Wildlife Management Institute

What Wildlife Management Institute does

The Wildlife Management Institute (WMI), founded in 1911 and headquartered in Colchester, Vermont, is a private 501(c)(3) scientific and educational organization dedicated to the conservation and professional management of North America's wildlife and natural resources. It operates without a traditional technology platform or commercial product; its "products" are programs and convening functions. Core offerings include the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, administered by WMI for 91 consecutive years and serving as the primary annual forum for setting conservation policy across North America, and the Outdoor News Bulletin, a free monthly publication established in 1946. Beyond these flagship assets, WMI runs a portfolio of conservation programs including the Regional Conservation Needs Program (15 state agencies, April 2023 – March 2028), the New England Cottontail Regional Restoration (5 states, April 2024 – March 2027), the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units program (where WMI serves as the sole non-agency representative), and research initiatives such as the Poach & Pay final report quantifying $1.44 billion in annual poaching losses.

WMI's business model is grant- and member-supported rather than commercial. Revenue streams include conference registration fees, fiscal administration of federal grants on behalf of NEAFWA and other state coalitions, professional services (e.g., forestry specialist positions jointly staffed with state agencies like the Iowa DNR), and program-specific funding such as the USFWS Multistate Conservation Grant supporting the HIP Marketing Toolkit. Distribution relies on a regional field representative network (Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, West), free digital channels (newsletter, podcast, social media), and direct engagement at the annual conference rather than sales-driven go-to-market. The Outdoor News Bulletin is distributed free, and the organization has 11–50 employees led by President Tony Wasley, with senior staff drawn heavily from former state fish and wildlife agency leadership. There are no disclosed financials, no funding rounds, and no parent organization; WMI is governed independently as a nonprofit.

Name

Wildlife Management Institute

Legal name

Wildlife Management Institute

Website

https://wildlifemanagement.institute

Company type

Private

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wildlife Management Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1911, that convenes conservation policy through its 91-year-old North American Wildlife Conference, the Outdoor News Bulletin, fiscal administration of federal grants for 15+ state agencies, and multi-state conservation programs including New England Cottontail restoration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

akta.pro primary industry

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF), Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation
• Natural resource management
• Conservation policy
• Fiscal administration
• Professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Gardners

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Conference Revenue: The North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference generates revenue through registration fees for the annual event, which includes sessions, workshops, and over 150 separate meetings and functions.
2. Outdoor News Bulletin: Monthly publication distributed free to subscribers, funded through organizational mission and member support rather than subscription fees.
3. Grants and Federal Funding Administration: WMI administers federal grants and provides fiscal administration for Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agency projects, managing subawards and payments for multi-state conservation programs.
4. Employment Services: WMI employs forestry specialists and other project staff, with positions funded through partnerships with state agencies and federal programs like USDA-NRCS.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WMI delivers conservation policy leadership, professional development, and fiscal administration for multi-state wildlife programs across North America. Its flagship offerings are the long-running Outdoor News Bulletin publication and the annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, complemented by federal grant administration for agencies such as NEAFWA and targeted conservation programs including the Regional Conservation Needs Program (15 states) and the New England Cottontail restoration effort (5 states).

Product overview

The Wildlife Management Institute operates as a scientific and educational organization offering a portfolio of conservation publications, conferences, research programs, and training resources. Core offerings include the monthly Outdoor News Bulletin (established 1946) and the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference (91st annual). The organization manages diverse conservation projects including the Agency Profiler research initiative, Regional Conservation Needs Program, NEAFWA Fiscal Administration, New England Cottontail restoration, Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units representation, and Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow professional development. WMI also provides practical resources including the Harvest Information Program Marketing Toolkit, Fish and Wildlife Commission Guidebook, Connecting with Conservation podcast, Black Bear-Resistant Product Testing, Conservation Without Conflict Coalition, and the Poach & Pay research report. Historical policy documents spanning from 1908 are archived for reference.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Outdoor News Bulletin (ONB) Free monthly publication distributed by WMI since 1946 covering key issues and updates on wildlife and natural resource management for state agencies, biologists, and conservation professionals.
• North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference Annual conference administered by WMI since 1935, serving as the primary forum for setting conservation policy in North America with sessions, workshops, and over 150 separate meetings and functions, targeted at state fish and wildlife agencies, federal agencies, and conservation professionals.
• NEAFWA Fiscal Administration Ongoing fiscal administration services provided by WMI to the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for federal grant-funded projects, including Competitive State Wildlife Grants and Multi-State Conservation Grants.
• Regional Conservation Needs Program Sub-award administration program for 15 state agencies within NEAFWA running from April 2023 to March 2028, in which WMI manages reporting, payments, and match documentation for Regional Conservation Needs grants.
• New England Cottontail Regional Restoration Multi-state conservation effort (April 2024 to March 2027) to prevent the listing of the New England cottontail as threatened or endangered, with WMI administering subawards, reporting, payments, and matching funds for five participating northeastern states.
• Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow (CLfT) Professional development program designed for non-hunting student and professional leaders within natural resource sciences to build conservation leadership capacity outside the hunting tradition.
• Agency Profiler Longitudinal research series compiled by WMI since 1948 documenting fish and wildlife agency organizational structures, authorities, and priority program areas approximately every ten years, providing decadal snapshots of agency evolution for state agencies and researchers.
• Connecting with Conservation Podcast WMI podcast exploring the business of conservation and the connection between recreational activities and wildlife management, targeted at conservation professionals and engaged listeners.
• Harvest Information Program Marketing Toolkit Marketing toolkit funded by USFWS Multistate Conservation Grant F23AP00493 to help state agencies improve HIP registration data collection from migratory bird hunters, with customizable Adobe InDesign materials in multiple formats.
• Fish and Wildlife Commission Guidebook Guidebook providing incoming state fish and wildlife commission members with tools, perspectives, and strategies for decisions impacting conservation of fish, wildlife, and habitat.
• Poach & Pay Final Report Comprehensive research report quantifying the biological and financial costs of illegal wildlife take in the United States, including detection rates (95% undetected), $1.44 billion in annual losses, offender motivations, and enforcement best practices.
• Black Bear-Resistant Product Testing Testing and evaluation program that assesses bear-resistant products for their ability to deter bears and secure attractants in homes, ranches, and campgrounds, targeted at consumers, landowners, and agencies in bear country.

Quantifiable outcome

• WMI manages subaward reporting, payments, and match documentation for 15 state agencies within NEAFWA from April 2023 to March 2028
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (NEAFWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMI provides ongoing fiscal administration for NEAFWA projects receiving federal funding. This includes managing the Regional Conservation Needs Program (15 state agencies, April 2023 - March 2028) and NEAFWA Fiscal Administration projects including Wildlife Action Plan Database and Multi-State Conservation Grant programs.
• Iowa Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMI works in joint capacity with Iowa DNR to promote healthy forest management. WMI employees serve as forestry specialists providing technical assistance to private landowners, with daily instructions from DNR staff. Positions funded through USDA-NRCS agreements.
• Boone and Crockett ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMI supported the multi-year Poach and Pay research initiative, the most comprehensive study on wildlife poaching in the U.S. Research revealed 95% detection gap and $1.4 billion annual conservation costs.
• Southern Wildlife ResourcesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Poach and Pay research initiative alongside WMI and Boone and Crockett Club.
• Southwick AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with WMI and DJ Case & Associates on hunter retention research project focused on active and lapsed hunters aged 50+ in the Midwest.
• DJ Case & AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with WMI and Southwick Associates on hunter retention research project focused on older hunters.
• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMI is the sole non-agency representative within the CRU program. WMI participated in establishing units at Michigan State University and Purdue University (42nd and 43rd units). WMI serves on board of directors and executive committee for CRUs nationwide.
• Conservation Without Conflict CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of public and private partners united in commitment to conserving wildlife while keeping America's working lands working. WMI supports administration and staffing of collaborative work.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIP Marketing Toolkit funded by Multistate Conservation Grant F23AP00493 from USFWS, managed by Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration Program.
• New England Cottontail Conservation PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-state conservation effort (April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2027) involving five northeastern states to prevent listing of New England Cottontail as threatened or endangered. WMI manages subawards, reporting, payments, and matching funds.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61573934443630
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/willdlife-management-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/wildlife_management_institute

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wildlife Management Institute