About
Ducks Unlimited is a Memphis, Tennessee-based conservation nonprofit that describes itself as the world's largest and most effective private waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization. Founded in 1937, it works with members, volunteers, landowners, and government partners to conserve wetlands and associated habitats across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Mission
In its own words: "Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America's waterfowl. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people." The organization pledges to commit at least 80 percent of its resources to its conservation mission.
What they do
- Habitat conservation: protecting intact wetlands through conservation easements, enhancing degraded wetlands, and restoring historically drained wetlands, with projects in all 50 states, Canada, and Mexico focused on the highest-priority breeding, migration, and wintering habitat.
- Science-based research: conservation work is guided by waterfowl and wetlands science delivered by more than 900 DU conservation professionals.
- Public policy advocacy: engaging on wetlands and waterfowl policy at multiple levels of government.
- Grassroots fundraising: a volunteer-driven events program; in fiscal year 2024, 30,000 Ducks Unlimited volunteers hosted nearly 600,000 attendees at 4,555 events.
- Partnerships: projects are carried out in cooperation with federal and state agencies, private landowners, and other conservation entities.
History
Ducks Unlimited was established in 1937, during the Dust Bowl era, when waterfowl populations had reached crisis levels. It grew out of a group of sportsmen determined to prevent further decline of North America's waterfowl and their wetland habitats.
Scale and impact
Ducks Unlimited reports it has conserved more than 20 million acres of wetlands and other waterfowl habitats across North America, including 1 million acres of conservation delivered three years in a row (2024-2026), and cites 26 trillion gallons of water conserved since 1937. The organization counts 684,000 members and over 1 million supporters, and its grassroots network hosts more than 4,000 fundraising events annually. It has been awarded the Platinum Seal of Transparency by Candid.
Financials
According to ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, Ducks Unlimited Inc (EIN 13-5643799) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt since June 1956. For the fiscal year ending June 2025, it reported revenue of $380.3 million, expenses of $386.7 million, and net assets of $373.1 million, with contributions making up about 89% of revenue.
Governance
Ducks Unlimited operates as a grassroots, volunteer-based organization with national staff headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, and is governed by a Board of Directors. Its CEO is Adam Putnam, whose compensation was $688,752 in the fiscal year ending June 2025 per ProPublica.
