Conservation Impact Overview: FY 2023-2024 Summary

As noted in our inaugural FY 2022-23 Conservation Impact Summary last year, WSF revised our Grant-In-Aid (GIA) process in the spring of 2022 to focus on larger, bolder, more impactful, and multi-year legacy projects with nearly all of them coming to WSF through our chapter and affiliate network. This action transformed our GIA program, and our Board of Directors recently renewed this focus for our current fiscal year. We are very pleased to report a second year of record results and record funding toward our conservation, education, and advocacy mission in this expanded FY 2023-24 Conservation Impact Summary.

During the twelve months of July 2023 to June 2024, WSF funded a mind-blowing $11.09 Million in Mission Program Funding (MPF) representing an incredible 47% increase over our prior fiscal year. Included in this record funding is $5.13 million from operational activities including $1.65 million to fifteen Grant-In-Aid programs requested through our Chapters and Affiliates and $3.48 Million in advocacy, research, education, and industry support GIA and program funding. In addition, WSF directed a record $5.95+ Million to our state, provincial, and tribal/First Nation partners through 2024 conservation permit sales.

The pages of our FY 2023-2024 Summary showcase the impact twenty projects and programs are having on the wild sheep resource and the habitat they depend on. Our feature spotlights this year include the Franklin Mountains State Park Trap & Translocation in Texas, the Spatsizi Stone’s Sheep Initiative in British Columbia, and our long-standing support of the Tri-State Initiative in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Additionally, program updates are provided for seven GIA projects, and impact summaries are included for ten more projects and programs funded. Incredibly, through WSF, C&A, and partner funding, the WSF family captured, tested, released,and/or translocated 654 wild sheep during the year.

To our members, donors, sponsors, auction buyers, and Society members, this is your legacy and your meaningful work made possible through your generous support. Thank you!

I also want to thank our Chapter and Affiliate partners for their exceptional efforts on the ground, and funding partners for which together with the Wild Sheep Foundation, help accomplish our collective purpose to Put and Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain®! 

Please enjoy our second Conservation Impact Summary showcasing our 2023-24 fiscal year work.

Yours in wild sheep and wildlife conservation,

Gray N. Thornton
President & CEO

 

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