About
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is one of the largest conservation grant-makers in the United States. Established by Congress in 1984 as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, NFWF is headquartered in Washington, DC, and works to protect and restore the nation's fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats for current and future generations.
Mission
NFWF's mission is to foster sustainable and impactful conservation solutions so that people and nature thrive together. The foundation specializes in collaborative conservation, bringing together government agencies, nonprofits, corporations, and individuals to address imperiled species protection, ocean and estuary health, wildlife-friendly working landscapes, sustainable fisheries, and water conservation. NFWF does not fund advocacy, litigation, or membership campaigns, focusing instead on achieving measurable conservation results.
What they do
NFWF administers competitive grant programs across all 50 states and U.S. territories, including:
- The Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund.
- The Coral Reef Stewardship Fund.
- The Western Big Game Seasonal Habitat and Migration Corridors Fund.
- The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley Restoration Fund.
- The Hawai'i Conservation Program.
Recent grant announcements include $13.3 million for western big game habitat, $2.1 million for coral reef restoration, and $1.2 million for Hawai'i's native birds and watersheds. The foundation's IDEA (Impact-Directed Environmental Accounts) department also manages hundreds of accounts arising from environmental settlements and permit-required mitigation at the federal, state, and local levels.
Scale and impact
Since its founding, NFWF has funded more than 23,900 conservation projects and mobilized financial commitments exceeding $12 billion. It partners with 15 federal agencies as well as dozens of corporate and foundation partners.
Financials
According to Form 990 data on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, NFWF reported total revenue of $584,225,222 and total expenses of $520,771,199 in fiscal year 2025, with total assets of $3,563,877,589 and net assets of $470,723,557. NFWF is a 501(c)(3) organization; its federal tax exemption was issued in July 1986.
Governance
NFWF is governed by a 30-member Board of Directors approved by the Secretary of the Interior, reflecting the foundation's congressional charter and its close working relationships with federal conservation agencies.
