The International Crane Foundation (ICF) was founded in 1973 by Ron Sauey and George Archibald at a former horse farm in Baraboo, Wisconsin (USA).

The main goals of the ICF include reasearch (especially about the distribution of different crane species), habitat protection (especially wetland conservation), reintroduction and captive breeding projects of rare crane species (especially Whooping and Siberian Cranes) as well as raising awareness of people for cranes and crane conservation.

Crane Conservation Germany is closely cooperating with the ICF in several crane conservation projects, like in Turkey, Mongolia and Ethiopia.