California Waterfowl Association

What California Waterfowl Association does

California Waterfowl Association (CWA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1945 and headquartered in Roseville, California. It operates across the Pacific Flyway with a five-pillar program model spanning Hunting, Education, Advocacy, Wetlands, and Waterfowl. The organization owns and manages six wetland properties totaling more than 5,000 acres across California's key waterfowl geographies (Suisun Marsh, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, Butte Sink, and Tulare Basin), which serve as conservation assets, public hunting grounds, and education centers. CWA biologists operate a banding program that has marked 312,000+ ducks and geese, an Egg Salvage Program that rescues nests from agricultural fields, and the California Wood Duck Program, which has produced over 1,000,000 wood ducks from volunteer-maintained nest boxes over 30+ years. Cumulative impact reported by CWA includes 730,000+ acres of wetlands protected, restored, or enhanced and 181,000+ K-12 students educated about waterfowl and conservation.

The organization's commercial equivalent of revenue comes from a diversified set of streams: individual donations and memberships (20,000 members, including Life Member at $50 and tiered Major Donor levels from $2,500 to $1M+ Diamond Benefactor), approximately 100 annual fundraising banquets across California (tickets from $80 individual to $3,500 sponsor tables, reaching 35,000+ attendees), corporate partnerships (Federal Premium, Benelli USA, YETI, Sitka Gear, Realtree, Purina Pro Plan, DemerBox, Five Star Bank, Migra Ammunitions), planned giving and estate gifts through the Pintail Legacy Society, merchandise sales, government grants (notably a $5.7M Wildlife Conservation Board grant for San Jacinto Wildlife Area), and a five-year $100M 'Inspiring Conservation' fundraising campaign. CWA also runs the Hunt Program, which has provided private-land hunting access to 28,000+ hunters (including 500+ veterans at no cost), and maintains advocacy staff working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and federal/state legislators. CWA holds Land Trust Alliance accreditation, a Charity Navigator 4-star rating, and the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency.

Name

California Waterfowl Association

Legal name

California Waterfowl Association

Website

https://calwaterfowl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

California Waterfowl Association is a 501(c)(3) conservation nonprofit founded in 1945 that protects waterfowl and wetlands across California through habitat ownership (5,000+ acres), hunter education, banding research, and legislative advocacy, serving 20,000 members, hunters, farmers, students, and veterans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK), Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ), Conservation & Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (BPAGAIAI)

Keywords

• Waterfowl conservation
• Wetland restoration
• Hunting access programs
• Wildlife conservation education
• Conservation advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Roseville

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: Individual donations from the public, members, and major donors constitute the primary revenue stream. CWA has a five-year $100 million 'Inspiring Conservation' campaign. Membership fees include Life Member ($50) and annual Sponsor Member options. Major Donor levels range from $2,500 (Major Donor) to $1M+ (Diamond Benefactor).
2. Fundraising Events: CWA hosts approximately 100 annual fundraising banquets across California, generating revenue through ticket sales, table sponsorships, live and silent auctions, raffles, and games. Individual banquet tickets range from $80 to $3,500 for sponsor tables.
3. Gun Calendar and Sweepstakes: CWA runs multiple sweepstakes programs: the annual Gun Calendar (2026), Spring Sweepstakes 2025 (prizes valued at $15,000+), and the 80th Anniversary Sweepstakes. Entries support conservation while offering prizes including firearms, vacations, and outdoor gear.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners (Federal Premium, Benelli USA, YETI, Banded, Sitka Gear, Realtree, Purina Pro Plan, DemerBox, Five Star Bank, Migra Ammunitions) pay for logo placement in the quarterly magazine (20,000 subscribers), on the website, and on event banners/programs (35,000+ people reached annually).
5. Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: CWA accepts planned gifts including bequests, charitable remainder trusts, IRA rollovers, stock transfers, real estate donations, life insurance beneficiary designations, and duck club donations. The Pintail Legacy Society recognizes members who have included CWA in their estate plans.
6. Merchandise and Shop: CWA operates an online shop selling merchandise including firearms, outdoor gear, and apparel. Revenue from merchandise sales supports conservation programs.
7. Hunt Program Donations: Landowners and hunters can donate hunts to CWA's Hunt Program, which opens private-land hunting opportunities to CWA members. Donated hunts can also be auctioned at fundraising banquets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

California Waterfowl Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization that owns and manages six wetland properties totaling more than 5,000 acres, operates a private-land Hunt Program serving 28,000+ hunters, runs waterfowl research programs (banding, egg salvage, wood duck program) that have produced 1,000,000+ wood ducks and banded 312,000+ birds, delivers K-12 conservation education to 181,000+ students, and conducts state and federal policy advocacy for waterfowl and wetlands. Revenue is generated through memberships, individual donations, major donor and planned giving programs, corporate partnerships, approximately 100 annual fundraising banquets, and sweepstakes/gun drawing programs.

Product overview

California Waterfowl is a 501(c)(3) conservation organization (not a technology company) offering a suite of programs focused on waterfowl conservation, wetlands restoration, hunting advocacy, and education. The portfolio includes the Hunt Program providing private-land hunting access to members; conservation programs (Wood Duck Program, Egg Salvage, Banding, Wetland Restoration); educational offerings (K-12 school programs, hunter training camps, How-To digital mentor series); publications (quarterly magazine, podcast, eNews); fundraising events (100 annual banquets, gun calendars, sweepstakes); and planned giving vehicles. Core programs are interconnected: conservation work protects habitat that supports the Hunt Program, while memberships and donations fund both conservation and education initiatives. The organization operates property assets (5,000+ acres of wetlands) for habitat and public access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hunt Program Connects CWA members with private-land hunting opportunities across California, providing access to wetlands, hunt coordination, landowner liability protection, and veteran hunt experiences. Serves hunters of all levels including youth, women, veterans, and adults.
• California Wood Duck Program One of the largest volunteer-based conservation programs in the nation, responsible for hatching 1,000,000+ wood ducks from nest boxes over 30+ years, helping restore wood duck populations across the Pacific Flyway.
• Egg Salvage Program Partners with farmers to rescue duck nests from agricultural fields before harvest, with collected eggs delivered to permitted hatcheries, incubated, and ducklings reared for five weeks before release into the wild.
• Banding Program Bands waterfowl (primarily mallards, northern pintails, gadwalls, and wood ducks) with aluminum leg bands for research. CWA biologists band birds in late spring and summer, with 312,000+ ducks and geese banded to date. Bands provide data supporting science-based waterfowl harvest regulations.
• Wetland Properties (6 owned properties) California Waterfowl owns six wetland properties comprising more than 5,000 acres from the Tulare Basin to the Butte Sink: Grizzly Ranch (982 acres, Suisun Marsh), Denverton (936 acres, Suisun Marsh), Butte Creek Island Ranch (110 acres, Butte Sink), Sanborn Slough (260 acres, Butte Sink), Quimby Island (789 acres, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta), and Goose Lake (2,175 acres, Tulare Basin). Used for wetland conservation, public hunting, and educational programs.
• Planned Giving / Pintail Legacy Society Estate planning vehicles including charitable remainder trusts, IRA rollovers, real estate / duck club donations, life insurance beneficiary designations, and bequests. The Pintail Legacy Society recognizes members who have included CWA in their estate plans.
• Inspiring Conservation Campaign Five-year $100 million fundraising campaign supporting four priorities: Waterfowl ($7.5M goal), Wetlands ($10M goal), Education ($5M goal), and Advocacy ($2.5M goal). Supports ongoing programs and new initiatives.
• California Waterfowl Magazine (quarterly publication) Quarterly publication (68-96 pages) mailed to 20,000 members. Features articles on waterfowl hunting, conservation, public policy updates, and organization news. Published in March, June, September, and December.
• Online Shop (Merchandise) CWA operates an online shop selling firearms, outdoor gear, and apparel through calwaterfowl.org. Revenue from merchandise sales supports conservation programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 730,000+ acres of wetlands protected, restored, or enhanced
• +10 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ducks UnlimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024CWA works with Ducks Unlimited on wetland restoration projects. Ducks Unlimited is undertaking two Klamath Basin restoration projects (Agency-Barnes wetland units of Upper Klamath NWR and Tule Lake NWR infrastructure improvements) funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. CWA actively lobbied for BIL passage, which includes $162M for Klamath Basin ecosystem restoration.
• Federal PremiumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFederal Premium is listed as a corporate partner on CWA's website. As a corporate partner, Federal Premium's logo appears on CWA's corporate partner page, in the quarterly magazine (20,000 subscribers), and on event banners and programs (35,000+ people reached annually). Corporate partnerships are tailored to each partner's needs.
• Benelli USAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBenelli USA is listed as a corporate partner. The partnership was renewed in 2025 (per press release). Benelli's logo appears across CWA marketing channels including the magazine, website, and events. Custom Benelli M2 shotguns engraved with CWA's 80th Anniversary logo are offered as sweepstakes prizes.
• YETIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYETI is listed as a corporate partner. YETI renewed its partnership with CWA in 2025. YETI products (coolers, gear cases) are featured in sweepstakes prizes and are part of the gear guide content on CWA's website.
• BandedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanded is listed as a corporate partner. Banded products appear in sweepstakes prizes (e.g., the 80th Anniversary Sweepstakes featured a Polaris Ranger with Banded Decoy package) and are featured in CWA's gear guide content.
• Sitka GearminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSitka Gear is listed as a corporate partner. Sitka Delta Pro Wading Jackets with CWA embroidery were offered as sweepstakes prizes. Sitka's logo appears in CWA's marketing channels.
• RealtreeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRealtree is listed as a corporate partner. Realtree renewed its partnership with CWA in 2025. Realtree's camouflage patterns and brand identity align with CWA's waterfowl hunting audience.
• Purina Pro PlanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPurina Pro Plan is listed as a corporate partner, with its logo appearing on CWA's corporate partner page. The partnership provides visibility to CWA's hunting and dog-owning community.
• DemerBoxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDemerBox signed on as a new corporate partner in 2024. DemerBox outdoor audio products appear in sweepstakes prizes (e.g., Polaris Ranger package for 80th Anniversary Sweepstakes included a DemerBox).
• Five Star BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFive Star Bank is CWA's newest corporate partner. Founded in 1999 and publicly traded since 2021, Five Star Bank provides banking products and services to small and medium-sized businesses, professionals, and individuals in California.
• Migra AmmunitionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMigra Ammunitions is listed as a corporate partner, with its logo appearing on CWA's corporate partner page and at events. Relevant to CWA's hunting membership base.
• California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWA partners with CDFW on waterfowl studies (since 1985), implementation of the Nesting Bird Habitat Incentive Program, management of the San Jacinto Wildlife Area (WCB $5.7M grant project), and joint advocacy for breeding habitat funding. CDFW sets California waterfowl hunting regulations within federal frameworks.
• Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNRCS partners with CWA on wetland restoration and water management. NRCS helped provide summer brood water at Goose Lake (Tulare Basin). CWA participates in the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) administered by NRCS to implement conservation initiatives.
• Audubon and The Nature ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudubon and The Nature Conservancy are mentioned as partners in providing summer brood water at Goose Lake (Tulare Basin). These partnerships support water management for waterfowl habitat in the Tulare Basin.
• Delta WaterfowlminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWA joined with Delta Waterfowl and Ducks Unlimited to support federal legislation (H.R. 6854) providing critical breeding habitat for waterfowl both in California and the Prairie Pothole Region of the Upper Midwest.
• California Retriever Training AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWA provides training fields at Grizzly Ranch and Denverton properties for the California Retriever Training Association, supporting dog training for the hunting community.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSFWS sets frameworks for hunting regulations in each of the four flyways, with input from Flyway Councils. CWA works with USFWS on pintail harvest strategy revision and pintail limit liberalization. USFWS's National Pintail Harvest Strategy Working Group (formed 2018) includes CWA-relevant stakeholders.
• Klamath Basin FarmersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWA acknowledges critical support from Klamath Basin farmers who have sent their water to Lower Klamath and Tule Lake national wildlife refuges repeatedly in times of need, demonstrating a collaborative relationship in water-sharing for wildlife habitat.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLjUNsaMQbueLkYWaDVD04dOnDtnZIIAbZ
• Instagraminstagram.com/calwaterfowl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-waterfowl-assn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 California Waterfowl Association