annual report

fiscal year 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive summary 3

conservation & initiatives 5

fundraising & development 23

public policy 37

financials 41

our donors & leaders 45

executive summary FY13

hen you consider your family tree, some obvious people This dedication to conservation is why we do what we do every come to mind: spouses, children, siblings, and parents. day. And the conservation arm of Team DU used these resources WBut the list doesn’t stop there for Ducks Unlimited wisely in FY13, coming in well above our goals for conserved acres supporters. If you imagine the tallest, broadest tree you’ve ever seen nationwide. Some of our greatest gains came on the prairie breeding – an ancient redwood, a regal live oak, or a soaring fir – that’s the DU grounds of DU’s Great Plains Region, where we conserved 73,724 family tree. Its vast limbs stretch across the continent, connecting DU acres – more than twice the goal for the region. supporters, chapters, and the landscapes most important to waterfowl Across the continent, DU conserved 142,595 acres in FY13, along the way. coming in at 140 percent of our goal and bringing our cumulative Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) was a period of marked growth for the total to more than 13.1 million acres conserved in North America DU family tree as we launched new regional fundraising initiatives. since 1937. As our regional fundraising initiatives ramp up in FY14, These 16 initiatives were carefully developed as part of DU’s National we will see this number continue to grow. Business Plan to increase our efficiency and fundraising success, We must also keep in mind that the dollars we raise are more connect our donors with priority habitats, and continue to give our impactful because they’re paired with state and federal funding. More conservation program a truly continental scope. This will ensure that than a third of the funding for DU’s conservation mission comes from the most important waterfowl habitats – and the birds we see from public sources, and it is crucial that Ducks Unlimited continue to be our blinds each year – are conserved for future generations. engaged in public policy to make sure conservation isn’t forgotten in These vital fundraising efforts begin with our volunteers, who the halls of Congress or our state capitols. dedicate themselves to raising money for the ducks through more than Looking forward, one major challenge will be to educate 4,000 events each year. During FY13, DU volunteers worked harder legislators about the remarkable successes of public-private than ever to bring more event attendees through the door – 30,000 more partnerships such as the North American Wetlands Conservation Act to be exact, an attendance increase of 8 percent over FY12. that benefit wetlands, waterfowl, other wildlife, and every American One shining example of this teamwork and dedication came citizen. As members of Team DU, we are all responsible for taking up to light during a dinner event in Houston, , last year. In one this charge and influencing our members of Congress on behalf of night, Houston shattered DU’s single-event fundraising record by DU’s conservation mission. raising more than $1.57 million for the ducks. It was an amazing As we listen for the whistle of wings and watch flocks of ducks volunteer accomplishment and just one of many outstanding enter our favorite marshes this year, let’s remember where they started, efforts during FY13. where they’re headed, and what our connections to these landscapes One of the most memorable messages we’ve heard from our mean for future generations of outdoorsmen and women. Thank you volunteers is the importance of developing more leaders – not just for the sacrifices you make to be part of our DU family tree. We may more followers – to help carry out DU’s mission year after year. In not be related by blood, but we are all connected through our passion FY13, our volunteer