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How do I get a donation receipt?

For donations under €300, tax offices usually accept a bank statement as proof. You also received a donation receipt with your confirmation email. You can request it again here by email. Be sure to use the same email address you used for your donation.

What is the 24 GOOD DEEDS Advent Calendar?

The 24 GOOD DEEDS Advent Calendar is a unique way to support a wide range of social and environmental projects worldwide. For example, one calendar door might protect 150 m² of Amazon rainforest in Brazil, provide a meal for a child in Nepal, or partially fund a holiday trip for a child in need in Germany. Your donation amount is flexible, starting at €1. Important! You donate this amount per project, meaning per calendar door. Starting from €24, you will receive the 24 GOOD DEEDS Advent Calendar as a thank you gift so you can see which specific projects you’re supporting.

How can I get or gift the calendar?

Via our donation form you can donate to the 24 projects at any time. As a thank you and to show you which aid projects you are supporting, we’ll send you the sustainable Advent calendar starting in October. Of course, you can also send the 24 GOOD DEEDS Advent Calendar as a gift to family, friends, or acquaintances. We’ll include a greeting card where you can write your personal Advent message. Prefer a digital version? No problem! Starting December 1st, we’ll send you the Advent calendar as a digital version via email, including the daily door and background info on the project. Here you can order the Advent calendar.

Is my donation tax-deductible?

Yes, your donation is tax-deductible. 24guteTaten e.V. is officially recognized as a non-profit organization by the Düsseldorf-South tax office. For donations under €300, tax offices generally accept a bank statement as proof. This is because they treat it as direct evidence of the transaction. You will receive a donation receipt by email shortly after making your donation.

Do 100 percent of the donations go to the projects?

75 percent of the donations collected through the Advent calendar go to charitable purposes, 25 percent to administration and marketing. After covering nonprofit expenses of 24guteTaten e.V., the remaining amount is evenly distributed among the 24 calendar projects.

How is it ensured that my donation arrives?

We take the monitoring of donation use very seriously. Each organization signs a contract that defines the implementation of the good deed. Additionally, aid organizations must document their project progress through detailed reports, receipts, and photos. Our organization is also committed to transparency . That’s why we report annually on our activities and disclose how we use our funds.

How can I apply with a project for a calendar door?

The projects featured in the 24 GOOD DEEDS Advent Calendar are selected anew each year. Applications usually open on December 6th of the previous year. Want to be notified when the next application round opens? Then sign up here for our NGO newsletter or submit your application directly. You'll also find everything you need to know about the application process there.

How can I learn more about the projects in the Advent calendar?

You’ll find detailed background info on each of the current projects daily from December 1st to 24th on our website. All previous projects are available in our calendar archive. Also, sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.

How are the projects for the Advent calendar selected?

Each year, nonprofit organizations can apply for a calendar door. The selected projects must meet strict criteria. Our goal is to support particularly sustainable, impactful, and transparent projects. You can find details about our selection process here

Who is behind the 24 GOOD DEEDS Advent Calendar?

The 24 GOOD DEEDS Advent Calendar is an initiative by the nonprofit organization 24guteTaten e.V., founded in 2011. The organization is based in Düsseldorf.

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Tag 14

25 min. operation against poaching in Côte d'Ivoire

Putting an end to animal smugglers

From investigation to seizure: Combating wildlife crime

"Get ready! He's leaving now to retrieve the promised tusks from their hiding place," reports one of the undercover investigators. For weeks, he's been working covertly against an ivory syndicate that has yet to be brought to justice. Disguised as a buyer, he has built trust and gradually dispelled the dealers' suspicions. Now every minute counts: the handover is imminent. The team behind the scenes knows exactly what to do. The location is checked one last time; the police and wildlife protection agency are waiting for the signal. Everything must remain discreet while radios are tested and cameras are positioned. The moment of truth arrives: will the long preparation be enough to deliver the decisive blow? After 30 tense minutes, the dealer finally appears. A brief exchange, then he leads the investigator to a Jeep on a side street. In the trunk: four crates of elephant tusks, covered with a tarpaulin. The move!

Maria Furtwängler tells you about her favorite project

Need

Protection of endangered species from poaching and trade in Côte d’Ivoire

Activity

Local undercover teams track down animal smugglers, dismantle criminal networks, and deter potential offenders

Measurable output

Deployment time of the undercover team

Result

Criminal gangs are being stopped and wildlife crime in Côte d’Ivoire is declining

System-relevant impact

Biodiversity conservation in West Africa and wildlife trafficking are being consistently prosecuted

Background

Just 60 years ago, Côte d'Ivoire boasted one of the greatest biodiversities in Africa, with dense forests and rare animal species. Now, 90% of its forests have disappeared (Kouadio & Singh 2021). These forests are no longer a habitat for endangered species, and where dense forests are cleared, poachers can penetrate ever deeper. The highly lucrative illegal wildlife trade is linked to organized criminal gangs that threaten biodiversity and bribe authorities (Merem et al. 2018). Côte d'Ivoire is a target for such smuggling gangs, which trade in ivory, big cat pelts, and live monkeys and birds, among other things (Kouakou et al. 2020). Combating wildlife crime requires real consequences: perpetrators must be tracked down, arrested, and convicted. Crucially, however, intensive public awareness campaigns about prison sentences and fines are also essential to deter potential offenders (Horion et al. 2025). The EAGLE team, a group of courageous undercover investigators, lawyers, and PR professionals, operates strategically on both fronts: Through covert investigations, they unmask criminals and support conservation authorities in their enforcement efforts. EAGLE ensures that cases go to court and receive comprehensive media coverage. Operating in Côte d'Ivoire since 2017, EAGLE apprehended one of West Africa's biggest great ape traffickers in its very first year. This case led to the first-ever arrest of a great ape in Côte d'Ivoire.

The good deed

With your good deed today, you'll help uncover wildlife trafficking in Ivory Coast. This way, you'll directly protect endangered species. In undercover missions, the EAGLE team tracks down traffickers who sell things like live chimpanzee babies, ivory, or pangolin scales. What sounds like a crime thriller is everyday life for the wildlife conservation team – they've been fighting wildlife crime in West Africa since 2008. As soon as enough evidence is gathered, EAGLE contacts the police and authorities. If perpetrators are caught and animals are confiscated, the team files charges, supports the legal proceedings, and ensures that the public is informed. In a country like Ivory Coast, where poaching went unpunished for a long time, such convictions are crucial: They send a clear message, neutralize perpetrators, and deter others.

Côte d'Ivoire

Yamoussoukro

Capital city

31.934.230

Population

As of 2024

318.003

Land area in km²

0.9 times the size of Germany

French

Official language(s)

As of 2025

Trade in ivory, gold, and enslaved people began as early as the 15th century, which is why the country still bears this name today. European traders and colonial powers turned the region into an important trading center at that time. Today, only a few hundred elephants remain there.

About the organization and further information