2018 ANNUAL REPORT Fish &Wildlife Foundation SECURING FLORIDA’S NATURAL FUTURE of FloridaT TM MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN Since our founding in 1994, the Fish & Wildlife and other gamefish populations are healthy. New we’re able to leverage your gifts many times Foundation of Florida has worked to ensure Florida wildlife preserves have been created statewide to over. From gopher tortoises and Osceola turkeys remains a place of unparalleled natural beauty, protect terns, plovers, egrets and other colonial to loggerhead turtles and snook, there are few iconic wildlife, world-famous ecosystems and nesting birds. Since 2010, more than 2.3 million native fish, land animals and habitats that aren’t unbounded outdoor recreational experiences. Florida children have participated in outdoor benefiting from your support. programs, thanks to the 350 private and public We’ve raised and given away more than $32 Please enjoy this annual report and visit our members of the Florida Youth Conservation million over that time, mostly to the Florida Fish website at www.wildlifeflorida.org. For 25 years, Centers Network, which includes FWC’s new and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for we’ve worked quietly behind the scenes to make Suncoast Youth Conservation Center in Apollo Table of Contents which we are a Citizens Support Organization. good things happen. With your continued help, Beach and the Everglades Youth Conservation But we are also Florida’s largest private funder of we’ll do so much more. WHO WE ARE 3 Camp in Palm Beach County. outdoor education and camps for youth, and we’re WHAT WE DO 9 one of the most important funders of freshwater Our Foundation supports all of this. We raised and springs conservation. These are just a few of the donated $5.9 million in 2018, including support for 2018 GRANTS 23 many ways we work to maintain Florida’s natural FWC staff and their families who lost their homes resources and quality of life for present and future to Hurricane Michael, one of the four most intense OUR SUPPORTERS 35 generations. hurricanes to hit the United States in the past 125 years. FINANCIAL DATA 39 2018 was nonetheless a challenging year for conservation in Florida: red tide, blue-green In the last few months, we’ve also convened a algae, coral disease and Hurricane Michael made series of conference calls and meetings to identify headlines worldwide. These were critical events and begin field testing technologies that may limit that many organizations and agencies, including future red tide damage. We’re also working with the FWC and our Foundation, are working to partners to identify and fund critical research into alleviate. the fast-moving disease that’s killing 25 of the RIchard Corbett Florida Keys’ 45 species of stony corals. But there was also plenty of good news in 2018. Most Florida waterways and coastline were open Funder, educator, catalyst, conservationist – those to fishing. Florida panthers, black bears and are the roles our Foundation serves in support of manatees continue to rebound. Deer, turkey, bass FWC and the Florida public. Through partnerships, II 1 WHO WE ARE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OUR MISSION The Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida is Richard A. “Dick” Corbett Jack Curlett Carlos J. Alfonso Kathy Barco Connie Parker Eric Sutton dedicated to conserving Florida’s outstanding Chair Vice-Chair 2nd Vice-Chair Treasurer Secretary FWC Executive Director natural landscapes and habitats and the Tampa Pensacola Tampa Jacksonville Tampa Tallahassee iconic animals and plants they harbor. We work closely with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), for which we are a Citizens Support Organization, and its public and private partners. Since our founding in 1994, we have raised and donated more than $32 million for conservation and Paul E. Avery Tracy Baker Rodney Barreto Ignacio Borbolla Douglas P. Cone Jr. Steve Crisafulli Preston L. Farrior Tucker Frederickson Tampa Miami Coral Gables Coral Gables Ocala Merritt Island Tampa Palm Beach Gardens outdoor recreation. We are also Florida’s largest private funder of outdoor education for youth. Seth D. McKeel Jr. Jerry Pate John Pope Bruce K. Popham Donna Rawson Laura Russell Steve Swindal Daphne Wood Lakeland Pensacola Jacksonville Marathon Pensacola Jupiter Tampa Monticello John Lacy C. Martin Wood III David Nye E. Vann Middleton Advisor Advisor Advisor Advisor West Palm Beach Monticello Gainesville Thomasville, GA 5 On October 27th at the Foundation’s annual fundraiser BlueGreen 2018, guest of honor and keynote speaker John L. “Johnny” Morris, conservationist and founder of Bass Pro Shops, made a OUR STAFF surprise announcement of a $1 million gift from Bass Pro Shops to the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida. This gift will be used to address Florida’s most pressing issues that impact its freshwater and marine habitats, including in the Everglades, Florida Bay and the Keys. Michelle Ashton Breanne Strepina Andrew Walker Will Bradford Erin Smart Digital Marketing & Major Gifts & Speaking before an audience of 330 President & CEO Chief Financial Officer Bookkeeper Membership Manager Events Manager Florida conservationists, anglers and Nicole Forsgren William O’Connor hunters, Mr. Morris presented Foundation Conservation Intern Philanthropy Intern Chair Dick Corbett with a $100,000 check, the first installment of the gift. “We Florida Springs Grant Advisory Committee were completely surprised by Bass Pro Dr. James “Buddy” Powell Brian G. Katz Dr. Eberhard Roeder Sea to Shore Alliance, Chair FL Dept. of Environmental FL Dept. of Health Shops’ generosity,” said Corbett. “What a Protection Daniel Hubbard Kent Smith tremendous gift that will conserve nature Florida Dept. of Economic Annette Long FWC Opportunity at-large member and our outdoor heritage in Florida.” Jim Stevenson at-large member Hunting & Shooting Sports License Plate Grant Advisory Committee Lane Stephens Tom Knight Future of Hunting in Florida, National Rifle Association Chair Jim McClellan Newton Cook at-large member United Waterfowlers Morgan Richardson — Florida FWC 6 WHAT WE DO TAKING THE LONG VIEW FOUNDATION INITIATIVES Conservation of course isn’t just about today or tomorrow. The Fish & Wildlife Foundation of In close cooperation with FWC, the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida supports In 2018, the Foundation’s Florida works to protect species and habitats for the very long-term, helping ensure Florida the full array of conservation needs in Florida, be it enhancing our fisheries, Board of Directors identified five initiatives that will drive remains a place of outstanding beauty and diversity for generations to come. supporting rehabilitation of injured wildlife or providing summer camp scholarships for the majority of our future economically disadvantaged youth. We operate as a statewide community foundation work. They are: In addition to the many FWC programs we support day to day, some of which are grouped under the major initiatives that follow, our • Connecting Kids & Families Foundation created two endowments in 2018 to help ensure Florida’s natural legacy and the public’s access to it for years to come. for conservation, helping connect conservation donors to the projects about which to Nature. they care most. We are a highly efficient organization, with 88 cents of every dollar • going into conservation and outdoor youth education. Combating Invasives • Restoring Our Reefs The recent support of our donors has helped us: • Conserving Wildlife • Identify and fund field testing of • Underwrite numerous research • Fund expansion of panther three emerging technologies for and restoration projects for many rehabilitation facilities at Zoo • Preserving Our Outdoor mitigating the toxic effects of red Florida freshwater springs. Tampa, one of two institutions Heritage (hunting, fishing, tide. in Florida authorized to treat boating & shooting sports) • Provide camp scholarships, wounded or sick panthers. • Underwrite hunting education outdoor gear and new cabins for Each of these initiatives is THE CHILDREN AND NATURE ENDOWMENT THE FLORIDA CONSERVATION ENDOWMENT and outings statewide for the Everglades and Tenoroc Youth • Create with FWC a matching grant outlined on the following “wounded warriors,” youth and Conservation Camps in Palm program to help communities pages. The average child or teen now spends 53 hours/week using The Florida Conservation Endowment is the Fish & Wildlife women. Beach County and Lakeland, as minimize bear-human conflicts. well as a wheelchair-accessible electronic media. Getting youth back into nature has become Foundation of Florida’s general endowment, used to support a • Improve monitoring of important boardwalk and fishing • Reduce panther-car collisions a national priority to combat childhood obesity; boost physical portion of our operations and the many conservation programs Florida Keys fish spawning pier at the Suncoast Youth Center in South Florida. fitness and emotional and social well-being; and inspire and projects we sponsor. This permanent fund, to which donors aggregation sites. in Apollo Beach. • Support captive breeding of North confidence and self-reliance in youth. Our Foundation is Florida’s can contribute via outright or planned gifts like bequests, • Test new methods for removing • Help launch 16 state-designated America’s most endangered bird, leading private funder of such outdoor programs and the new annuities or trusts, will help ensure a predictable stream of large numbers of lionfish from critical wildlife areas