The Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) is the principle, non-profit, non-government organisation dedicated to the conservation and effective management of the wild koala and its habitat.

Australian Koala Foundation was formed in 1986 and celebrates over 20 years of operation under the direction of Chief Executive Officer Deborah Tabart. During this time, the Foundation has grown from a small group of people interested in researching koala disease, to a well-known, global organisation with a strong track record in strategic koala research, conservation and community education.

The organisation has its headquarters in Brisbane, but is comprised of a small national network of staff and volunteers. Staff members personally respond to more than 10,000 queries and requests for information each year - from students and local residents to land managers, planners and documentary makers. Over 20,000 individuals and groups subscribe to the organisation’s magazine, while the number of hits recorded on the web site (www.savethekoala.com) each year approaches 1 million.

The non government, not for profit organisation is committed to the pursuit of conservation-driven research, world-leading models, and solutions to issues with far-reaching implications.

Among other things, it has (1) grown to become the world's largest funding body of koala research, (2) mapped 4 million hectares of land for koala habitat as part of its award-winning Koala Habitat Atlas, (3) educated and engaged the community in conservation, and (4) achieved greater protection for koalas and their habitat. All of this has been achieved without any government funding.
Long term partnerships are crucial to the Foundation’s success. For example, Koala Beach Estate, a residential estate situated on the New South Wales coast, is the result of an 11-year partnership with the Ray Group (a developer). As well as koala-friendly measures, the Estate incorporates 260 hectares of habitat protected in perpetuity.

In 2003, the Foundation's research findings prompted the Queensland Government to list Southeast Queensland's koalas as 'vulnerable' under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, while the Foundation's 2004 submission to the Federal Government to afford the species national 'vulnerable' status throughout its natural range under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 received a negative response.