A charitable initiative of Hollis Burbank-Hammarlund
Hollis Burbank-Hammarlund
Founder/Director
Work for Wild Life International
Principal Wildlife Conservation & Welfare Consultant (Pro Bono)
Specializing in NGO capacity building, institutional fundraising, and boots-on-the-ground project execution.
I COLLABORATE WITH compassionate global partners who work together as a team (both remotely and on site) to plan and implement practical and effective projects that measurably help wildlife and the people who care for and protect them.
BACKGROUND ~ Though my work over the past sixteen years, I have partnered with people and organizations from all around the globe to support wildlife conservation, healthcare and welfare projects in Indonesia, Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, India, and Myanmar.
I have raised more than $1 million to help purchase and protect at-risk rain forest habitat, rescue and rehabilitate wildlife, mitigate human-wildlife conflict, and improve the health and welfare of animals living in captivity, care centers, sanctuaries and in the wild.
Prior to 2009, my career focused on resource conservation, land use planning, community development, environmental education, and nonprofit fundraising and development in the United States. I raised $4+ million for hundreds of projects and programs, partnering with local, regional, state and national organizations and government agencies, grass-roots groups, nonprofits, and businesses.
Sample Initiatives
Click on links and images below for more information
Everything Elephants LAOS
2025
LaosD
Everything Elephants is a unique volunteer adventure blending philanthropic travel and a legacy of compassionate elephant care and conservation. Raised $14,230 to support the health, welfare and conservation of endangered Asian elephants and the people who care for them. Envisioned, planned, secured and coordinated donor-travelers and led all field activities.
Hand-raising Orphan Asian Elephants:
A Practical Guide for Asian Elephant
Range Country Care Providers
2024
Asia
Project Partners:
Work for Wild Life International
Elephant Care International
Project fundraising, website and PDF production,
and distribution.
Elephant Health & Welfare Emergency Lifeline Fund
2020 - 2023
Thailand, Laos, Nepal, India
Raised $159,000
Project Partners:
Work for Wild Life International
Elephant Care International
Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation
Dr. Janine L. Brown ~ Smithsonian Institution
Project fundraising, coordination, and public outreach.
MYANMAR
Everything Elephants ~ Myanmar
2019
Myanmar
Everything Elephants is a special philanthropic travel program created by Work for Wild Life to benefit elephants
living in captivity throughout Asia. Raised $21,000 plus $8,000 in donated veterinary supplies.
Envisioned, planned, secured and coordinated partners and participants, raised grant funds, and led all field activities.
Laos
2021
Prepared appeal materials and donor solicitation strategies, helping to raise $144,000 and ensuring the ongoing operations of the Elephant Conservation Center in Laos
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Orangutan Foundation International
West Kalimantan
Director of Development
2011 - 2014
Worked directly with OFI Founder and President Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas. Raised $750,000+ in funds to support OFI’s many programs through online and direct appeal campaigns, grants, corporate sponsorships, events and social media outreach.
Envisioned, facilitated, fund-raised, and completed Rawa Kuno Legacy Forest land acquisition campaign, which permanently protected 7,900+ acres of at-risk orangutan habitat. Raised funds to build 35 spacious, new orangutan enclosures (and enrichment materials) to alleviate over-crowding at OFI’s Care Center in Borneo (housing 340 orphaned orangutans).
Elephant Veterinary Conservation Medicine Course
2026
Laos
Project Partners:
Work for Wild Life International
ECORE at Elephant Conservation Center (Laos)
Elephant Care International
Smithsonian InstitutionD
Envisioned, planned, secured and coordinated partners for this new elephant healthcare and welfare course. Recruited 16 veterinary students from around the globe. Proceeds raised total $19,500 in 2026 to support the Elephant Conservation Center's elephant conservation work, including its re-wilding project. This project will take place annually beginning in December of 2026.
Elephant Health & Welfare INDIA Workshop
2023
At the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital
Mathura, India
Project Partners:
Work for Wild Life International
Wildlife SOS
Elephant Care International
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Uttar Pradesh Forest Department
Envisioned, planned, secured and coordinated partners and sponsors, raised grant funds and led field activities for a new elephant healthcare and welfare training program for 18 Indian elephant veterinarians. Prepared and taught interactive workshop sessions involving elephant health and welfare.
ElephantCARE ASIA Workshop
2018
Myanmar
Project Partners:
Work for Wild Life International
Elephant Care International
Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp
Envisioned, planned, secured and coordinated partners and sponsors, raised $27,000 in workshop scholarship funding, recruited participants, and led field activities for a new elephant healthcare and welfare training program for 21 elephant veterinarians, vet techs, and rescue center managers from Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Nepal, and Indonesia.
EleVETS Project ~ A Veterinary Training Workshop
2017
Sri Lanka
Project Partners:
Hollis Burbank-Hammarlund
Dr. Susan K. Mikota, Elephant Care International
University of Peradeniya Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science
Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (grant pass-though)
Envisioned, planned, secured and coordinated partners and sponsors, and implemented a new elephant healthcare and welfare training program for 21 Sri Lankan veterinarians. Raised $31,000 in grants and donations for this project.
"Let the beauty of what you love be what you do. There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the earth."
-Rumi
