Wildlife Forever
Wildlife Forever is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 that runs conservation education and habitat restoration programs—including the Clean Drain Dry Initiative, Art of Conservation contests, Prairie City USA, and Getting Families Fishing & Boating—serving youth, outdoor recreationists, and state/federal agency partners across North America.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersWhite Bear Lake, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Wildlife Forever does
Wildlife Forever is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation charity founded in 1987 and headquartered in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, that delivers conservation education, habitat restoration, and fish/wildlife management programs across North America and in 46 countries. Its core offerings are organized around four signature programs: the Clean Drain Dry Initiative (a national public awareness campaign against aquatic invasive species with 2.4 billion impressions and $15M+ invested since 2006), The Art of Conservation (Fish and Songbird Art Contests engaging 86,000+ K-12 youth since 1997), Prairie City USA (community prairie habitat restoration), and the Getting Families Fishing & Boating Initiative (acquired from Future Angler Foundation in 2024). Supporting digital tools include the Expect to Inspect mapping application (760+ watercraft inspection stations), Project 435 (mapping 25 invasive species across 435 U.S. congressional districts), and Safe-Boating.com (a U.S. Coast Guard–co-developed boating safety clearinghouse).
The organization's underlying technology is intentionally lightweight: content-driven websites, interactive GIS-style mapping tools built on public U.S. Geological Survey data, and a SquareSpace-based e-commerce store. Notable technical components are limited to geospatial data aggregation and brand-awareness campaign infrastructure rather than proprietary technology platforms. Wildlife Forever's technology strategy is to remain a credible content and brand layer atop federal and state agency data, rather than build standalone technology IP.
The business model is a nonprofit donation- and partnership-driven revenue structure. Approximately 94–96% of contributions flow directly to conservation programs per disclosure. Revenue streams include individual donations, corporate sponsorships (Bass Pro Shops as title sponsor of Fish Art Contest since 1999, Yamaha Rightwaters, Rapala, Guy Harvey Foundation), government grants (USDA Forest Service, U.S. Coast Guard Sportfish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative), merchandise sales through an online store, and tiered membership donations. Go-to-market is community-led: partnerships with 18 state agencies, federal agencies, tribes, and volunteer networks distribute programs through schools, state-hosted contests, youth fishing clinics, PBS television (Into the Outdoors), ICAST trade show presence, and MLB/Major League Fishing ambassador channels. The organization claims 95% of contributions support the mission and reports 700 million cumulative hunters, anglers, and youth educated on natural resource and habitat conservation.
Wildlife Forever firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wildlife Forever
- Legal name
- Wildlife Forever
- Website
- https://wildlifeforever.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Wildlife Forever is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 that runs conservation education and habitat restoration programs—including the Clean Drain Dry Initiative, Art of Conservation contests, Prairie City USA, and Getting Families Fishing & Boating—serving youth, outdoor recreationists, and state/federal agency partners across North America.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wildlife Forever industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)
Keywords
Where Wildlife Forever is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- White Bear Lake
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Wildlife Forever business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Wildlife Forever relies primarily on donations from individuals, organizations, and partners. The organization states that 94-96% of every dollar donated goes directly to conservation programs.
- Merchandise and Product Sales: The organization operates an online store selling merchandise including membership packages with branded items such as Premium Wildlife Forever Caps and Carbon Fiber Wallets. Products include Clean Drain Dry branded items.
- Partnership Grants and Sponsorships: Wildlife Forever receives funding through partnerships with government agencies (USDA Forest Service, U.S. Coast Guard, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative), corporate sponsors (Bass Pro Shops, Yamaha Rightwaters, Rapala, Guy Harvey Foundation), and foundation grants.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free Programs - Art and Songbird Contests |
| Subscription | Annual | Membership with Premium Perks |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise Products |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Wildlife Forever product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wildlife Forever is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation charity that delivers invasive species prevention campaigns, youth conservation education through art contests, prairie and aquatic habitat restoration, and fishing/boating recruitment programs. Its signature programs include the Clean Drain Dry Initiative, The Art of Conservation (Fish and Songbird Art Contests), Prairie City USA, and the Getting Families Fishing & Boating Initiative. The organization also operates an online store selling branded merchandise and accepts individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and government grants to fund its programs.
Product overview
Wildlife Forever is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization that offers a portfolio of interconnected conservation programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include the Clean Drain Dry Initiative (aquatic invasive species prevention campaign reaching millions annually), The Art of Conservation (youth education through Fish and Songbird Art Contests), Prairie City USA (prairie habitat restoration), and the Getting Families Fishing & Boating Initiative (fishing/boating education). Supporting tools include Safe-Boating.com (boating safety clearinghouse), Expect to Inspect (watercraft cleaning station locator), and Project 435 (invasive species mapping tool by congressional district). The organization also operates retail operations through its store for merchandise and conservation products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Art of Conservation: Signature program focusing on youth conservation education through Fish Art Contest and Songbird Art Contest.
- Clean Drain Dry Initiative
- Prairie City USA
- Getting Families Fishing & Boating Initiative
- Racing for Wildlife
Products and services
- Clean Drain Dry Initiative National public awareness and education campaign to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Reaches millions of outdoor enthusiasts annually through signage, community partnerships, digital strategies, and watercraft cleaning station deployment. The campaign's effectiveness in influencing boater behavior has been validated by a University of Wisconsin-Madison study.
- The Art of Conservation Youth conservation education program featuring Fish and Songbird Art Contests that teach conservation through creative arts. Since 1997, has engaged over 86,000 youth across 46 countries through K-12 contests with specialty awards including Guy Harvey Shark Award, IGFA Debris Division Award, and Great Lakes Fish Specialty Award.
- Prairie City USA Community program integrating prairie habitat restoration, demonstration projects, and adoption of conservation best practices. Includes Ecological Habitat Areas and Prairie Wetlands Learning Center components. Engages civic leadership and public participation in prairie-friendly policy and conservation implementation.
- Getting Families Fishing & Boating Initiative National effort to increase fishing and boating participation through education and outreach. Provides free fishing equipment grants and educational materials through community organizations hosting family fishing events. Reached over 8,000 youth and adults in 2024 through Future Angler events and is delivered through partnerships with NPAA members and Major League Fishing anglers.
- Expect to Inspect (E2I) Mapping Tool Interactive mapping tool helping boaters find watercraft inspection and cleaning stations. Identifies over 760 known inspection, decontamination, and access-based watercraft cleaning locations nationwide with directions, hours, and contact information.
- Project 435 Digital mapping tool identifying aquatic invasive species within each of the nation's 435 U.S. congressional districts. Features 25 prominent aquatic invasive species with occurrence and location data based on U.S. Geological Survey data.
- Safe-Boating.com Free online resource developed with the U.S. Coast Guard connecting boaters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts with boating safety certification opportunities, educational videos, and conservation resources.
- Citizen Carp Control Program addressing invasive carp species through citizen participation, including the 'Catch, Kiss, & Cook!' social media photo contest encouraging anglers to help control invasive carp populations.
- Wildlife Forever Online Store Direct-to-consumer online store selling merchandise, memberships, and Clean Drain Dry branded products with membership tiers offering perks such as Premium Wildlife Forever Caps and Carbon Fiber Wallets.
Companies that use Wildlife Forever
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Wildlife Forever technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Wildlife Forever partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
26 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and regional.
- Major League Fishing (MLF)coreMOU partnership to expand Getting Families Fishing & Boating Initiative. MLF anglers receive product grants including free fishing equipment and education materials for volunteer-led youth fishing clinics and family events nationwide. MLF serves as ambassadors to grow the program and brand.
- U.S. Coast GuardcoreCollaborative development of Safe-Boating.com clearinghouse for boating safety certification and education. Funded through Recreational Safe Boating grant from Sportfish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest ServicecoreFive-year national partnership to expand youth education through Art of Conservation and Future Angler programs. Supports fishing and hunting on national forests, invasive species prevention, habitat restoration, and youth conservation education.
- Discover Mediaworks / Into the OutdoorscorePartnership to produce Into the Outdoors television programs on PBS featuring safe boating and conservation education. Created content for Safe-Boating.com and received EMMY nomination for 'Real-life Case Files!'
- Jay N. Darling Legacy CentercorePartnership creating the Songbird Art Contest program focused on sharing wonder and diversity of songbirds and their conservation needs.
- Yamaha RightwaterscoreContinued partnership (2025-2026) for youth conservation education and aquatic invasive species programs. Funded development of Project 435 mapping tool. Professional anglers and dealer network support programs.
- Bass Pro ShopsflagshipTitle Sponsor of Art of Conservation Fish Art Contest since 1999. Renewed for 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons, supporting youth angling and conservation through the arts.
- Rapala Normark CorporationcoreRenewed sponsorship of Fish Art Contest and Getting Families Fishing & Boating Initiative. Supports youth education and community fishing clinics with products and merchandise.
- Guy Harvey FoundationcorePartnership for Guy Harvey Shark Award division within Fish Art Contest (2025-26). Celebrates student artwork raising awareness about sharks and ocean conservation.
- National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP)corePartnership supporting Fish Habitat Writing Award within Fish Art Contest, encouraging young writers to creatively express importance of protecting aquatic habitats.
- Western Native Trout Initiative (WNTI)corePartnership supporting Western Native Trout Award celebrating diversity of native trout species in western U.S.
- Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC)corePartnership creating Great Lakes Fish Specialty Award celebrating fish species vital to Great Lakes fisheries and raising awareness of non-native species impacts.
- International Game Fish Association (IGFA)corePartnership for IGFA Debris Division Award challenging young artists to transform collected trash into visual storytelling about aquatic conservation.
- National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA)coreNPAA members donate time and knowledge to support Getting Families Fishing & Boating Initiative through mentoring new anglers and teaching best practices.
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServicecoreCollaboration on Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! Leadership Award and aquatic invasive species prevention efforts.
- Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task ForcecoreJoint recipient of 2010 Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! Leadership Award for leadership in preventing AIS spread.
- Colorado Parks and WildliferegionalPartnership for new advertising campaign reminding boaters about invasive species prevention and watercraft inspection compliance in Colorado.
- Bureau of Land ManagementregionalPartnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife for invasive species prevention campaign in Colorado.
- United Prairie FoundationcorePartnership for Red River Valley Educational Prairie Trail project at Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton School, restoring four acres of native prairie.
- Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR)coreFunding partner for Educational Prairie Trail program. First NGO-funded project from BWSR supporting prairie and pollinator conservation.
- U.S. Forest ServicecorePartnership for watercraft cleaning station rapid deployment in Great Lakes area and ongoing AIS prevention efforts.
- Coleman National Fish HatcheryregionalCalifornia state host for Fish Art Contest.
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionregionalFlorida state host for Fish Art Contest, featuring Fish Art on official fishing licenses.
- Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesregionalIowa state host for Songbird Art Contest with state-specific bird list featuring local and national species.
- Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & AquariumregionalMissouri state host for Fish Art Contest.
- Texas Freshwater Fisheries CenterregionalTexas state host for Fish Art Contest, home of Hart-Morris Education Center and Richard M Hart Educator of the Year award.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Wildlife Forever competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Coastal Conservation Association: Marine recreational fisheries conservation nonprofit advocating for habitat protection and angler rights. Comparable on angler-recruitment mission and state-chapter program model.
- Trout Unlimited: Coldwater fisheries conservation nonprofit focused on habitat restoration, water quality, and angler recruitment. Highly comparable given Wildlife Forever's aquatic invasive species prevention and fish stocking mission.
- Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation: Wildlife habitat conservation nonprofit with a hunter-angler donor base and a focus on public lands and wildlife management. Comparable on hunter-funded conservation model and federal partnership structure.
- Izaak Walton League of America: Conservation nonprofit focused on watershed and aquatic habitat protection with a long history of citizen-science water monitoring. Comparable as an angler-supported conservation charity with grassroots chapters.
- Quail Forever: Sister organization to Pheasants Forever focused on quail habitat and upland restoration, with similar youth education and chapter-based delivery. Comparable on habitat restoration + youth programs + state-chapter structure.
- Ducks Unlimited: Largest waterfowl habitat conservation nonprofit in the U.S., combining habitat restoration with public education and youth programs. Directly comparable as a hunter-angler-supported 501(c)(3) running multi-state conservation initiatives and federal partnerships.
- National Audubon Society: Bird and avian habitat conservation nonprofit with a large network of chapters, youth programs, and federal advocacy on environmental policy. Comparable on chapter-based conservation education model and Songbird Art Contest adjacency.
- Pheasants Forever: Upland habitat and wildlife conservation nonprofit running habitat restoration, youth education (Pheasants Forever's Youth Habitat Program), and state-chapter programs. Directly comparable on habitat restoration + youth outreach + multi-state structure.
Broad incumbents
- The Nature Conservancy: Largest global conservation nonprofit operating land acquisition, habitat restoration, and policy advocacy at massive scale. Comparable as an incumbent conservation nonprofit running habitat acquisition and restoration programs nationally.
- National Wildlife Federation: Largest U.S. wildlife conservation and education nonprofit with a broad portfolio including Great Lakes restoration, pollinator gardens, and youth education (Eco-Schools). Comparable on integrated education + habitat + federal partnership model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wildlife Forever social profiles
Digital presenceWildlife Forever financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wildlife Forever leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Wildlife Forever subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Wildlife Forever funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wildlife Forever M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wildlife Forever
What does Wildlife Forever do?
Wildlife Forever is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation charity that delivers invasive species prevention campaigns, youth conservation education through art contests, prairie and aquatic habitat restoration, and fishing/boating recruitment programs. Its signature programs include the Clean Drain Dry Initiative, The Art of Conservation (Fish and Songbird Art Contests), Prairie City USA, and the Getting Families Fishing & Boating Initiative. The organization also operates an online store selling branded merchandise and accepts individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and government grants to fund its programs.
Is Wildlife Forever a public or private company?
Wildlife Forever is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Wildlife Forever founded?
Wildlife Forever was founded in 1987. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Wildlife Forever based?
Wildlife Forever is headquartered in White Bear Lake, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wildlife Forever make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are merchandise and Product Sales and partnership Grants and Sponsorships.
Who are Wildlife Forever's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Coastal Conservation Association, Trout Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Izaak Walton League of America, Quail Forever, Ducks Unlimited, National Audubon Society and Pheasants Forever. Broad incumbents are The Nature Conservancy and National Wildlife Federation.
Does Wildlife Forever have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wildlife Forever.
What industry is Wildlife Forever in?
Wildlife Forever's product category is Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAA, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAB, Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 7990.