National Wildlife Federation's mission is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future.

On March 1, 1934, President Franklin Roosevelt appointed political cartoonist Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling to be chief of the U.S. Biological Survey. Darling urged the president to convene a conference in Washington D.C. to bring together individuals, organizations and agencies interested in the restoration and conservation of wildlife resources. Even then, America's land, water and wildlife were threatened. Recognizing the link between the people's health, the environment and our quality of life, conference participants set out to protect them all. They understood that it would take millions of informed, motivated people to do the job.

The conference took place from February 3-7, 1936 and was called the North American Wildlife Conference. Darling resigned his position with the Biological Survey just before the conference.

At this conference an organization was created and was called the General Wildlife Federation. Darling was elected president. The first annual meeting was held March 3, 1937 in St. Louis, Missouri. The General Wildlife Federation became the National Wildlife Federation in 1938.

National Wildlife Federation has been uniting Americans in our work to protect wildlife since 1936.  We give voice to the wildlife conservation values that are part of our country's heritage.  Our initiatives are charting a new course for wildlife that our children and grandchildren will thank us for.

Changing the Forecast for Wildlife

Global warming is the single most urgent threat to wildlife.  National Wildlife Federation is confronting global warming head-on and making it a top organizational priority.  Through education and advocacy we're putting the reality of global warming and its consequences to people and wildlife at the forefront of the American agenda.  Our children and grandchildren deserve to inherit a healthy planet without the devastation of global warming.  We must not saddle them with a bigger problem tomorrow when we have the ability to solve this crisis today.

Building Connections with Nature

Today's children spend as much as six hours a day wired to electronic screens instead of playing outside.  National Wildlife Federation is reversing this trend by fostering profound and personal connections between people and nature.  Our programs bring people closer to the natural world and give them experiences that last a lifetime, experiences that touch their hearts and build a sense of conservation stewardship.  National Wildlife Federation's award-winning children's magazines, Wild Animal Baby^®, Your Big Backyard^®, and Ranger Rick^® introduce a new generation of readers to all things wild and to the wonder wildlife inspires in all of us.

Keeping the Wild Alive

All Across America, places for wildlife to live on public and private lands are being squeezed out, leaving wildlife with fewer places to call home.  National Wildlife Federation is working to protect the ecosystems that are most critical to native wildlife, as well as species that are most threatened, especially habitats and species most vulnerable to the effects of global warming.  Thanks to the National Wildlife Federation and our conservation partners, generations to come may get the chance to see a grizzly bear or elusive Florida panther, feel the tug of a wild salmon on the line, witness a whooping crane migration or hear the howl of the wolf.  National Wildlife Federation strategies help protect, connect and restore habitat to ensure a wildlife legacy for our children.

Wildlife is Our Middle Name

Wildlife's ability to survive the challenges of the 21st century is being outpaced by the events that are transforming our world.  National Wildlife Federation's vision, along with that of our four million members and supporters, is to restore the balance of nature and protect our rich wildlife heritage for our children's future.  In step with the organization's 48 state affiliates, we are moving toward this vision by partnering with others to create and sustain a national conservation movement.  At our headquarters in Reston, Virginia, our office in the nation's Capitol, and our eight field offices across the United States, we are leading the nation's conservation movement to restore America's wildlife.

• Executive Summary (pdf)
• A plan to restore America's wildlife (pdf)