OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and his wife, Anna, have donated $5.5 million to a campaign to purchase and preserve land near the nest of Jackie and Shadow, the Big Bear Lake bald eagle pair whose live nest cam has attracted a worldwide audience.

The gift, announced by the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), pushed a months-long fundraising effort past its $10 million target with only days remaining before a purchase deadline.

The funds will be used to acquire Moon Camp, a 63-acre parcel of San Bernardino County forest and shoreline near the eagles' nest in Fawnskin, California, according to FOBBV. The property had previously been approved for a development project that included 50 luxury homes and a marina.

Bald eagles were removed from the federal endangered species list in 2007 after decades of recovery efforts, but habitat loss remains a persistent pressure on nesting populations, particularly in rapidly developing regions of Southern California. Conservationists describe the Moon Camp parcel as the last undeveloped stretch of Big Bear Lake's shoreline.

"We are beyond grateful for the tireless support of so many people these past six months. This is a special community that has a real love for Jackie and Shadow's wellbeing along with nature," said Jenny Voisard, FOBBV spokesperson and fundraising lead, in a statement.

Jackie's Health Crisis

The donation arrived during a period of concern over Jackie's health. The eagle was transported to the Ojai Raptor Center in mid-July after rescuers found her fighting with two younger eagles along the lakeshore, unable to fly.

Veterinarians determined she was severely anemic, with inflammation affecting her kidneys. She received a life-saving blood transfusion, experienced a setback when her blood values dropped, and then rallied. By late July, the center reported she had been moved out of the ICU — an encouraging milestone — though veterinarians had not yet identified the underlying cause of her illness.

On Monday, the Ojai Raptor Center shared a somber update on social media: "today's bloodwork brought some difficult news."

"Her packed cell volume (PCV) has dropped to 13%, which means her anemia has worsened since our last update," the center wrote. Veterinarians plan to conduct "additional advanced diagnostic testing" to better understand her condition and determine next treatment steps.

"We know how deeply so many of you care about this eagle, and we are grateful for your continued encouragement and support," the center added.

Grassroots Effort That Needed a Final Push

The fundraiser was not designed to depend on a single benefactor. FOBBV launched the campaign in February to halt the Moon Camp development. The San Bernardino Board of Supervisors had previously approved the project, with county officials asserting it would not harm local bald eagles.

More than 25,000 donations came in, most of them small, collectively raising nearly half of the $10 million target. The Brockmans' contribution closed the remaining gap. The campaign's reliance on a live-streaming audience reflects a broader trend in conservation fundraising, where real-time wildlife cameras have become powerful tools for mobilizing small-dollar donors — most of whom may never visit the habitat in person.

The Brockmans, who did not respond to a request for comment, described the donation as a tribute to the birds they had watched via the live cam alongside the broader public.

"They inspire perseverance and a sense of connectedness to something greater, to nature," Anna Brockman said in a statement. "We are proud to be supportive."

The Brockmans' Broader Philanthropic Profile

The eagle donation stands as an unusual public moment for the Brockmans, whose charitable giving has predominantly taken the form of political contributions.

In 2025, Greg and Anna Brockman each contributed $25 million to MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump super PAC, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, placing them among the organization's largest donors that year.

Earlier this year, the couple also invested $50 million in Leading the Future, a super PAC advocating for lighter AI regulation that Greg Brockman helped launch alongside Andreessen Horowitz co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz. According to The Information, the couple has contributed approximately $75 million to Trump-aligned super PACs in total.

These political donations have posed challenges for OpenAI. The company has emphasized that the funds came from Brockman personally and not from OpenAI, and that the company does not direct or finance the PACs.

"Our employees are free to participate in the political process in their personal capacities, including by donating or providing advice to candidates, campaigns, and political organizations," OpenAI said in a statement published June 1. "When they do that, they speak for themselves and not OpenAI."

A $5.5 million donation to protect bald eagles represents a departure from the Brockmans' typical giving pattern, and it remains to be seen whether they will pursue additional locally focused, environmentally inspired philanthropic contributions.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com.