Program areas at Natural Resources Foundation of
The Natural Resources Foundation supports management of some of Wisconsin's most important and vulnerable landscape gems--state Natural areas and public lands.
The Natural Resources Foundation's conservation education program includes a statewide field trip program (over 315 outdoor experiences for citizens in 2023) and financial support of conservation education initiatives by partner organizations.
The Natural Resources Foundation provides funding for priority conservation projects for rare and endangered species as identified by the Wisconsin department of Natural Resources. Major programs include protection of native bats, ornate box turtles, wood turtles, raptors, kirtland's warblers, whooping cranes, and migratory birds in their winter habitats.
The Natural Resources Foundation created the Wisconsin conservation endowment, serving as a "community Foundation for conservation" to provide individual donors and non-profit organizations opportunities to build a permanent and sustainable source of private funding to support all aspects of Natural Resources conservation in Wisconsin. The Natural Resources Foundation manages the assets of more than 124 individual endowment funds, agency funds, and spend-down funds that support species protection, education, habitat management, and other conservation organizations. In addition, the Natural Resources Foundation manages the funds of escrow accounts under third-party custodial agreements for the purpose of Natural area conservation.