South Dakota Wildlife Federation

What South Dakota Wildlife Federation does

South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1931 as the South Carolina Game and Fish Association and reorganized under its current name in 1946. Headquartered at 1519 Richland Street in Columbia, SC, the organization operates as the state's first conservation group with a 9-person staff led by Executive Director Sara Green. SCWF's mission is delivered through the C.A.R.E. framework (Conserve, Advocate, Restore, Educate), which organizes programs spanning habitat restoration (Certified Wildlife Habitat, Schoolyard Habitats, WAIT corporate partnerships, Carolina Fence Gardens), conservation initiatives (Plishing beach litter sweeps, State Bill Tracker, nesting boxes, wildlife connectivity), outdoor recreation and education (POWR women's retreats, Palmetto Pro Birder, Camp Wildwood, National Hunting & Fishing Day, online webinars, Ranger Rick magazine distribution), and annual fundraising events (Wild Summer Nights Online Auction, Forks Knives & Spoonbills Conservation Dinner).

The organization serves wildlife enthusiasts, sportsmen and women, gardeners, K-12 students, educators, environmental scholarship candidates, and corporate conservation partners across South Carolina. Its core technology footprint is modest: a NeonCRM-based donation and event management platform, Zoom webinar delivery, and a YouTube content archive, supplemented by active social media presence on Flickr, Facebook, and Instagram. There are no proprietary software products, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities. Citizen science programs (NestWatch, Palmetto Pro Birder) generate biodiversity data through participant-driven observation.

SCWF's revenue model is diversified across individual donations (preset tiers $25–$1,000), corporate partnerships structured in tiered giving (Kestrel $2,500–$4,999 through Eagle $20,000+), merchandise sales through the gift store, event registration fees ($100–$135 per attendee), annual auction proceeds ($92,280 in 2024), and planned legacy giving. Its go-to-market is community-led, reaching members and donors through educational programming, volunteer activation, habitat certification, and partnerships with the National Wildlife Federation, SCDNR, Clemson University, and major corporate sponsors including Duke Energy, OceanaGold, 3M, Bridgestone, BMW, and Michelin.

Name

South Dakota Wildlife Federation

Legal name

South Carolina Wildlife Federation

Website

https://scwf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

South Carolina Wildlife Federation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1931, operating habitat restoration, conservation advocacy, and outdoor education programs across South Carolina through donations, corporate sponsorships, events, and legacy gifts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

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), Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation services
• Habitat restoration programs
• Environmental education programs
• Conservation advocacy services
• Outdoor recreation training

Headquarters

HQ city

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: Primary revenue stream from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and organizational sponsorships. Tax-deductible donations are solicited through the website with preset amounts ($1000, $500, $250, $100, $50, $25) and other options.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate donors categorized into tiers: Eagle ($20,000+), Falcon ($10,000-$19,999), Owl ($5,000-$9,999), and Kestrel ($2,500-$4,999). Includes wildlife and industry partners (WAIT) and event sponsors.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise through the SCWF gift store, including apparel, items, and conservation products
4. Event Registration: Revenue from educational workshops, retreats (POWR), and special events like the Forks, Knives, & Spoonbills Conservation Dinner ($135/person)
5. Annual Auction: Annual Wild Summer Nights Online Auction fundraiser that raised $92,280 in 2024 supporting education and conservation programs
6. Legacy Gifts: Planned giving program including bequests, beneficiary designations, donor advised funds, stocks, property gifts, and legacy gift planning

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

South Dakota Wildlife Federation (per data: South Carolina Wildlife Federation) is a nonprofit conservation organization delivering habitat restoration programs, wildlife conservation advocacy, outdoor recreation education, and citizen science initiatives. Core offerings include Schoolyard Habitats certification, POWR women's outdoor retreats, Palmetto Pro Birder citizen science, Project Prothonotary nest box installations, Wildlife And Industry Together (WAIT) corporate partnerships, and Ranger Rick magazine subscriptions.

Product overview

South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) is a nonprofit conservation organization established in 1931, offering a portfolio of interconnected programs organized under four core pillars: Conserve, Advocate, Restore, and Educate (C.A.R.E.). The organization provides habitat restoration programs (including Certified Wildlife Habitat, Schoolyard Habitats, and WAIT business partnerships), conservation initiatives (Plishing, State Bill Tracker, Wildlife Connectivity), outdoor recreation education (POWR women's retreats, Camp Wildwood, Palmetto Pro Birder), and environmental learning (online webinars, Ranger Rick subscriptions, Songbird Art Contest, and scholarships). The federation also conducts fundraising events including the Wild Summer Nights Auction and Forks, Knives, & Spoonbills Conservation Dinner.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• POWR (Palmetto Outdoors Women Retreat): Women's outdoor recreation retreat program offering introductory and advanced classes in outdoor activities including fishing, hunting, kayaking, archery, and more.
• POWR Up
• POWR+
• Schoolyard Habitats
• Palmetto Pro Birder
• WAIT (Wildlife And Industry Together)

Products and services

• Habitat Restoration Programs Programs including Gardening for Wildlife, Carolina Fence Gardens, Schoolyard Habitats, Industry Habitats, Community Wildlife Habitats, Native Plants, Longleaf Pine Habitat, Monarchs and Milkweed, and Enhancing Pollinator Habitat that provide food, water, cover and places for wildlife to raise young. Targeted at individual gardeners, schools, communities, and businesses across South Carolina.
• Conservation Programs Initiatives including Plishing (beach litter sweeps), State Bill Tracker, Grasslands Habitat, Wildlife Connectivity, Imperiled Wildlife, Bird Collisions, Clean Environment, and Nesting Boxes focused on protecting and preserving wildlife and ecosystems. Targeted at conservation advocates, volunteers, and policymakers in South Carolina.
• POWR (Palmetto Outdoors Women Retreat) Weekend workshop providing women of all ages with outdoor skills including archery, birding, fishing, hunting, kayaking, paddleboarding, and other recreational activities in a supportive, non-competitive environment. Targeted at women interested in outdoor recreation in South Carolina.
• POWR+ One-Day Workshops One-day workshops around the state offering deeper immersion into outdoor activities for women, including fly fishing, boating orientation, hiking, and sporting clays events. Targeted at women seeking single-day outdoor experiences in South Carolina.
• POWR Up Retreat Overnight retreat offering longer, in-depth classes on backpacking, kayak fishing, outdoor photography, hunting basics, and guided hikes with Master Naturalists. Targeted at women seeking immersive multi-day outdoor education experiences.
• Schoolyard Habitats Program Program using school grounds as learning sites for wildlife conservation and cross-curricular learning, with certification through National Wildlife Federation. Over 200 schools certified in South Carolina. Targeted at K-12 schools and educators.
• Ranger Rick Magazine Subscription Award-winning wildlife magazine for children featuring animal facts, photos, activities, and outdoor adventures. Educator rate of $10 available plus free Educator Guide, with bulk discounts available. Targeted at children, families, and educators.
• South Carolina Songbird Art Contest Annual art contest for K-12 students in partnership with Wildlife Forever, inviting students to explore native birds through art and creative writing. Entry deadline November 30th. State winners advance to the national contest. Targeted at K-12 students across South Carolina.
• Environmental Scholarships $500 scholarships for full-time students pursuing environmental degrees at South Carolina schools of higher education. Deadline October 31st. Targeted at college students pursuing environmental fields.
• Online Nature Learning Webinars Free Zoom webinars on topics including bees, birds, butterflies, South Carolina ecosystems, habitat creation, native plants, hunting, fishing, and reptiles, recorded and available on YouTube. Targeted at general public interested in nature education.
• Camp Wildwood Week-long environmental camp for high school students sponsored by multiple organizations including SCWF, Garden Club of South Carolina, Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, SC State Parks, and SC DNR. Targeted at high school students.
• National Hunting and Fishing Day Event Free annual event in Seneca introducing kids and adults to hunting, fishing, and outdoor activities, traditionally held the fourth Saturday in September. Targeted at sportsmen, women, families, and youth interested in outdoor recreation.
• Palmetto Pro Birder Program Training program teaching participants to identify birds in their backyards and around the state, producing citizen scientists who collect data for bird conservation. Targeted at birding enthusiasts and citizen scientists in South Carolina.
• Project Prothonotary Partnership with Duke Energy to construct, install, and monitor nest boxes for Prothonotary Warblers in the Catawba-Wateree watershed, with goal of 85 nest boxes by 2025 nesting season. Targeted at Prothonotary Warbler conservation in South Carolina.
• Wildlife And Industry Together (WAIT) Program Partnership with conservation-minded businesses to enhance properties for wildlife habitat and provide educational opportunities for employees and communities. Targeted at corporations seeking sustainability partnerships.
• Wild Summer Nights Online Auction Annual fundraising auction supporting education and conservation programs, raising $92,280 in 2024. Targeted at donors and supporters of SCWF's conservation mission.
• Forks, Knives, and Spoonbills Conservation Dinner Annual conservation dinner event at Kiawah River featuring art contest and fundraising for SCWF programs. Priced at $135 per person. Targeted at conservation donors and supporters in South Carolina.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 schools certified through Schoolyard Habitats Program in South Carolina
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• National Wildlife Federation (NWF)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCWF has been affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation since 1946, partnering on Backyard & Schoolyard Habitat programs, National Wildlife Week, National Hunting & Fishing Day, and Ranger Rick Magazine distribution. NWF provides organizational support, program frameworks, and national visibility for SCWF's conservation initiatives.
• Duke EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Project Prothonotary to enhance key breeding habitat for Prothonotary Warblers in the Catawba-Wateree watershed. SCWF coordinates with Duke's Lake Services department to evaluate existing habitat and construct, install, and monitor 85 nest boxes throughout the watershed.
• Wildlife ForevercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the South Carolina Songbird Art Contest, inviting K-12 students to explore native birds through art and creative writing. State winners advance to the national contest.
• South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for conservation programs, POWR retreats, habitat protection, wildlife management, and legislative advocacy. SCDNR provides expertise, facilities, and collaborative program delivery.
• Clemson UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership through Schoolyard Habitats program, Master Naturalist programs, and Dr. David Coyle providing native plant education. Clemson Extension supports environmental education initiatives.
• 3McoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWAIT (Wildlife And Industry Together) partner - conservation-minded business enhancing wildlife habitat on properties and providing employee education opportunities.
• BridgestonecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWAIT partner - corporate landowner committed to wildlife habitat management and employee conservation education programs.
• BMW Manufacturing Co., LLCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOwl-tier corporate donor ($5,000-$9,999) and WAIT partner supporting conservation programs and wildlife habitat initiatives.
• MichelincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOwl-tier corporate donor and WAIT partner with commitment to environmental stewardship and wildlife habitat enhancement at manufacturing facilities.
• Cornell Lab of OrnithologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCitizen science partnership for nest box monitoring using NestWatch protocols to track reproductive biology of birds in South Carolina.
• Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical GardencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner and supporter providing educational programming, collaborative initiatives, and funding through Riverbanks Conservation Support Fund.
• Shakespeare Company, LLCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKestrel-tier corporate donor and WAIT partner implementing wildlife habitat enhancements, pollinator gardens, and community education programs at their Columbia facility.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ducks Unlimited: National habitat conservation nonprofit with deep partnerships and fundraising overlap with state wildlife federations; competes for the same sportsmen donor dollar and wetlands/grasslands advocacy space as SCWF.
• National Wildlife Federation: National umbrella organization for state affiliates like SCWF since 1946; provides shared program frameworks (Schoolyard Habitats, Ranger Rick, National Hunting & Fishing Day) and is a direct counterparty in SCWF's citizen science and education initiatives.

Direct peers

• Georgia Wildlife Federation: State-level NWF affiliate operating in a neighboring Southeastern state with similar habitat restoration, education, advocacy, and citizen-science programs; structurally comparable in staffing scale, revenue model, and program mix.
• Virginia Wildlife Federation: State-level NWF affiliate offering similar programs in conservation advocacy, habitat restoration, schoolyard habitats, and outdoor skills education; comparable organizational scale and mission scope.
• Tennessee Wildlife Federation: Another Southeastern NWF state affiliate with similar hunting, fishing, habitat, and education programs; useful comparative for SCWF's program portfolio and corporate engagement model.
• Florida Wildlife Federation: Long-standing NWF state affiliate executing comparable conservation, education, and policy advocacy work in the Southeast; shares member-supported funding model and statewide habitat certification pathways.
• North Carolina Wildlife Federation: Direct peer state affiliate of NWF serving North Carolina with broadly parallel programs (habitat certification, advocacy, education, corporate partnerships) and similar nonprofit governance; closest geographic and programmatic analog to SCWF.

Regional players

• Audubon South Carolina: South Carolina chapter of the National Audubon Society focused on bird conservation, habitat, and policy; SCWF's Government Relations Manager also represents Audubon SC on legislative matters, evidencing direct operational overlap.
• Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden: South Carolina-based conservation partner providing educational programming and funding through the Riverbanks Conservation Support Fund; shares overlapping mission and donor base with SCWF in SC.

Others

• South Carolina Department of Natural Resources: State agency partner for POWR retreats, habitat protection, and wildlife management; not a competitor but a key collaborator that influences the policy and program landscape in which SCWF operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SCWildlifeFederation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-carolina-wildlife-federation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 South Dakota Wildlife Federation