Wildlife and Outdoor Recreation Foundation

What Wildlife and Outdoor Recreation Foundation does

The Wildlife and Outdoor Recreation Foundation (WORF, also branded NCWORF and North Carolina Wildlife & Outdoor Recreation Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2019 and headquartered at PO Box 96, Red Oak, North Carolina. The foundation supports the conservation, preservation, and enhancement of wildlife resources and outdoor recreation in North Carolina through a portfolio of more than 28 programs organized around three pillars: Wildlife Conservation Support, Habitat Conservation Support, and Aquatic Conservation Support. Notable program lines include the Southeast Bumble Bee Atlas (a three-year citizen science initiative across NC, SC, GA, and TN), the Angola Bay pocosin restoration across 7,500 acres, the Longleaf Pine and Red Spruce restoration projects, the Eastern Box Turtle and Bog Turtle conservation efforts, and the Inland Fisheries program supporting more than 38,000 miles of streams and 250,000 acres of lakes. Underlying operational technology is conventional: a Squarespace-hosted public website, an e-commerce conservation store, and volunteer-driven citizen science data collection — no proprietary platform or AI components are disclosed.

WORF operates with zero paid staff under a volunteer Board of Directors, including a Chairman (Chuck Bennett, former NCWRC Commissioner), Co-Vice Chairs, a Secretary (former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist), and additional members. The organization signed a formal Memorandum of Agreement with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission on July 23, 2021, establishing itself as the commission's official supporting foundation. Revenue is generated through individual donations (one-time and recurring at preset tiers of $5 to $500), planned giving and bequests, a Walmart round-up donation program, memorial funds, a Conservation Store selling merchandise and event registrations ($20 hoodies, $20-$65 art prints, $248-$508 conference fees), corporate sponsorships, and federal/state grants including America the Beautiful, Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration, Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration, State and Tribal Wildlife Grants, and the Recovering America's Wildlife Act. Operating costs are approximately 11.03% including in-kind support, with a maintained fund balance of $111,000. Donations serve as matching funds for larger federal and state grants, amplifying the impact of each contributed dollar.

Strategic institutional partnerships extend WORF's reach beyond North Carolina, including the Xerces Society for pollinator work, the Town of Nashville for the Stoney Creek environmental project, FFA programs for native plant propagation in high schools, and federal agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Geographic focus is currently North Carolina, with selective multi-state activity limited to the Southeast Bumble Bee Atlas.

Name

Wildlife and Outdoor Recreation Foundation

Legal name

Wildlife and Outdoor Recreation Foundation

Website

https://ncworf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Short description

North Carolina-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds and delivers wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, and outdoor recreation programs through 28+ initiatives, operating without paid staff under volunteer governance and partnering with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation programs
• Habitat restoration services
• Outdoor recreation access
• Conservation nonprofit donations
• Native plant propagation

Headquarters

HQ city

Red Oak

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations via online portal, check, or cash. General donations as well as program-specific contributions.
2. Walmart Round-Up Program: Partnered with Walmart allowing customers to round up online orders to donate to WORF.
3. Planned Giving: Legacy gifts including bequests through wills/trusts, retirement plan assets, land donations, and securities contributions.
4. Memorial Funds: Custom memorial pages created for loved ones where donations support specific outdoor recreation activities they were passionate about.
5. Conservation Store: Sale of merchandise including event registrations, apparel, art prints, and raffle tickets.
6. Grants: Funding from organizations including America the Beautiful, Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act, State and Tribal Wildlife Grants, and Recovering America's Wildlife Act.
7. Program Sponsorship: Corporate and individual sponsorships for specific conservation programs including Native Plant Propagation Program, Private Lands Program, and Stoney Creek Environmental Project.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Wildlife and Outdoor Recreation Foundation (NCWORF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds and delivers wildlife conservation, native habitat restoration, and aquatic ecosystem protection across North Carolina. The foundation operates entirely through volunteer governance with no paid staff, channeling donations, grants, and sponsorships into conservation programs that protect 483 Species of Greatest Conservation Need, restore native plant communities, and expand public outdoor recreation access.

Product overview

The Wildlife and Outdoor Recreation Foundation (WORF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a conservation-focused entity without paid staff. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs and services organized around three core pillars: Wildlife Conservation Support, Habitat Conservation Support, and Aquatic Conservation Support. The Conservation Support Store provides merchandise and event registrations as a retail component. Donation Programs, Planned Giving, Memorial Fund Planning, and Volunteer Programs enable public engagement and fundraising. The organization partners with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and manages numerous species-specific conservation projects including At-Risk Species, Eastern Box Turtle, Bog Turtle, Diamondback Terrapin, Pollinator Conservation, Bird Conservation, Terrestrial Snail Conservation, and the Southeast Bumble Bee Atlas citizen science initiative. Habitat programs include Private Lands, Native Plant, Keeping Green Space Green, Habitat Restoration, Angola Bay Restoration, Red Spruce Restoration, and Longleaf Pine Restoration. Aquatic programs encompass Inland Fisheries, Aquatic Species Conservation, and Hatchery Support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Donation Programs Multiple donation options including general donations, wildlife conservation, inland fisheries management, land and water access, NCWRC enforcement, and species-specific contributions, with preset tiers and recurring cadences for individual donors.
• Conservation Store Online store selling conservation-themed merchandise including event/conference registrations ($248-$508), apparel (t-shirts $20, hoodies $25), art prints ($20-$65), and raffle tickets ($20 single, $100 six-pack) to support NCWORF programs.
• Planned Giving Estate planning options including cash, securities, land donations, wills/trusts, and retirement plan assets for long-term conservation support. EIN 56-1944942 is used for planned gift documentation.
• Memorial Fund Planning Custom memorial web pages honoring loved ones with outdoor passions and donation links supporting preferred conservation activities.
• Volunteer Program Volunteer opportunities including native species planting, invasive plant removal, social media management, fundraising coordination, outreach and advocacy, and research and analysis roles.
• Partner Programs Partnership opportunities for groups, schools, towns, organizations, and corporations to support conservation and education initiatives through direct collaboration and program sponsorship.
• Supporting Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Fund Western North Carolina disaster recovery fund investing in habitat restoration, sustainable access, and community resilience after extreme weather events.
• Walmart Round-Up Program Partner integration with Walmart allowing customers to round up online purchases to donate to WORF as a micro-donation channel.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ native bee species supported in North Carolina's $84B agriculture industry
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Xerces SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership for Southeast Bumble Bee Atlas project covering NC, SC, GA, and TN. The Xerces Society provides expertise and resources for documenting bumble bee populations and developing habitat management guides, building on success from Pacific Northwest Bumble Bee Atlas.
• NC Wildlife Resources CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2021Formal partnership agreement (MOA) signed July 23, 2021 establishing WORF as the official friends organization supporting NCWRC. WORF develops funding for outdoor recreation and wildlife habitat preservation. The partnership enhances NCWRC's ability to conserve and sustain the state's fish and wildlife resources through research, scientific management, and public access initiatives.
• Town of NashvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to improve community health and wellness through conservation efforts along Stoney Creek. Projects include riparian buffer restoration, invasive species mitigation, wetland conservation, outdoor classroom development, and greenway trail creation.
• FFA (Future Farmers of America) ProgramscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with high school horticultural education programs to teach students native plant propagation and ecosystem importance. Schools receive funding for native plant plugs, seeds, supplies, and propagation manuals while providing plants for campus and community conservation projects.
• Southeastern State AgenciesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-state partnership with state and federal agencies across NC, SC, GA, and TN for Southeast Bumble Bee Atlas project. Federal agencies include US Fish and Wildlife Service; university partners provide research support and student involvement.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Trout Unlimited: National nonprofit funding cold-water fisheries conservation, stream habitat restoration, and aquatic species protection. Closely aligns with WORF's Aquatic Conservation Support pillar, Inland Fisheries Program, and hatchery support work, although at a much larger national scale.
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation: Habitat-focused nonprofit that funds wildlife conservation, land stewardship, and hunting-access projects through donations, planned giving, and a conservation store. Strong match to WORF's mix of species protection, habitat restoration, recreation access, and retail/membership revenue.
• Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation: Nonprofit dedicated to invertebrate and pollinator conservation through citizen science, habitat guides, and partnerships. Directly comparable through WORF's Southeast Bumble Bee Atlas partnership and Pollinator Conservation program, with overlapping species focus and citizen-science methodology.
• Georgia Wildlife Federation: State-based conservation nonprofit focused on wildlife, habitat, and outdoor recreation in Georgia, with programs for at-risk species, water resources, and youth education. Directly comparable to WORF as a state-level, multi-program wildlife and outdoor recreation organization dependent on donations and grants.
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation: State-level nonprofit foundation that raises private funds to support the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Highly comparable to WORF in mission (state wildlife + outdoor recreation funding), MOA-style partnership structure with the state agency, and reliance on donations, grants, and merchandise.
• South Carolina Wildlife Federation: State-based federation operating habitat, wildlife, and outdoor recreation programs including aquatic conservation and youth engagement. Comparable in scale and structure to WORF, with overlapping Southeast US geography and a similar mix of state-agency partnership and donor-driven funding.
• Virginia Wildlife Federation: State-focused wildlife and habitat conservation nonprofit with programs covering at-risk species, habitat restoration, and outdoor recreation access. Closely matches WORF's regional footprint, mission pillars, and reliance on member/donor support.

Broad incumbents

• Ducks Unlimited: Large national habitat conservation nonprofit focused on wetlands, waterfowl, and aquatic ecosystems. Comparable mission overlap with WORF's aquatic and habitat programs, but operates at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
• National Wildlife Federation: Largest US private conservation organization spanning wildlife, habitat, education, and policy advocacy. Overlaps with WORF on at-risk species, habitat, pollinator, and outdoor-recreation themes, but with national scope and significantly larger fundraising capacity.
• The Nature Conservancy: Global conservation nonprofit operating land and water protection, species, and climate programs. Broad incumbent whose NC chapter competes with WORF for corporate sponsors, grants, and donor attention despite a much larger and more diversified portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ncworf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 and Outdoor Recreation Foundation