National Wildlife Federation

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Nonprofit Overview

Causes: Animals, Environment, Environmental Education, Wildlife Preservation & Protection

Mission: We believe America’s experience with cherished landscapes and wildlife has helped define and shape our national character and identity for generations. Protecting these natural resources is a cause that has long united Americans from all walks of life and political stripes. To hunters, anglers, hikers, birders, wildlife watchers, boaters, climbers, campers, cyclists, gardeners, farmers, forest stewards, and other outdoor enthusiasts, this conservation ethic represents a sacred duty and obligation to protect and build upon our conservation heritage for the sake of wildlife, ourselves, our neighbors, and—most of all—for future generations. --- This belief led us to form a new strategic plan for saving wildlife that are suffering declines across America, with the goal of increasing America's fish and wildlife populations and enhancing their capacity to thrive in a rapidly changing world. The plan sets in motion a Common Agenda for Wildlife built upon sound science, clear priorities, and scalable solutions. Our Common Agenda includes a commitment to: -Protect, Restore, and Connect Wildlife Habitat: Active restoration and reconnection of fragmented and degraded habitat across protected lands, working lands, waterways, coasts, and communities. -Transform Wildlife Conservation: Advancing 21st century wildlife management, defending public trust resources, and confronting emerging stressors like climate change, invasive species, and wildlife diseases. -Connect Americans with Wildlife: Inspiring the next generation of conservationists and mobilizing a diverse conservation army to broaden the stewardship ethic, conservation action, public and private investments, and support for policy changes necessary to save thousands of at-risk species in our time.

Community Stories

24 Stories from Volunteers, Donors & Supporters

givemeabreak10 Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 1

01/31/2024

They "offer" Ranger Rick Magazines but through some marketing ploy refuse to allow you to actually purchase them. WHAT A SCAM! I don't know what happened to such a "used to be" well respected agency. I used their magazines in all my classrooms and the children loved them and were inspired to connect with nature. I'm a board certified teacher, now retired and am so disappointed about this change.

2

Edward D. General Member of the Public

Rating: 1

06/28/2021

In a recent transaction with The National Wildlife Federation, via Garden for Wildlife dot org, requests for customer service have gone un noticed with no response. Donate or spend your money locally, this not for profit is anything but.

Marysfriends General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

05/08/2021

Received my wildlife habitat plaque in 2 weeks and my certificate a few days later. Love it.

4

EmmaFox14 Client Served

Rating: 1

12/08/2020

I would not have given them any stars but that is not a choice. I ordered Christmas cards on October 31, thinking that would be plenty of time. How wrong was I!!!
Several phone calls later, I finally got an email on November 26 saying that my order was on the way. I was given a tracking number. I have checked it several times and it seems that USPS is waiting for the package. I finally called yesterday, after several emails for which I never got a response. I hung on for 50 minutes before I got hold of a customer service person. He told me that when things are sent out they are sent out federal express, then federal express delivers it to USPS then USPS delivers it to me . It certainly does not sound too efficient to me. If my cards ever come, and that is a very big if, they will be sent directly back to The National Wildlife Federation. At this point, I have already gotten new cards from a store.

4

Diane G.5 General Member of the Public

Rating: 1

11/23/2020

I purchased 2 items and a few days later they went on sale. I called for a price adjustment and they would not honor. I understand that this is a non profit organization however that is just poor customer service. I will never support this organization again.

3

susanjwww General Member of the Public

Rating: 1

06/03/2020

I heard about the garden certification and ordered a custom sign for $30. When it arrived it was a generic sign that looked like I STOLE it from a national park!! I emailed them and am waiting for a refund. What a scam. I wish I read other folks experiences before doing anything with these folks.

9

naturegirlfriend Client Served

Rating: 1

04/03/2020

They may do good work, but it has been a nightmare trying to unsubscribe from all the other organizations they sold my name to in the past year! Too much junk! I feel used!

14

Writer Donor

Rating: 2

06/13/2017

I donated/purchased to have my backyard habitat certified. The process from the beginning was very unprofessional. The website said it was an unsecured site. Why???? My credit card was charged immediately. Then the wait was on. No confirmation e-mail. No tracking number. Calls with long wait times. They had my correct e-mail. I could not sign into their web site after my purchase, said it was not recognized. Then I received a paper certificate telling me to purchase the Wildlife Habitat yard sign. That was what they charged my card for the day I purchased it. Called again to clear things up, now waiting for the sign. Very dissappointed with the whole process.

11

VPositiva Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 4

06/11/2015

The National Wildlife Federation has been around for 80 years and has evolved and changed throughout the decades. One constant it seems is the organization's commitment to conservation education. Their scientists and policy experts across the country inform decisions at the local, state, federal, and even international levels, and their community programs and Ranger Rick magazines help get people of all ages outdoors, enjoying and protecting wildlife and wild places.

Review from Guidestar

33

ZigPope General Member of the Public

Rating: 1

03/27/2015

People need to beware that this organization is looking to get behind Congress gutting the Endangered Species Act, thereby supporting the trophy hunting of wolves in the US. Wolves that can only be found in less than 12% of the natural range.

This organization is looking to move back to its original position of promoting hunting. So while they look like they are all about saving animals, they want your money to save them, so their members can kill them.

Beware. They are a bait a switch.

Review from Guidestar

10

jagobiddy Donor

Rating: 5

12/08/2014

I love the publications like Ranger Rick that help excite my kids about nature. Also appreciate that NWF seems to be very centrist in its positions, working with both Democrats and Republicans to get things done.

6

scott_cbrown55 Donor

Rating: 5

11/23/2014

I read Ranger Rick as a child and as an adult became interested in native plants for landscaping around the house, whereupon the Backyard Wildlife Habitat program people found me. They helped me with my native plant landscaping, I certified my yard as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat, and I enjoyed them so much that I became a Habitat Steward myself and began helping others. After a few years of volunteering in this regard I became too busy with my family to continue, and I began donating instead. When my daughter was old enough my folks got her a subscription to Ranger Rick, Jr, and the circle was complete. I had no idea the magazine I loved so much as a child was affiliated with the native plant outreach I love as an adult. NWF is an organization making a significant and genuine positive impact on the ecosystems they care about so much, and they do it one child, one yard, and one ecosystem at a time. Thank you NWF, I am a loyal supporter for life.

5

seahorsegirl Volunteer

Rating: 5

06/11/2014

NWF does a ton of educational outreach for children. They hold a huge annual hiking event for kids around the country, they get involved in local environmental events, and they sponsor yearly camp-outs. They also have the backyard habitat program which helps people learn what plants are most attractive to wildlife in their yard.

28

PlumHat Donor

Rating: 1

02/19/2014

The National Wildlife Federation is definitely NOT a charity I would recommend. They have completely ignored my requests to remove my name from their mailing list. The worst experience I had from them was when I called to remove my address but they had cowardly hung up on me as soon as I mentioned mailing list removal! The "conservation" charity is absolutely absurd in the way they continue to mass market to me with paper, paper gift cards, paper membership offers, and paper labels. They obviously use all their funding just on direct marketing.

38

mkray_87943 General Member of the Public

Rating: 1

04/19/2013

The National Wildlife Federation through it's state affiliates actively supports and promotes not only hunting but also trapping. This wildlife killing especially the brutality of trapping is not evident in its National magazines or the way it presents itself to the ordinary member. I think this is duplicitous at best to lure people to donate money because they love wildlife only to use turn around and use that money to promote wildlife killing and exploitation using cruel methods and even by children. In New Mexico, the NM Wildlife Federation also supports coyote killing contests, organized events where the purpose is to offer cash and prizes for amassing the highest body count.

Review from CharityNavigator

8

mae m. General Member of the Public

Rating: 1

04/03/2013

No. Not to this organization. Your review is awfully short. We would like to know more.

Review from CharityNavigator

22

Steven Theisen Donor

Rating: 1

04/02/2013

After donating to NWF, I was bombarded by a ton of unwanted mailings from NWF. In addition, I was sent more mailings from other environmental groups. Similarly, I was sent at least 2 solicitations requesting more donations, before I ever got my free gift from them.

I've decided to not donate again, and have moved more of my money to donating to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, my local church, and I plan on supporting my local wildlife organization instead of NWF. Selling your donor's information means no more donations from me...
Cheers!

Review from CharityNavigator

20

pinkmoment2 General Member of the Public

Rating: 1

02/11/2013

I give to plenty of environmental groups, but not this one. They inundate me with unwanted mailings full of extra paper, to both my home and to my office. I can't see how this is efficient use of donor funds.

Review from CharityNavigator

15

Rachael C. Donor

Rating: 2

01/07/2013

I have donated small annual amounts to NWF for over 20 years. I also subscribe my nieces and nephews to their children's magazines. I often wonder how much money is wasted when I find bulky materials from them in the mail, on an increasing pace -almost weekly! They have taken the nonprofit marketing strategy of 'if a person is gifted with something, whether it be stationary or other gifts, then they will feel compelled to make a donation in return' to a very extreme degree. A part of protecting the environment for our children's future includes conserving precious resources and carefully considering how money is spent. Furthermore, their record keeping is deplorable. I am constantly receiving notices that it is time to renew my membership or a magazine subscription when I just paid/renewed. I have been double charged on many occasions and have not once received a reply to a number of email requests for support. I think their magazines are wonderful for kids, but they really need to spend more time engaging their members on social media and via email with educational pieces and reports on what is being accomplished with member funds. If this is done right and proper member services are in place, then a new social marketing trend will happen naturally and they can stop their abusing snail mail practices and do some real good. Until then, I am done with NWF, as there are so many other great nonprofits that can use my regular small contributions.

26

beamcclure Donor

Rating: 1

12/21/2012

My loving husband donated our ranch/oil royalties to NWF. They have shown themselves to be greedy, extremely and uncessarily bureaucratic and hindered by layers and layers of admin (where all the money must go!) This total thanklessness for a VERY valuable donation is sad and supports the phrase 'no good deed goes unpunished'. In Hindsight, I wish we had donated to The Nature Conservancy.

Review from CharityNavigator

10

B. Hocutt Client Served

Rating: 5

11/15/2012

I recently particapted in a Hike & Seek event with my familiy. It was wonderful, they really inspired my kids! Ive recently order them the Ranger Rick magazine and am very pleased! Plus the kids love the photos!

24

Kathleen DeBold Donor

Rating: 1

03/26/2012

I've been a donor to National wildlife Federation for many, many years. Unfortunately, they are now engaged in misleading and manipulative mail fundraising. About a month ago they sent me a DVD in the mail and said it was a preview of a DVD series they were producing. The letter said I could pay $12.95 for the DVD and sign up to preview other DVD's, or return the DVD. In small print, they noted that since II didn't order the DVD, I was under no obligation to participate at all. Today I received a mailing from them with "Please pay for or Return Your DVD Today" in large boldface letters across the letter. The letter tells me to keep the DVD and pay the $12.95 or return the DVD. In small print after the complimentary close, is a "Service Guarantee" stating I am under no obligation to do either of these things. Yes, they are towing the legal line with this disclosure, but tricking folks into handing over cash is NOT good stewardship.

Review from CharityNavigator

14

Cynthia Kondon Donor

Rating: 2

06/21/2011

I was an annual donor to NWF for several years until I received a solicitation from a credit card company. I realized that the charity must have given my name and address to the bank soliciting my business. I regard this as a breach of loyalty to me, their donor, and since then have declined to support them.

Review from CharityNavigator

6

BRC General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

01/20/2011

They are such positive, effective stewards for our national wildlife! Their online presence is amazing, and they did a great job in the Gulf.

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