Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas, Inc.

Founded in 1991, the mission of Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation is to provide private support to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to ensure that all Texans, today and in the future, can enjoy the wild things and wild places of Texas. Overseen by a board of trustees and administered by professional staff, TPWF has raised more than $190 million to conserve iconic landscapes, restore native species and enhance TPWD’s ability to safeguard the state’s lands, waters and wildlife.

As the official nonprofit funding partner of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TPWF occupies a unique position in the field, amplifying available public funding with private support for large-scale, transformational projects above and beyond TPWD’s day-to-day operations. Because TPWD oversees an expansive scope of responsibilities, from conservation to recreation, education, wildlife management, and law enforcement through the Texas Game Wardens, TPWF can leverage private funds for a wider variety of projects than other nonprofit organizations in the field of conservation. TPWF is also the only Texas-based organization solely dedicated to funding the expansion and enhancement of large-scale publicly accessible natural areas.

In keeping with its mission, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation secures private funding through gifts and grants for transformational projects supported by sound science with measurable results and meaningful impact that would not be possible without the philanthropy of generous Texas citizens and foundations. Private funds are secured to address strategic priorities that were developed in conjunction with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and answer the most pressing challenges of the Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan.

TPWF invests private funding in projects ranging from species and habitat restoration to conserving Texas rivers, increasing access to state parks and wildlife management areas, and strategic land acquisitions. In addition to securing funding for these programs, TPWF also administers projects aimed at raising awareness for conservation in Texas, enhancing Texas State Parks, restoring one of the largest remaining tracts of Texas’ coastal prairie, and supporting Texas Game Wardens.

Funding secured by TPWF supports transformational projects that fall under four critical categories:
• Steward: Conserving the irreplaceable habitats that define us as Texans through once-in-a-generation land acquisitions across the state
• Conserve: Ensuring the future of our iconic wildlife and the habitat it relies on by investing in science-based conservation programs and projects
• Lead: Enhancing the capabilities of the Texas Game Wardens who have watched over our lands, waters, wildlife and people for more than 100 years
• Engage: Connecting people to inspiring outdoor experiences by providing access to the abundance of natural beauty throughout Texas

Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation has nearly 30 years of experience in raising private funding to support transformational projects with TPWD, which itself has been stewarding Texas' lands, waters, and wildlife for over 50 years. In 2014, TPWF launched “Keeping it Wild: The Campaign for Texas” to raise more than $100 million in private funds, advancing our state’s proud traditions of conservation, stewardship, and outdoor recreation. To date, $96.9 million has been committed.

TPWF's supporters are a diverse base of philanthropists, state park users, hunters, anglers, and private landowners that are united around the common desire to ensure future generations can continue to enjoy Texas' incredible wild things and wild places.

TPWF has a demonstrated history of highly effective fundraising campaigns and successful land acquisition projects. Below are examples of recent projects and programs supported through private funding secured by TPWF:
• Spearheading the Texas Coastal Conservation Initiative to maximize conservation of Texas’ coastal resources following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill by supporting a consensus list of high-priority land conservation projects and enabling public-private partnerships to achieve critical landscape-scale conservation
• Performing ongoing habitat restoration of the 17,351-acre Powderhorn Ranch in Calhoun County, ensuring that this vast tract of Texas coastal prairie is conserved for future generations
• Securing more than $1 million in funding for Gear Up for Game Wardens, a program created to provide specialty equipment your Texas Game Wardens need to maintain safety and ensure the highest level of service for the people of Texas
• Conserving central Texas rivers through partnerships with private landowners and local organizations and stocking over 1 million Guadalupe bass in Texas rivers and streams, successfully reestablishing healthy populations
• Securing funding to enable TPWD, Borderlands Research Institute, and the Trans-Pecos Pronghorn Working Group to reestablish a healthy pronghorn population in West Texas, including the successful 2018 translocation of 113 healthy pronghorn from the Texas Panhandle to the Trans-Pecos
• Enhancing the visitor experience at Texas State Parks through a competitive grant program that provides funds for projects that enhance the visitor experience and conservation values
• Securing $1.5 million to restore TPWD’s Coastal Fisheries Division resources in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, including fish hatcheries, research vessels, boat barns, and equipment storage area
• Enhancing valuable education and outreach programs for children and families by providing funding for programs such as the Texas Outdoor Family Program and the Neighborhood Fishin’ Program