, and Sierra Madre; Kanagmaluhan, Africa Matters, Working Hand in Hand, North Andaman Tsunami Relief, Virunga Artisans.

Design and Service Operations: Weiss Associates; Doghause, Public Interest Communications, Post Tech,

Headquarters: Carmel CA; Associates: 20

Programs:

Art For The Animals -- Art For The Animals is a wildlife conservation education and development program. Our catalog and website feature gifts of giving packages designed around endangered species and participating organizations' conservation programs. We use folk art and products of economically and ecologically sustainable businesses as fund raising premiums for those donating to participating conservation organizations through these packages.

The program educates consumers about conservation and cultural preservation issues; raises funds for wildlife conservation; provides income to the artisans and creates a unique, self-fulfilling, culturally sensitive and potentially broad market for indigenous art; and changes excess consumerism into conservationism

Significance: The Art For The Animals Program is significant in that it leverages donor support of conservation organizations to ensure the long-term viability of sustainable businesses and indigenous cultures that support the conservation effort – thus creating a circular connection between the business of conservation and the well being of local communities.

Key Management:
Lori S. Stewart, Chief Executive Officer