A Giving Vision You Can Ascend

In 2013 WSF launched our Ensuring the Future of Wild Sheep program that included the establishment of the Chadwick Ram Society (CRS), and the formation of the Wild Sheep Legacy Foundation (WSLF) as a separate entity to manage and grow the foundation’s Endowment Fund. 

To date, nearly 500 members have joined the Chadwick Ram Society generating more than $2,600,000 to support WSF’s mission and purpose. And, through WSF member support, planned giving, major gifts, society contributions, and sound WSLF Board of Trustee management, we have grown the WSLF Endowment Fund from $5.7 million in January 2013 to $14.7 million by December 31, 2024. 

During this same period WSF has increased our Mission Program Funding, which are dollars to support our conservation, advocacy, and education mission, more than two-fold from $4.3 million directed to grant in aid and other mission programs during the 2013-14 fiscal year to more than $11 million during our 2023-24 fiscal year! 

Additionally, a monumental milestone was achieved during our January 2024 convention when we fully subscribed the planned 100 member Marco Polo Society (MPS) when ten dedicated and altruistic Marco Polo Society members combined resources to buy the final MPS #100 membership for an astonishing $1 million bid! With this unmatched support the 100 Marco Polo Society members have contributed $11 million dollars to benefit wild sheep, their habitat, as well as support WSF’s future by building our endowment.

Upon reaching the 100 MPS member goal, and with an eye to WSF’s long term future, WSF created three new societies as part of our Keep Climbing Campaign within an overarching theme of Today, Tomorrow, & Forever for Wild Sheep. 

 

Today 

WSF casts a very long conservation shadow. No other organization of our kind or size  raises and directs more money to mission programs than the Wild Sheep Foundation. No one. This what we do for wild sheep Today.
 

Tomorrow 

WSF’s Conservation Fund, Life Member Fund, and other restricted funds ensure WSF has the resources and flexibility to fund novel initiatives, large investments in sheep habitat or restoration, and take advantage of mission related opportunities when they present themselves. These are funding reserves for Tomorrow.

Forever

And finally, funding for the future. For every $1 million dollars directed to the Endowment Fund, through a 4% sustainable contribution, WSF will annually receive $40,000 to fund wild sheep conservation and mission programs in perpetuity – even long after most of us are gone. This is Forever funding.

WSF’s three new Societies are:

• Mountain Royalty Society (Ruby, Emerald & Diamond levels)
• Legends Society                                                
• Pinnacle Society                                     

Keep Climbing Campaign society members may direct their gifts to where they feel it is needed most consistent with our Today, Tomorrow, and Forever for Wild Sheep conservation focus. 

However, to ensure wild sheep conservation and the Wild Sheep Foundation succeeds in perpetuity, 33% of all Keep Climbing Society gifts will be directed to the Wild Sheep Legacy Foundation Endowment Fund. The 67% balance can be donor directed to the following areas:  

Area of Greatest Need 

Funds annual Grant In Aid and other mission program funding.
 

WSF Conservation Fund

A quasi-endowed fund. Up to 4% annual distribution of 36-month corpus and earnings to fund WSF Grant In Aid and other mission program funding. To penetrate corpus to fund a pressing need requires a 2/3 majority vote of board of directors.
 

WSLF Endowment Fund

A fully endowed fund. Up to 4% annual distribution of 36-month corpus and earnings to fund WSF Grant In Aid and other mission program funding. Corpus can never be penetrated. Up to 4% distribution from earnings and interest only.

Join us to continue to Put and Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain® by supporting our Keep Climbing Campaign.

Thank you!