In April, IT4Causes CEO Tom Anderson attended Change the World to Save the Cheetah, an inspiring evening hosted by the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) at the historic Fraser Mansion in Washington, D.C. The program brought together supporters for a cocktail reception, remarks and a presentation, and a candid Q&A focused on what it truly takes to protect the world’s fastest land animal. For Tom, it was a meaningful opportunity to connect with fellow changemakers, and to finally meet CCF’s Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Laurie Marker (though IT4Causes has served CCF for over five years, the two leaders had never actually met in person previously).
Dr. Marker is a conservation scientist with more than four decades of experience building science-based strategies to keep cheetahs in the wild, where fewer than 7,500 of the species are estimated to remain. Through CCF, she has advanced solutions that recognize conservation is inseparable from community realities, such as:
- reducing human-wildlife conflict,
- addressing illegal wildlife trade,
- strengthening local livelihoods, and
- supporting research and education that can scale across regions.
Her message throughout the evening was clear: saving one species is never just about the species, it’s about protecting ecosystems and partnering with people to create sustainable coexistence.
That idea resonates deeply with IT4Causes’ mission: lasting impact happens when expertise meets service. Just as CCF pairs conservation science with practical, on-the-ground support, IT4Causes helps nonprofits strengthen their work by making technology reliable, affordable, and mission-centered, so teams can stay focused on the communities and causes they serve. Tom left the event energized by Dr. Marker’s example of persistence, partnership, and measurable outcomes. If you’d like to learn more about CCF’s work (or explore ways to support organizations driving change, we encourage you to follow their efforts, and reach out to IT4Causes to see how we can help your nonprofit’s mission thrive.