Announcing Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom College and University Grant Program

National Wildlife Federation and Mutual of Omaha are excited to announce the 2023-2024 Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom College and University Grant Program.

America’s experience with cherished landscapes and wildlife has helped define and shape our national character and identity for generations. Protecting these natural resources is a cause that has long united Americans from all walks of life. To hikers, birders, wildlife watchers, boaters, climbers, campers, cyclists, gardeners, farmers, forest stewards, and other outdoor enthusiasts, this conservation ethic represents a sacred duty and obligation to protect and build upon our conservation heritage for the sake of wildlife, ourselves, our neighbors, and—most of all—for future generations.

National Wildlife Federation and Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom have teamed up to inspire and support the efforts of the next generation of conservation leadership. To that end, we are collaborating on a series of grants that support Universities and Colleges throughout the country to showcase and fund innovative and solutions-based programs or strategies that help protect and/or restore wildlife and/or their key habitats.

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation is America’s largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state and territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes. The Federation’s mission is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.

Visit the National Wildlife Federation Media Center here.

Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom is one of the most loved and respected wildlife programs in television history. Wild Kingdom continues to inspire the next generation of conservationists on Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild hosted by wildlife expert Peter Gros and large carnivore ecologist Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant. The show airs on Saturday mornings on NBC and focuses on conservation success stories and leaders in the conservation world.

To learn more about Wild Kingdom or our hosts, visit the website.

Eligibility:

Faculty or staff, 18 years of age and older, from any college or university within the U.S. are eligible to apply. Applications are invited from faculty and staff in all disciplines and are not limited to environmental studies, wildlife biology, etc.

Goals:

In an effort to protect threatened, vulnerable and endangered wildlife across the United States, the Wild Kingdom college and university grant recipients be selected based on the criteria below and will also have access to NWF staff and state affiliates for support on campus and community projects for support. Focus areas may include, but are not limited to:

• Develop and implement plans to protect and/or restore habitat for any threatened or endangered species on campus or in the community 
• Conduct research on threatened or endangered species on campus or in the community
• Conduct survey of species on campus, especially any threatened or endangered species  
• Establish a campus garden with wildlife in mind  
• Adopt and implement sustainable landscaping practices on campus with wildlife in mind 
• Incorporate smart growth strategies in regards to a campus expansion project with wildlife in mind
• Introducing environmental solutions to urban spaces with wildlife in mind
• Engage with the community in a conservation project with wildlife in mind  

Perks and Privileges:

• $7,500 to $10,000 grant awarded (all grant funds should be spent on direct project costs; indirect costs such as general and administrative, facilities and administrative etc. are not allowed)
• Professional development resources, assistance, and networking
• Recognition by National Wildlife Federation and Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom social media channels

Review the full Request for Proposals. The RFP includes submission instructions.

The deadline to submit applications is December 15, 2023 by 11:59pm (Pacific Time).

Applications are reviewed by a committee to determine which meet the selection criteria. All campus applicants will be notified of their status within one month of the application deadline.

Questions? Contact Kristy Jones, Director of Higher Education, National Wildlife Federation, jonesk@nwf.org.