Founded in 1962, Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) works to conserve and inspire conservation of Canadian wildlife and land so people can use and enjoy it. CWF works with people, corporations, NGOs, and governments. CWF's mission is to ensure healthy wildlife populations for the use and enjoyment of Canadians, including education and support for outdoor recreational activities. CWF is a federation with its directors nationally representing provincial wildlife federations including Ontario Federation of Hunters and Anglers, BC Wildlife Federation, and others. CWF educates, researches and advocates for the conservation of Canadian wildlife and natural habitats and the wise use of Canada's natural resources. 

Canadian Wildlife Federation encourages living sustainably so future generations can enjoy the outdoors through hiking, fishing, and so much more. It works to foster this outdoor Canadian way of life. CWF uses science-based information when developing its policies and programs. CWF reports that it engaged over 670,000 people and reached about 3 million people in 2018.

Canadian Wildlife Federation breaks its conservation initiatives into four categories: endangered species & biodiversity, lakes & rivers, coasts & oceans, and forests & fields. In F2018, CWF’s programs to protect freshwater turtles produced 4,517 hatchlings. In F2018, the Love Your Lake shoreline program assessed 7,031 shoreline properties on 41 lakes in Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. This program helps landowners naturalize their shorelines. 

CWF’s education programs hope to inspire future generations to develop a passion for wildlife conservation. In F2017, over 13,600 people participated in CWF’s WILD Family Nature Club that provides social activities and tools for young families.  This outdoor program seeks to get kids outdoors more to reconnect kids with nature and tackle nature-deficit disorder. The charity’s WILD Migrations Program trains educators to become certified instructors of wildlife activities. Lastly, CWF’s public service announcements aired over 21,000 times throughout the year.

In The News:  In 2016, Canadian Wildlife Federation was featured in this Vancouver Sun article. There is no material financial connection between Canadian Wildlife Federation and provincial wildlife federations, namely donations to support one charity are not passed through to other charities. Each is a separate and distinct charity.

Canadian Wildlife Federation politically lobbies for greater protection for whales in the St. Lawrence supporting low-speed zones for vessels. 

Charity Intelligence consolidated CWF with its associated Foundation in the following financial analysis. Transfers between the two charities are not reported as revenues or expenses.

Canadian Wildlife Federation is a large charity with total donations of $14.4m in F2018. Administrative costs are 5% of revenues and fundraising costs are 32% of donations. For every dollar donated to the charity, 63 cents go to the cause. This is outside Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. CWF has funding reserves of $12.3m of which, $427k is donor-endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the charity’s reserves can cover program costs for just over 7 months.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Canadian Wildlife Federation for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on July 19, 2018 by Stefan Tetzlaff.