Our Story
In the depths of the Great Depression, when much of the nation was struggling to rebuild, Pulitzer Prize–winning cartoonist J.N. “Ding” Darling recognized another crisis unfolding: the disappearance of America’s wildlife.
What began as one person’s rallying cry to action grew into a federation of individuals, communities, and states working together to restore balance
to the natural world.
From the first Duck Stamp that funded millions of acres of wetland protection to the beloved Ranger Rick that inspired generations of children, the National Wildlife Federation has always used creativity, collaboration, and optimism to connect people to the wild.
Today, we build on that foundation with an even broader vision—one that unites science, education, and action to help wildlife and people thrive together on a healthy, living planet.
It’s up to all of us now to write the next chapter. Courage is working toward a future that is not promised. And we can create the future we want to live in. Together.
