Boosting State Partners to Realize Policy Priorities
The Federation’s national advocacy pass-through funding model has been a game-changer for smaller state conservation organizations. By providing flexible, high-impact funding to state partners—Colorado Wildlife Federation, Minnesota Conservation Federation, Indiana Wildlife Federation, and PennFuture—along with two regional water coalitions, we have enhanced our collective advocacy and organizational capacity, deepened engagement with key constituencies and decision-makers, and positioned ourselves to better advocate for sustainable agriculture, clean water protections, nature-based climate solutions, and other conservation priorities.
Photo Credit: Tina Mahern
Inspired by Beavers: Western Water Team Builds Climate Resilience
The health and viability of Western water resources are critical to the success and survival of both wildlife and local communities. Nature-based solutions, implemented at scale, provide an unrivaled opportunity to protect and restore these precious resources. Inspired by beavers, the Western Water team deployed beaver dam analogs and facilitated beaver restoration, as practical, nature-based approaches to mitigate the risk of climate change and enhance aquatic habitat.
In 2024, the team resolved 64 human-beaver conflicts, completed 25 conflict resolution projects, and restored over 180 acres of riparian habitat across Montana. They also worked with affiliates and other partners across the West to build support for these efforts and their enabling policies.
Photo Credit: Bureau of Land Management
Affiliate Capacity Grants
The Federation shares similar goals with other conservation organizations. Our Affiliate Capacity Grants invest in these critical partners, allowing them to expand their organizations to work effectively on campaigns that protect the planet, people, and wildlife. The Affiliates address critical conservation priorities within their states and add local perspective to federal environmental policy. The 2024 grants were given to Arkansas Wildlife Federation, Conservation Coalition of Oklahoma, Environment Council of Rhode Island, Conservation Council for Hawai’i, Utah Wildlife Federation, Nevada Wildlife Federation, Minnesota Conservation Federation and Ohio Conservation Federation. The hope is that each organization can sustain its growth path even after the grant ends.
Photo Credit: Jessica Ausnehmer