National Wildlife Refuge Association

What National Wildlife Refuge Association does

The National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA), founded January 8, 1975, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered at 1701 K Street NW, Suite 550, Washington, DC, and the only national organization dedicated solely to supporting the National Wildlife Refuge System — the largest mosaic of public lands and waters in the world, encompassing 568+ refuges and 5 Marine National Monuments across 850 million acres that receive approximately 64 million annual visitors. Its mission addresses funding shortfalls, habitat threats, and low public awareness for the Refuge System through advocacy, programming, and grants. Core offerings include the Urban Wildlife Refuge Program (urban community engagement), the National Wildlife Refuge Awards (annual recognition program in its 31st year), the O'Brien Prize (grants up to $7,500 to Refuge Friends groups), an Action Center for grassroots advocacy, and the Wild About Wildlife awareness program, delivered alongside the Refuge Friends Resources toolkit (e.g., 'Taking Flight', 'Building Your Nest Egg').

NWRA operates with approximately 15-20 staff and a 15-member Board of Directors chaired by Lynn Scarlett (former U.S. Department of the Interior Deputy Secretary/Acting Secretary). Its go-to-market is community-led: mobilizing 80+ Refuge Friends groups across the country, hosting the annual National Friends Workshop with USFWS, and running grassroots campaigns such as the multi-group letter to Congress supporting disaster relief funding. The organization is governed by a board that includes former USFWS Deputy Director Jim Kurth and former Northeast Regional Director Wendi Weber, and most regional representatives are retired USFWS senior officials with 36-38 year tenures.

Revenue is donation-based, drawn from one-time gifts, monthly recurring giving, memorial/tribute contributions, DAFs/QCDs/Stocks, and legacy/planned giving processed through the website and Bonterra/EveryAction email infrastructure. Formal partnerships include a June 2020 MOU with the Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates (CORFA) — co-publishing 'The Link' quarterly newsletter — plus academic partnerships with Catawba College and Chowan University for science-based refuge projects. Marketing and outreach span website content, social media, press releases, webinars, and specialized newsletters like the Birding Community E-Bulletin.

Name

National Wildlife Refuge Association

Legal name

National Wildlife Refuge Association

Website

https://refugeassociation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Wildlife Refuge Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1975 and based in Washington, DC, that is the only national organization dedicated solely to supporting the U.S. National Wildlife Refuge System through advocacy, grassroots mobilization of 80+ Refuge Friends groups, donor-funded grants, and community engagement programs serving conservation supporters and partner organizations across all 50 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Advocacy Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ), Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation advocacy
• National wildlife refuge support
• Conservation nonprofit programs
• Refuge friends grants
• Grassroots conservation advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington, District of Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization raises funds through one-time donations, monthly giving programs, memorial and tribute giving, and legacy/planned giving options. Donors can contribute through the website or by contacting the organization directly.
2. O'Brien Prize Grants: The organization awards grants up to $7,500 to Refuge Friends groups through the O'Brien Prize program, funded by board member generosity and designated donations.
3. Advocacy and Grants: The organization advocates for increased congressional funding for the Refuge System and may receive grants for specific conservation programs and projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The National Wildlife Refuge Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advocates for and supports the National Wildlife Refuge System through programs such as the Urban Wildlife Refuge Program, the annual National Wildlife Refuge Awards, the O'Brien Prize grants for Refuge Friends groups, the Action Center advocacy platform, and educational outreach like Wild About Wildlife. It funds its work through individual donations, planned giving, grants, and grassroots advocacy campaigns.

Product overview

The National Wildlife Refuge Association operates as a nonprofit advocacy organization with a portfolio of conservation programs rather than a unified software product. Its core offerings include the Urban Wildlife Refuge Program (community engagement), National Wildlife Refuge Awards (annual recognition program), O'Brien Prize grants for Refuge Friends groups, an Action Center for advocacy, and Refuge Friends Resources for building volunteer organizations. The association partners with the Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates (CORFA) through a formal MOU to support Friends groups nationwide. The organization does not offer a technology product platform but provides programmatic services, grants, and advocacy tools for wildlife conservation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Urban Wildlife Refuge Program A program focused on connecting urban communities to national wildlife refuges through outreach, programming, event planning, and partnership coordination at community, state, national, and international levels. For urban communities and Refuge Friends groups.
• National Wildlife Refuge Awards Annual awards program honoring outstanding accomplishments by refuge managers, employees, volunteers, Friends groups, and advocates. Includes Paul Kroegel Award (Refuge Manager of the Year), Molly Krival Award (Friends Group of the Year), Refuge Employee/Volunteer of the Year, and Refuge Advocate of the Year. For refuge staff, volunteers, Friends groups, and advocates.
• O'Brien Prize For Refuge Friends Annual grant award for Refuge Friends organizations whose projects build community connections. Grant amounts up to $7,500 for projects that heighten public awareness and bring enduring value to Friends groups. For Refuge Friends volunteer organizations.
• Action Center Online platform enabling supporters to take action on wildlife conservation issues, contact legislators, and engage in advocacy campaigns for the National Wildlife Refuge System. For conservation advocates and supporters.
• Refuge Friends Resources Resources and materials for Refuge Friends groups including 'Taking Flight' (guide to building Friends organizations), 'Building Your Nest Egg' (fundraising guide), advocacy webinars, and partnership materials with CORFA. For Refuge Friends volunteer organizations.
• Wild About Wildlife Program promoting wildlife conservation awareness and education about the National Wildlife Refuge System. For the general public and conservation supporters.
• CORFA Partnership Program Formalized partnership with the Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates (CORFA) providing Friends organizations with information, networking opportunities, the quarterly 'The Link' newsletter, and collaborative resources. For Refuge Friends volunteer organizations.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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.

• Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates (CORFA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2020In June 2020, the National Wildlife Refuge Association and CORFA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize their long-standing partnership. The MOU outlines plans to work together to provide Friends organizations with information and materials to strengthen their effectiveness. NWRA provides expertise and financing assistance while CORFA provides experience and volunteer labor. Together they host webinars and publish the quarterly 'The Link' newsletter for Refuge Friends.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Wildlife Refuge Association partners with USFWS on various initiatives including the National Friends Workshop, advocacy for refuge funding, and conservation programs. The partnership supports the shared mission of protecting the National Wildlife Refuge System through collaborative workshops, policy advocacy, and resource sharing.
• Catawba CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Catawba College in Salisbury, NC to develop conservation work and provide college interns for science-based project work on North Carolina national wildlife refuges. The partnership was developed through Howard Phillips, Regional Representative for Southeast, working with a key donor who is an alumnus of the college.
• Island ConservationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Island Conservation and USFWS in developing and executing mouse eradication operations impacting nesting Laysan Albatross on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. Jan Taylor, Regional Representative for Northeast, serves as coordinator/facilitator for this project.
• Chowan UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChowan University biology professors received a $7,500 grant from NWRA to place Prothonotary Warbler nest boxes on Alligator River NWR. Students participate in this science-based migratory bird project, with data gathered helping refuge managers better understand the status and needs of this declining forested-wetland dependent species.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Wildlife Federation: Largest U.S. private conservation nonprofit; broad wildlife and habitat advocacy mandate that overlaps with NWRA's refuge-focused niche, competing for the same donor base and Congressional attention.
• Sierra Club: Large U.S. environmental advocacy organization with overlapping public-lands, habitat, and federal funding advocacy; competes for advocacy-oriented donors and grassroots campaigners.
• The Nature Conservancy: Global conservation nonprofit with a strong U.S. land-protection portfolio; shares the habitat-conservation mission and counts NWRA Board Chair Lynn Scarlett as a former senior officer.
• World Wildlife Fund (U.S.): Global wildlife and habitat conservation organization with a U.S. policy arm; overlaps with NWRA in species and habitat advocacy and competes for major-gift and institutional funders.

Direct peers

• National Audubon Society: Bird and habitat conservation nonprofit that operates sanctuaries and conducts federal advocacy; competes for birding and habitat-focused donors and runs overlapping conservation advocacy campaigns.
• Ducks Unlimited: Habitat-focused nonprofit dedicated to wetlands and waterfowl conservation; directly comparable in land-and-water conservation mission and in mobilizing a grassroots volunteer base for advocacy.
• Trout Unlimited: Conservation nonprofit focused on coldwater fisheries and habitat, with a comparable grassroots-chapter advocacy model and overlapping public-lands policy work.
• Defenders of Wildlife: Wildlife advocacy nonprofit focused on imperiled species and habitat protection; directly comparable in mission and Congressional-advocacy approach, and former employer of NWRA's President & CEO.
• Izaak Walton League of America: Conservation nonprofit with a long history of wildlife refuge advocacy and a strong chapter-based volunteer network; directly comparable to NWRA in grassroots-driven habitat advocacy.
• Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership: Coalition-based nonprofit advocating for wildlife habitat and public-lands funding; very comparable model to NWRA in using policy advocacy, coalition-building, and grants to advance conservation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-wildlife-refuge-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 National Wildlife Refuge Association