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| Michael Butler Chief Executive Officer |
Kendall McCarter Chief Development Officer |
Conservationists like you make all the difference.
Tennessee Wildlife Federation was founded by people like you, sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts, more than 75 years ago. For decades our work has conserved our waters, wildlife, and wild places.
Support from individuals, families, foundations, and state agencies allow us to manage wildlife populations and restore habitats for a more vibrant Tennessee. This financial support also gets the next generation outdoors so they are inspired to fight for our wildlife.
Tennessee Wildlife Federation is honored by the trust and faith of our supporters. We don’t take any gift for granted and are committed to transparency in both our work and our financial reporting.
For every dollar we receive to conserve Tennessee’s wildlife, $0.77 goes to support our mission-driven programs and $0.23 covers administration and fundraising expenses.
| TOTAL INCOME | $4,384,643 |
|---|---|
| TOTAL EXPENSES | $3,820,004 |
| Programming Expenses | $2,933,023 |
| Operating and Fundraising Expenses | $886,981 |
| TOTAL NET INCOME | $564,639 |
from IRS 990
Building Momentum for Recovering America’s Wildlife
Senator Bill Hagerty is the most recent to sign onto the bipartisan wildlife conservation bill.
Tennessee now has strong support for the most important piece of wildlife legislation in the past fifty years. This is especially important to our state since it is ranked in the top ten for species extinctions, and we have nearly 1,500 species close to becoming threatened or endangered, including cerulean warblers, eastern hellbender salamanders, and bobwhite quail.
The Federation’s policy team is hard at work garnering the support of our Tennessee delegation for the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA). Senator Bill Hagerty is the most recent to sign onto the bipartisan wildlife conservation bill. Republicans David Kustoff and Chuck Fleischmann and Democrats Jim Cooper and Steve Cohen are among the bipartisan supporters of the House version of the bill.
If passed, Tennessee will receive $25 million annually for its wildlife action plan. RAWA follows the old adage that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” With the cost to taxpayers averaging $19 million to develop a single recovery plan for any species listed as threatened or endangered, and the cost to private businesses running 4–5 times this amount, it makes strong financial sense that these funds be made available to prevent and stop the decline of these critical species.
A Boon for Birds and Other Wildlife
The project will identify three large restoration areas totaling more than 60,000 acres.
Long-term, effective wildlife conservation begins with habitat. This year, the Federation began work with Ruffed Grouse Society, American Woodcock Society, and others to enhance more than 6,800 acres of wildlife habitat in Tennessee and Kentucky.
An expansive undertaking, the project will identify three large restoration areas totaling more than 60,000 acres on the Cumberland Plateau—two in Kentucky and one in Tennessee—to improve forest structure and health to benefit a suite of wildlife species that require mixed-aged forests.
Restoration efforts in Tennessee will primarily take place in the North Cumberland region and include a mix of responsible timber management, prescribed burning, and tree plantings on public and private lands. The project will employ dynamic forest restoration blocks to closely monitor and measure the performance of forest management techniques in designated areas. This approach will help achieve the desired forest conditions more quickly and effectively to improve wildlife populations.
Conservation Policy
Secured critically-needed federal funds for invasive carp control
Engaged the sporting community on important issues like chronic wasting disease
Promoted the balanced recreational use of Tennessee rivers
Helped pass landmark federal legislation for habitat and public lands, like the Great American Outdoors Act
Elevated awareness about threats to the state’s healthy and abundant waters for wildlife and people
1,500+ advocacy actions taken
Hunting and Fishing Academy
130+ volunteer mentors trained
2,000+ participants
- are confident about hunting and fishing
- have more outdoor skills
- will go hunting and fishing on their own
Habitat Conservation
2,275 acres of habitat restored
2+ miles of streams restored
70,000 trees planted
Tennessee SCTP
1,600+ athletes
280 competed in nationals
17 first place finishers
Hunters for the Hungry
142,000+ pounds of venison donated
563,000+ servings provided through food banks and soup kitchens
Photo credits: Nate Brown, Bryce Wade, Charlie Curry, Andrew Hill