Colorado Wildlife Federation

What Colorado Wildlife Federation does

Colorado Wildlife Federation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation advocacy organization headquartered in Denver, Colorado, and operating as the state's oldest wildlife conservation body with 70+ years of continuous activity. Its mission is the conservation of Colorado's fish, wildlife, and their habitats, pursued through legislative advocacy at the state and federal levels, coalition convening across hunting/angling organizations, environmental nonprofits, scientific institutions, tribal nations, and outdoor recreation businesses, and a portfolio of education and engagement programs.

The organization's core offerings are programmatic rather than technology-based. They include the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Weekend at CSU Mountain Campus, the Bridges to BOW scholarship program targeting women and young adults, the Garden for Wildlife habitat certification (run in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation), an annual Elk License Raffle, volunteer habitat restoration, and direct advocacy campaigns with pre-written legislator communications. There is no proprietary software, app, or digital platform product; CWF's technology footprint is limited to a Classy.org donation integration, a Mailchimp newsletter, and standard social channels.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of individual one-time and monthly sustaining donations, planned/legacy giving, merchandise sales, raffle ticket revenue, corporate partnerships, and government/foundation grants from entities including Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The 9-person staff operates with a lean community-led go-to-market, prioritizing grassroots organizing, member mobilization, and earned-media coalition advocacy over paid acquisition.

Name

Colorado Wildlife Federation

Legal name

Colorado Wildlife Federation

Website

https://coloradowildlife.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Colorado Wildlife Federation is a Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization, Colorado's oldest wildlife conservation body, serving anglers, hunters, outdoor recreationists, and the broader public through legislative advocacy, coalition building, and educational programs like Becoming an Outdoors-Woman.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Advocacy

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ), Wildlife Interpretation & Education Centers (Visitor Centers, Museums) (THAAAFAG)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation advocacy
• Conservation policy advocacy
• Outdoor skills education
• Habitat protection programs
• Environmental nonprofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver, Colorado

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Memberships: The organization generates revenue through one-time donations, monthly sustaining gifts, and planned giving/legacy gifts. Members and supporters contribute financially to power conservation work including habitat restoration, policy advocacy, and educational programs.
2. Elk License Raffle: Annual raffle offering elk hunting licenses as a fundraising mechanism. Winners are drawn and notified publicly, with proceeds supporting wildlife conservation programs.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of limited merchandise items available on the website and through email/phone orders.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with corporations for conservation sponsorship, employee volunteer programs, co-branded educational materials, and event recognition.
5. Government and Foundation Grants: Funding from entities like Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and Colorado Parks and Wildlife for regional partnership support grants and conservation projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Colorado Wildlife Federation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation advocacy organization that educates and advocates for the conservation of Colorado's fish, wildlife, and their habitats. It sells no commercial products; instead it delivers advocacy and legislative engagement at the state and federal level, outdoor skills education through the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) weekend and Bridges to BOW scholarship programs, habitat certification via the Garden for Wildlife partnership, volunteer habitat restoration projects, and donor/grant-funded conservation campaigns.

Product overview

Colorado Wildlife Federation operates as a non-profit conservation organization offering a portfolio of education and engagement programs. The core programs include the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Weekend, which provides outdoor skills workshops, and the Bridges to BOW scholarship program that supports participation. Additional programs include the Garden for Wildlife habitat certification, Elk License Raffle, volunteer opportunities, advocacy services, donation programs, and corporate partnerships. The organization does not offer a technology product platform but provides conservation-focused programs and services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Weekend Multi-day educational workshop program teaching outdoor skills to women, including fly fishing, archery, camping, hiking, wildlife tracking, and survival skills, held at CSU Mountain Campus.
• Bridges to BOW Scholarship program providing financial assistance and pathway support for women and young adults to participate in Becoming an Outdoors-Woman events and engage in hunting, fishing, and sporting activities.
• Garden for Wildlife Wildlife habitat certification program partnering with the National Wildlife Federation that encourages Colorado residents to create gardens providing food, water, cover, places to raise young, and sustainable practices, with emphasis on native Colorado plants.
• Elk License Raffle Annual raffle where participants can win elk hunting licenses, with proceeds supporting Colorado wildlife conservation efforts.
• Advocacy & Legislative Action Policy advocacy services including legislative tracking, contacting legislators about wildlife bills, public comment submissions on management plans, and coalition building for conservation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% of Colorado voters believe loss of habitat for fish and wildlife is an extremely or very serious problem (2026 Conservation in the West Poll)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 December 2025Great Outdoors Colorado and Colorado Parks and Wildlife awarded $9.99 million in grant support awards for 19 regional partnerships. CWF actively participates in the Outside 285 regional partnership which received support for trail upgrades and sensitive habitat on iconic 'fourteeners'.
• National Wildlife Federation (NWF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWF partners with National Wildlife Federation to participate in the acclaimed Certified Wildlife Habitat/Garden program. Through this partnership, Colorado residents can receive official recognition for gardens providing food, water, cover, places to raise young, and sustainable practices.
• Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife on wildlife management, conservation programs, and state policy. CWF provides advocacy support and participates in public comment processes for wildlife action plans and regulations.
• Outside 285 Regional PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership in which CWF actively participates, awarded GOCO support grant for trail upgrades and sensitive habitat protection on iconic Colorado 'fourteeners' (14,000+ foot mountains).
• Colorado Partnership for Connected ConservationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as organizational partner with partnership logo displayed on website footer.
• Bridges to BOW Coalition PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerB2B program made possible in part by National Wildlife Federation, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Arizona Wildlife Federation. These partners support scholarship programs bringing more state residents into hunting, fishing, and sporting activities.
• Coalition Partners (Hunting and Angling Organizations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWF serves as convening organization bringing together hunting and angling organizations united around wildlife conservation goals and science-based policy advocacy.
• Coalition Partners (Environmental and Conservation Nonprofits)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of environmental and conservation nonprofits working together for broad-based wildlife advocacy and policy change.
• Coalition Partners (Scientific and Academic Institutions)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific and academic institutions collaborate with CWF on research-based wildlife conservation policy positions.
• Tribal Nations and Indigenous CommunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWF includes tribal nations and indigenous communities in coalition building for wildlife conservation advocacy.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Trout Unlimited: National coldwater fisheries conservation nonprofit with state chapters active in Colorado, focused on habitat, water quality, and angling access. Overlaps with CWF on aquatic habitat and angler constituency engagement.
• Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership: National coalition of hunting/angling and conservation organizations that convenes groups like CWF on federal policy issues (public lands habitat, migration corridors). Overlaps with CWF on coalition politics and habitat advocacy priorities.
• Defenders of Wildlife: National wildlife advocacy and policy organization engaged on federal wildlife, endangered species, and habitat issues affecting Colorado public lands. Operates a related advocacy-and-coalition model CWF participates in through broader coalitions.
• Ducks Unlimited: National waterfowl and wetlands habitat conservation organization with state-level activities across the West. Comparable hunting-aligned conservation fundraising model (membership, raffles, events) and habitat advocacy priorities.
• National Wildlife Federation: National umbrella affiliate network to which CWF belongs as a state federation partner via the Garden for Wildlife program. Operates the broader affiliate federation model, federated state advocacy, and education programs that mirror and scale CWF's state-level work.

Direct peers

• Wyoming Wildlife Federation: Western state wildlife advocacy nonprofit operating the same hunting/angling-aligned, science-based policy advocacy model focused on habitat, migration corridors, and public lands. Member of the Conservation in the West coalition alongside CWF.
• Arizona Wildlife Federation: Direct state-level wildlife conservation advocacy peer running hunting/angling legacy programs, policy advocacy, and outdoor-skills education such as Becoming an Outdoors-Woman. Partner of CWF on Bridges to BOW; offers a near-identical operating model in a neighboring western state.
• Montana Wildlife Federation: State-level wildlife conservation advocacy organization covering habitat, hunting/angling heritage, and outdoor education, with a comparable coalition-and-policy operating playbook. Fellow Conservation in the West polling partner.
• Oregon Wildlife Federation: State wildlife advocacy nonprofit pursuing science-based wildlife policy and coalition work with sportsmen and conservation groups in a western state. Directly comparable mission and member-driven engagement model.

Emerging players

• Rocky Mountain Wild: Colorado-based conservation nonprofit focused on wildlife, habitat, and public lands advocacy with a more conservation-leaning orientation. Comparable geography and partial topic overlap with CWF, though smaller in scope and membership base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/COWildlife
• Facebookfacebook.com/ColoradoWildlifeFederationPage
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colorado-wildlife-federation
• Instagraminstagram.com/CoWildlifeFed

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Colorado Wildlife Federation