“The struggle of today is not altogether for today...it is for a vast future, also.”

-Abraham Lincoln-

Programs

The Wildlife Foundation of Florida is preeminently an advocate for Florida's fish and wildlife resources. A not-for-profit, non-political, financing, and action group, we are dedicated to preserving Florida's fish and wildlife for future generations. Now in our second decade of service, we function to raise funds and to build support for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and other organizations engaged in science-based nature conservation, management, education, and research activities. Listed below is a sample of the over 60 programs we support with your help.

	Becoming an Outdoors Woman Workshops are designed primarily for women; however, it is an excellent opportunity for anyone 18 years of age or older to learn the outdoor skills usually associated with hunting and fishing, and a variety of outdoor pursuits. These workshops focus on the learning of outdoor skills. We strive to offer a variety of topics in our workshops, balanced between hunting/shooting, fishing and non-consumptive (canoeing, camping, etc.) activities.
	Charles "Charlie" Stroh Fund for the Restoration of Davis Reef It is well known that the quality coral reefs, especially the shallow bank reefs such as Davis Reef, have declined in recent years. Coral cover especially has dropped considerably.
	Florida Marine Fisheries Enhancement Initiative The Wildlife Foundation of Florida is asking everyone to Support Florida Sportfish. We need your help to make an exciting Marine Fisheries Enhancement Initiative become a reality.
	Florida Youth Conservation Centers Recent research indicates that over the past 10 years, the proportion of children ages 9 to 12 who spent time in activities like hiking, walking, and fishing declined by 50%. That isn’t healthy for the future of our children—or for the future of our great outdoors—so the Wildlife Foundation of Florida is helping find a solution.
	Friends of Chinsegut Wildlife and Environmental Area The Friends group assists the Chinsegut Nature Center and the Chinsegut Wildlife Environmental Area through fundraising, partnerships and outreach. The Chinsegut Wildlife Environmental Area serves the public through public nature programs and festivals, and through restoration of the natural ecosystems.
	FWC Employee Disaster Relief Fund The primary mission of the FWC Employee Disaster Relief fund is to provide immediate cash assistance to FWC employees in the wake of a natural disaster or a house fire. The fund may also assist affected employees with utilities, rent or house payments in certain situations.
	FWC Landowner Assistance Program FWC's Landowner Assistance Program strives to form voluntary and long-term partnerships with private landowners that promote the wise use and stewardship of natural resources on private lands. Donations to the Landowner Assistance Program are used to deliver many types of conservation assistance including technical, education, outreach, recognition, monitoring, and/or financial.
	FWC Law Enforcement General Fund Protecting Florida's natural resources and people through proactive and responsive law enforcement services.
	FWC Law Enforcement Memorial Fund The FWC Law Enforcement Memorial Fund was created to help defray the costs associated with travel to and from state and national memorial services by Division personnel and those spouses and immediate family members of members that were killed in the line-of-duty and to pay for the purchase and maintenance of memorial displays and other costs associated with honored fallen members.
	Get Outdoors Florida! MISSION: Engaging communities, families and individuals in outdoor experiences to achieve healthier lifestyles and sustain Florida's natural resources. VISION: A healthy Florida community that is connected with nature and reflects social diversity exhibits a conservation ethic ensuring a sustainable future and recreational opportunities.
	Gopher Tortoise Habitat Fund The Gopher Tortoise Habitat Fund furthers the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) management plan to protect the threatened gopher tortoise. Funds will help obtain gopher tortoise habitat and assist with the cost of land-management activities needed to maintain suitable living and foraging conditions.
	Great Florida Birding Trail The Great Florida Birding Trail (GFBT) is a program of the FWC. At its core is a network of 489 sites throughout Florida selected for their excellent birdwatching or bird education opportunities. This 2000-mile, self-guided highway trail is designed to conserve and enhance Florida's bird habitat by promoting birdwatching activities, conservation education and economic opportunity.
	Help Injured Panthers Return to the Wild This fund was established to aid in the recovery of injured or orphaned Florida panthers as well as other panther conservation needs. The Florida Panther Fund is an important resource that will give the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) flexibility to deal with rare, unplanned and non-budgeted events.
	Hunter Safety Fund Donations to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Hunter Safety Fund are directed to the Youth Hunting Program of Florida or the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center.
	Keys Marine Laboratory The Keys Marine Laboratory (KML), located in the City of Layton on Long Key, Florida, is operated jointly by the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI), a unit of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and the Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO), a consortium under the State University System (SUS). The KML was established as a full service marine research and education center serving undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and researchers from the state, national and international scientific communities.
	Marine Mammal Fund As you may know already, the focus of our FWC Marine Mammal Research Program is conservation research designed to provide timely information for protecting Florida manatees. Understanding the population trends and biology of manatees is of fundamental importance to recovery efforts. Staff biologists conduct studies to evaluate how the Florida manatee population is doing in terms of abundance, mortality, health, available habitat, and behavior.
	Marine Science Education at Cedar Key Marine Science Education at Cedar Key is a hands- on- learning experience from the Florida Fish and Wildlife and is funded through Sport Fish Restoration. Classes vary from habitat conservation, fish Identification, kid's fishing clinics, adult fishing clinics, angler outreach, and specialized programs upon request. Each program has a common goal- to teach proper conservation of Florida's marine fisheries and their habitats through ethical angling and proper stewardship.
	Palm Beach Mooring Buoy Endowment Fund The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management (PBC DERM), and the Wildlife Foundation of Florida (WFF) have agreed to cooperatively partner and establish a network of mooring buoys to protect Palm Beach County's most sensitive shallow reefs. These reefs are suffering from damage caused by the deployment of boat anchors by those who use the reefs for recreational and commercial purposes.
	Ridge Rangers Ridge Rangers are dedicated volunteers committed to conserving one of Florida's most endangered ecosystems, the Lake Wales Ridge. People of all ages, backgrounds and skills are working together to help wildlife managers protect habitat, manage wildlife populations, conduct important research and educate others about the rare qualities of this fragile ecosystem.
	Stop the Gambian Rat! The Gambian rat was imported as an “exotic” pet and escaped into the Florida Keys. This foreign species—which is fifteen inches long and weighs about nine pounds—is a serious threat to Florida’s native ecosystem and our economy.

All gifts are tax deductible as allowed by law.