April 3 marks Dr. Jane Goodall’s birthday. For decades, this day has been a moment when people around the world celebrate her life, her work, and her impact on how we understand our relationship with people, other animals, and the planet.
This year, the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) is marking this day in a new way.
JGI is proud to launch Jane Goodall Day, our first annual giving day and a day of action. It is rooted in the belief Jane championed throughout her life: that hope is something we create together.
Jane Goodall Day reimagines Jane’s birthday as a shared, global moment to come together in action and celebrate how her legacy lives on through people, communities, and our collective effort to make a positive difference.
What Is Jane Goodall Day?
Jane Goodall Day is an opportunity to celebrate Jane’s remarkable life through an annual day of action and giving. Each year, Jane Goodall Day will be celebrated on April 3, Jane’s birthday.
It is a moment to recognize how Jane’s influence continues today through the work of JGI and through the millions of people who carry her values forward in their own lives and communities.
Each year, Jane Goodall Day supporters can join together to protect wildlife and habitats, strengthen communities, and care for the planet we all share.
Jane Goodall Day is about carrying this work forward and shaping what comes next.
Why This Day Matters
Jane built JGI to last. She surrounded herself with respected scientists, conservationists, educators, and community leaders whom she trusted to guide this work forward.
Jane Goodall Day affirms that continuity and momentum. It reflects a movement that is active, growing, and grounded in strong leadership and global collaboration.
Lasting change does not come from a single moment. It comes from people choosing, again and again, to step forward with purpose.
How You Can Take Part in Jane Goodall Day
Jane Goodall Day is designed to be celebrated in many different ways.
1. Take Action for People, Animals, and the Planet
Jane Goodall Day is about the everyday actions that build a better future. That might mean volunteering locally, reducing waste, helping a neighbor, starting a community project, or sharing a story about how Jane inspired you. Through JGI’s youth-action program, 🔗 Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, people can access free tools, guidance, and inspiration to start an impactful project in your own community.
2. Make a Gift and Double your Impact
One way to honor Jane is to support the causes she cared about, including her namesake conservation organization, the Jane Goodall Institute. 🔗 A donation to JGI USA supports the work Jane dedicated her life to: protecting chimpanzees and other at-risk wildlife, strengthening community-led conservation, advancing science, and inspiring young people to take action. Every gift made to JGI in honor of Jane Goodall Day between now and April 3, 2026 will be matched up to $300,000— meaning your impact will be DOUBLED!
3. Share the Jane Goodall Day Digital Supporter Badge
Everyone who donates receives a 🔗 digital supporter badge to download and share on social media. It is a simple way to show you are part of this growing movement, invite others to join, and share how Jane inspired you.
As Jane often said, “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
It Started with Jane. Now, it Continues with You.
Jane began a global movement. Jane Goodall Day is how we continue it.
On April 3, and in the days that follow, we invite you to take part in protecting wildlife, strengthening communities, and caring for the planet we all share.
Together we can. Together we will. Together we must.
Photo credits, in order of appearance: Morten Bjarnhof /GANT, Paul Swen, JGI/Eric Guzzetta, David Montejano
