The Endangered Species Chocolate Foundation was founded as a 501(c)(3) public charity in 2009 by the owners of Endangered Species Chocolate LLC who—when visiting cacao farming communities in Africa, South and Central America—witnessed firsthand the poverty prevalent for independent farmers of the cacao used to make chocolate. The Foundation is an extension of the for-profit company’s ethical trade philosophy, which aims to foster responsible labor practices, community enrichment, fair wages and sustainable agricultural for independent cacao growers.

The Foundation identifies cacao farming cooperatives whose members seek to build a more sustainable livelihood for their families. The Foundation works closely with the co-op to identify and develop positive solutions together to create sustainable change and supports one closed-loop, sustainability-building project serving one cacao farming community at a time.