Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I
Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I is a public charity based in Tallahassee, Florida, that supports conservation and outdoor recreation. The Foundation says it works closely with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and other public and private partners to protect Florida’s animals, plants, lands, and waters.
Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I at a glance
In short: Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I gave $1.5M across 58 grants in 2025 (avg $26K), mostly in Florida. 46% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,493,400
- +18.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 58
- +26.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $25,748
- -6.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,625
- Total assets
- $106,408,355
- +17.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 46% first-time grantees (16 of 35, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Florida (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I
- Review Cycle
- The website lists annual application windows of November for Conserve Wildlife, March for Protect Florida Springs, June for Wildlife Foundation of Florida Plate, and September 1–30 for Discover Florida’s Oceans.
- Deadline
- The website lists annual application windows of November for Conserve Wildlife, March for Protect Florida Springs,…
- Contact
Mailing address: P O Box 11010, Tallahassee, FL 32302
Phone: (850) 922-1066
Website: https://wildlifeflorida.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I
Who Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ($795K across 21 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
255 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 230 grants of 255 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s website describes its work and grant programs as focused on Florida. In 2025, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Florida, 4% to North Carolina, and 1% to South Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 58 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I open to new grantees?
46%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 16 of 35 grantees (46%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $59K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 34% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+10%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $899K (2021) to $1.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 58 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Tallahassee, FL | Wff25-31 chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Florida: continued response and cooperative approach to statewide surveillance | $138,904 |
| Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Tallahassee, FL | Cwt25-14 utilizing scout snakes as a control tool for burmese pythons within the picayune strand state forest | $120,000 |
| Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute Clearwater, FL | FG25-03 Manatee Rehabilitative and Critical Care Facility | $100,000 |
| Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Tallahassee, FL | CWT25-02 New Trailer-Mounted Bear Traps | $72,000 |
| University of North Carolina at Wilmington Wilmington, NC | Fg25-05 neural anomalies in the smalltooth sawfish, pristis pectinata | $62,537 |
| Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Tallahassee, FL | Cwt25-13 cache of land management tools for private land owners | $50,000 |
| Friends of the Wekiva River Inc Longwood, FL | Pfs25-14 critical habitat: mapping eel grass within the wekiva wild and scenic river system | $50,000 |
| Stetson University Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience Deland, FL | Pfs25-21 quantifying differences in primary productivity and herbivory control among native versus non-native water lettuce (pistia stratiotes) in spring runs of the st. Johns river | $49,890 |
| Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Tallahassee, FL | Cwt25-12 a novel methodology for a novel virus: using erna to detect turtle fraservirus (tfv-1) | $40,000 |
| Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Tallahassee, FL | Cwt25-15 offering local governments in rural areas with bear-resistant options to reduce human-bear conflicts | $40,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $106,408,355 | $25,766,143 | $17,792,610 | $1,493,400 | 58 | $2,852,442 |
| 2024 | $90,633,897 | $29,957,084 | $13,504,824 | $1,261,750 | 46 | $2,983,799 |
| 2023 | $68,347,314 | $19,417,372 | $11,017,515 | $1,013,620 | 49 | $1,548,854 |
| 2022 | $56,399,088 | $25,779,317 | $9,614,467 | $1,357,706 | 69 | $1,672,675 |
| 2021 | $47,933,575 | $12,283,576 | $6,932,642 | $898,667 | 33 | $1,312,654 |
| 2020 | $35,038,800 | $10,777,105 | $6,768,950 | $1,059,201 | 39 | $288,336 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to protect Florida’s animals and plants and the lands and waters they need to survive. Its website describes grant programs for wildlife conservation, springs research and community outreach, habitat and open-space projects, and ocean, estuarine, and coastal research and conservation. Other listed programs support coral restoration and marine fisheries research and conservation.
Its 2025 grants show support for work including chronic wasting disease surveillance, Burmese python control, manatee care, bear-conflict reduction, sawfish research, river habitat mapping, and aquatic vegetation research. The Foundation’s Conserve Wildlife tag proceeds are distributed to FWC as grants; the Foundation states that only FWC can receive those proceeds as the grantee, though other entities may participate as sub-recipients.
Recipients in 2025 included conservation, research, education, and wildlife organizations. For example, Friends of the Wekiva River describes its mission as protecting the integrity and recreational value of the Wekiva River and basin. Bonefish & Tarpon Trust describes its mission as conserving and restoring those fisheries and habitats through research, stewardship, education, and advocacy. Clearwater Marine Aquarium Inc describes its work as marine-life rescue, rehabilitation, and release, alongside education, research, and conservation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 58 grants totaling $1,493,400. Grants ranged from $5,189 to $138,904, with a median award of $15,625. The largest listed awards included $138,904 to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for chronic wasting disease surveillance; $120,000 to the Commission for using scout snakes to control Burmese pythons; and $100,000 to Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute for a manatee rehabilitative and critical-care facility.
Other listed awards included $62,537 to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington for research on neural anomalies in smalltooth sawfish, $50,000 to Friends of the Wekiva River for eelgrass mapping, and $49,890 to Stetson University Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience for research on native and non-native water lettuce. The Foundation’s filing says grant recipients must submit annual programmatic and financial reports and a final project report within 90 days of project completion.
The Foundation’s website describes annual application cycles for several programs. Conserve Wildlife applications are called for in November, with awards announced in spring; FWC applicants need section-leader approval before submitting. Protect Florida Springs applications are accepted in March, with awards announced in summer. Wildlife Foundation of Florida Plate applications are accepted in June, with awards announced in fall. Discover Florida’s Oceans applications are accepted September 1–30, with awards announced in winter. As of October 2, 2026, the 2026 September application window has passed; the website describes these as recurring annual cycles.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Laura Russell as chair, Joshua Kellam as vice chair, Kent Shoemaker as second vice chair, Robert A. Spottswood Jr. as secretary, and Valerie D. Boyd as treasurer. It also lists Carlos Alfonso, Paul E. Avery, Kathy Barco, Keenan Baldwin, and Rodney Baretto as board members.
Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I is led by Andrew Walker, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 6 of 28 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Andrew Walker
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$202K (2020) → $224K (2025)
Laura Russell
Chair
2nd Vice Chair → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Ashton
Director of Communications & Events
Director of Communications → Director of Communications & Events, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$112K (2022) → $168K (2025)
Danielle Richter
Director of Philanthropy
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$107K (2023) → $145K (2025)
Erin Smart
Director of Finance
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$120K (2025)
Erin T. Rainey
Director of Conservation
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$138K (2025)
James W. Bradford
COO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$108K (2020) → $201K (2025)
Carlos Alfonso
Board Member
1st Vice Chair → Chair, 2021
Chair → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daphne Wood
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Pate
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathy Barco
Board Member
Treasurer → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul E. Avery
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Preston L. Farrior
Board Member
2nd Vice Chair → Vice Chair, 2021
Vice Chair → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tucker Frederickson
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joshua Kellam
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert A. Spottswood Jr.
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keenan Baldwin
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kent Shoemaker
2nd Vice Chair
Board Member → 2nd Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roger A. Young
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Valerie D. Boyd
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katharine Macgregor
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nick Wiley
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ed Burr
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim V. Etscorn
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Neber
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rodney Baretto
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Todd Jones
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Townsend Tarapani
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (12)
- Former: Ignacio Borbolla (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: John R. Pope (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Richard A. Corbett (2020–2024) — Chair Emeritus
- Former: Seth D. McKeel Jr. (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: John Phelan (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Adam Putnam (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Stephen Swindal (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Steve Crisafulli (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Connie Parker (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Donna Rawson (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Eric Sutton (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Francisco Bergaz (2020–2021) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $224K, to Andrew Walker (President/CEO). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I
How much does Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I give each year?
Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I gave $1.5M across 58 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 46 grants.
What is Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I's typical grant size?
Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I's median grant in 2025 was $15,625, and its average grant was $25,748, across 58 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I that year got $23K on average.
Where does Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I give grants?
Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I gives mostly in Florida: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Tallahassee, FL (20 grants), Gainesville, FL (4 grants), Apollo Beach, FL (3 grants) and Clearwater, FL (2 grants).
Does Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 58 grants with a stated purpose on Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I's largest grantees?
Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I's largest 2025 grantees include Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ($795,004 across 21 grants), Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute ($117,629 across 2 grants) and University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($62,537), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I?
Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I reported $106.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $25.8M.
What does Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to protect Florida’s animals and plants and the lands and waters they need to survive. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I?
Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check wildlifeflorida.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I's EIN?
Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-3277808. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 21, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Florida
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Washington, DC
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation makes competitive grants for science-based projects that conserve or restore fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats; it does not fund advocacy or litigation. Its 2025 grants had a median of about $106,500, and it supports projects across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Applications are competitive and program-specific; whether pre-proposals are required varies by program.
Assets
$3.6B
Grants
1,286
Total Given
$464.4M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
Felburn Foundation
Bethesda, MD
The Felburn Foundation primarily supports land conservation, environmental protection, conservation education, and recreation therapy. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $300,000, with a median of $20,000; funding went to organizations in several states, especially Florida, followed by Washington and Virginia. It accepts written requests submitted to the executive director, and its filing states no deadline or restrictions on awards.
Assets
$35.5M
Grants
59
Total Given
$2.1M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
Publix Super Markets Charities Inc
Lakeland, FL
Publix Super Markets Charities supports nonprofits addressing hunger, homelessness and housing, youth, education, and community needs in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky. Its 2024 median grant was $2,500, though awards ranged widely; it accepts online requests from eligible organizations, with application periods varying by program.
Assets
$233.8M
Grants
3,269
Total Given
$52.5M
More similar funders
More Funders in Florida
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/fish-and-wildlife-foundation-of-florida-i-morg_2b31e64c69cb46e59655f7978593e56a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_593277808_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Fish \& Wildlife Foundation of Florida I funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/fish-and-wildlife-foundation-of-florida-i-morg_2b31e64c69cb46e59655f7978593e56a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I down — hundreds of funders to go?