The short answer
The best bee charity depends on which bees you want to help. For wild native bees, the species actually at risk, look to the Xerces Society nationally or a regional habitat group. For honey bee health in agriculture, research groups like Project Apis m. lead. For local, visible work such as rescuing colonies and planting habitat, choose a community organization in your area. Verify any of them by EIN.
- Honey bees are not endangered. USDA counted 2.81 million U.S. colonies on January 1, 2026, up 6% from a year earlier.
- What is at risk: more than a quarter of North American bumble bee species face some degree of extinction risk (Xerces Society / IUCN).
- Beekeepers still lose a lot of colonies: 55.6% of managed colonies from April 2024 to April 2025, a record (Auburn University / Apiary Inspectors of America).
- Not every bee group is tax-deductible. The main Project Apis m. entity is a 501(c)(5).
- “The Bee Conservatory” (Sacramento) and “The Bee Conservancy” (New York) are different organizations with different EINs.
On this page (4 sections)
First, decide which bees you want to help
What is the best charity to help save the bees? If your goal is to protect bee species at risk of disappearing, give to native-bee habitat and research. The Xerces Society is the leading national option. If your goal is to support beekeepers and crop pollination, honey bee health research is the target. If you want local, visible results, give to a regional organization doing habitat work or humane colony rescue near you.
| Native (wild) bees | Honey bees | |
|---|---|---|
| What they are | About 4,000 species in North America and about 1,600 in California: bumble bees, mason bees, sweat bees, and more | One managed species (Apis mellifera), originally from Europe, kept by beekeepers |
| Population status | More than a quarter of North American bumble bee species at risk. The rusty patched (2017) and Franklin’s (2021) bumble bees are federally endangered. | Not endangered. 2.81 million U.S. colonies in January 2026. Beekeepers replace heavy losses by splitting colonies. |
| Main threats | Habitat loss, pesticides, disease, climate change (IPBES 2016) | Varroa mites (USDA’s top-reported stressor), pesticides, poor forage |
| What helps | Native flowering habitat, nesting sites, fewer pesticides, monitoring | Better hive management, mite control, forage, and research |
| Who you’d fund | Habitat and research nonprofits | Honey bee health research, beekeeping education, colony rescue |
Bee organizations compared
Listed alphabetically within each group. EINs and tax status were checked against IRS data via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer in October 2026. Before you give, confirm them yourself with our legitimacy checklist.
National: native bees and pollinator habitat
Native bees · research, policy, habitat
Xerces Society
Founded in 1971 and based in Portland, Oregon, Xerces is the leading U.S. nonprofit for invertebrate conservation. It runs the Bee City USA program and co-runs community science projects like the California Bumble Bee Atlas.
- EIN:
- 51-0175253 · 501(c)(3)
- Good fit if:
- You want science-led native bee conservation with national reach
- Site:
- xerces.org
All pollinators · education, research
Pollinator Partnership
Based in San Francisco, it promotes pollinator health through conservation, education, and research. It is best known for organizing Pollinator Week and the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign.
- EIN:
- 94-3283967 · 501(c)(3)
- Good fit if:
- You want broad pollinator education and land-manager partnerships
- Site:
- pollinator.org
Monarch butterflies · habitat, science
Monarch Joint Venture
A St. Paul, Minnesota partnership protecting the monarch migration through habitat, education, and science. The milkweed and nectar habitat it promotes also feeds native bees.
- EIN:
- 83-1343107 · 501(c)(3)
- Good fit if:
- Butterflies are part of your motivation
National: honey bee health
Honey bees · research, forage
Project Apis m.
Funds honey bee health research for beekeepers and growers, and runs the Seeds for Bees cover-crop forage program. Its self-reported surveys of commercial beekeepers are widely cited.
- EIN:
- 20-8345956 · 501(c)(5). Gifts to a (c)(5) generally aren’t deductible as charitable contributions. A separately registered 501(c)(3) with a similar name exists, so confirm which entity you are paying.
- Good fit if:
- You want to support commercial beekeeping and crop pollination
- Site:
- projectapism.org
Honey and native bees · education, habitat
The Bee Conservancy (New York)
Founded in 2009 as The Honeybee Conservancy, it works on education, habitat, research, and advocacy. It is a fiscally sponsored project, so gifts legally go to its sponsor, Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs. Not affiliated with The Bee Conservatory.
- EIN:
- 95-4116679 (fiscal sponsor: Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs) · 501(c)(3)
- Good fit if:
- You want national programs in schools and communities
Local: Sacramento region
Our own listing · rescue, habitat, education
The Bee Conservatory (this site)
A Sacramento nonprofit founded in 2024. We provide free, humane removal and relocation of honey bee colonies across the region, plant native pollinator habitat, and teach pollinator science in schools. We are young and small. See our impact page for what we can show so far.
- EIN:
- 501(c)(3), EIN 93-1556974. IRS search listing pending; ask for our determination letter
- Good fit if:
- You live in the Sacramento region, or you want a gift to feel local and visible
- Give:
- Donate · Sponsor a hive · Volunteer
Honey bees · beekeeper education
Sacramento Area Beekeepers Association
A local association, IRS-recognized as tax-exempt since 2011, that promotes beekeeping and honey bee awareness through meetings, mentoring, and outreach. It is a good choice if you want to support beekeeper education in the region.
- EIN:
- 68-0270444 · 501(c)(3)
- Good fit if:
- You want to support local beekeepers
Not in Sacramento? The same mix usually exists near you: a local beekeepers’ association, a land trust or habitat group, and sometimes a rescue organization. A local gift is easier to verify in person, and a national gift reaches farther. You can also give time. The California Bumble Bee Atlas trains volunteers to survey bumble bees (see our volunteer guide).
Watch for “save the bees” lookalikes
“Save the bees” is a popular slogan, and plenty of products and pages use it. A “portion of proceeds” promise isn’t a donation you control, and it usually isn’t deductible. Before you give:
- Find the EIN and look it up. Names that sound alike are common in this space, including ours.
- Ask which bees the work helps and how. Habitat, research, rescue, and education are all legitimate, but they are different.
- Be skeptical of claims that buying a product or “adopting” a hive saves bees, without specifics about what the money funds.
- Check whether it is a 501(c)(3). Associations, cooperatives, and companies may do good work, but gifts to them generally aren’t deductible.
How to choose among them
| If you want to… | Give to | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Protect bee species that are declining | Native bee habitat and research (e.g. Xerces, regional habitat groups) | Habitat and pesticide reduction are what at-risk species need |
| Support farmers and crop pollination | Honey bee health research | Mites and disease drive beekeepers’ losses |
| See results in your own community | A local habitat or rescue nonprofit | You can visit, volunteer, and watch the work |
| Keep colonies out of exterminators’ hands | A humane live-removal program | Avoids pesticide use in homes and saves colonies that would otherwise be killed |
| Do something without spending money | Plant natives, skip pesticides, join the Bumble Bee Atlas | Habitat in yards adds up across a city |
Torn between sponsoring a hive and funding habitat? Our comparison, the best way to help bees with your money, goes through the trade-offs and the research.
Support bee conservation in the Sacramento region
If a local gift fits your goals, we would be grateful. Gifts are unrestricted by default and processed by Zeffy at no fee to us. To support a specific program, add a note at checkout.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best charity for bees?
For native bees, which include the species actually at risk, the Xerces Society is the leading national nonprofit (EIN 51-0175253). For honey bee health in agriculture, Project Apis m. funds research, though its main entity is a 501(c)(5). For local, visible results, choose a regional habitat or rescue organization you can verify in person.
Are honey bees endangered?
No. Honey bees are a managed agricultural species. USDA counted 2.81 million U.S. colonies on January 1, 2026, up 6% from a year earlier. Beekeepers do suffer heavy losses (55.6% of managed colonies from April 2024 to April 2025) but rebuild by splitting colonies. Some native bees are endangered, including the rusty patched and Franklin’s bumble bees.
Is The Bee Conservancy a good charity?
The Bee Conservancy is a New York organization founded in 2009 that runs education, habitat, research, and advocacy programs. It is a fiscally sponsored project of Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (EIN 95-4116679), so donations legally go to that sponsor. As with any charity, review the sponsor’s Form 990 and the project’s published results. It is not affiliated with The Bee Conservatory in Sacramento.
Is “save the bees” still a thing?
Yes, but the science has sharpened. Honey bee numbers are stable, so researchers now focus “save the bees” efforts on wild native bees, especially bumble bees, which need habitat and protection from pesticides.
Are donations to bee charities tax-deductible?
Donations to 501(c)(3) bee charities such as the Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership, and Monarch Joint Venture are deductible under normal rules. Gifts to 501(c)(5) organizations, beekeeping cooperatives, or companies selling “save the bees” products generally are not. Check the EIN in IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
How can I help save the bees without donating?
Plant native flowering plants that bloom across the seasons, leave some bare ground and stems for nesting, avoid pesticides (especially systemic insecticides), and join community science projects like the California Bumble Bee Atlas. If bees move into your home, call a humane live-removal service instead of an exterminator.
Sources and methodology
Facts in this guide come from primary sources (the IRS, FTC, state regulators, federal agencies, and peer-reviewed research) wherever possible. Figures were checked on October 16, 2026. Spot an error? Email info@thebeeconservatory.com. We correct the page and note the change.
- Honey Bee Colonies (August 2026 release) · USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
- U.S. Beekeeping Survey 2024–2025 results · Auburn University / Apiary Inspectors of America
- At-risk bumble bees · Xerces Society
- Want to save bees? Focus on habitat, not honey bees (2025) · Xerces Society
- Pollinators, pollination and food production assessment (2016) · IPBES
- Going native: do you know the native bees of California? · UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Franklin’s bumble bee listed as endangered (2021) · Oregon Public Broadcasting
- Nonprofit Explorer (EIN and filing data) · ProPublica
- Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (Form 990 data) · ProPublica
- California seeks volunteers to track imperiled bumble bees · Xerces Society