Form 990 for tax year 2024

Totals

Total revenue

$5,241,460

Total expenses

$3,642,181

Contributions and grants received

$4,995,481

Grants paid

$39,246

Program service revenue

$213,502

Investment income

$16,096

Other revenue

$16,381

Total assets, end of year

$8,502,221

Total liabilities, end of year

$4,656,202

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$3,846,019

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$2,738,871

Management and general expenses

$864,114

Fundraising expenses

$39,196

Program service expenses (Part III)

$2,738,871

Program services were 75.2% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Mission and programs · 2024

• Trainings, Workshops & Technical AssistanceWe offered over 130 trainings, workshops & webinars throughout the year on topics such as climate resilience, invasive species, NEPA, Wildlife Chemical Immobilization, threatened and endangered species, grant writing and wildlife disease sampling. In total, we had over 3,400 attendees.Tribal Conservation Law Enforcement: Throughout 2024, NAFWS provided Tribal Conservation Law Enforcement Officers (CLEOs) trainings to supplement and/or achieve annual training requirements or to provide officers with advanced law enforcement training to safely and successfully carry out their duties as sworn peace officers. Trainings topics included waterfowl identification, hunt safe, human/wildlife conflict management, tactical medical training, defense tactics, legal updates, and firearm training.Habitat Connectivity: The intent of this work is to assist wildlife movement between habitats and areas while minimizing mortality risk and human encounters. At times it is necessary for tribal communities to collaborate with federal, state, or other Tribal entities, to address corridor concerns on Tribal lands. During 2024, the Wildlife Connectivity Coordinator (WCC) developed contacts with a total of 108 Tribes (an increase of 54 from 2023) across 25 states. The WCC focused on providing technical assistance to Tribes working on wildlife connectivity and creating federal policy and management recommendations that improve the capacity and inclusiveness related to wildlife migration conservation. This work is being conducted via regular Tribal-only working group meetings that address current migration issues, project implementation, and/or local success stories in managing ungulate species. The WCC conducted four webinars focused on wildlife connectivity in 2024.Invasive Species: The Invasive Species team help build Tribal capacity to manage invasive species and implement Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) and management capabilities. The Invasive Species team hosted invasive species webinars attended by over 347 participants and provided technical assistance for grant proposal reviews, letters of support, inquiries on funding activities and species identificationFish & Wildlife Biologists: Biologists provided technical assistance and training to Native American and Alaska Native Tribes to identify invasive species, monitor wildlife disease changes, support endangered species programming, develop partnerships, and develop a resource bank to assist Tribes in protection of their environmental resources and populations.Huntsafe Program: The NAFWS Huntsafe Program was officially certified through the International Hunters Education Association in November 2022. In 2024, the Hunt Safe Instructor Course training plan was implemented, and courses were conducted with 24 attendees representing 9 Tribes completing the instructor courses.Alaska Tribal Climate Resilience: The Alaska Tribal Climate Resilience Liaison (TCRL) team made up of a Senior TCRL and two Assistant TCRLs. We also hosted an Alaska Native Intern focused on climate resilience in AK. The team held workshops on various climate related topics. A workshop for the Strengthening Resilience Today (SRT) Project was held in Anchorage attended by 20.Research and Publications Committee: The NAFWS Research and Publication Committee (RPC) was established in 2021 due to concerns regarding research on and about Tribal lands, resources, and people. The purpose of the RPC is to aid Tribal fish and wildlife professionals to navigate, pursue, and apply the different aspects of contemporary research-related issues including research guidance, data sovereignty, professional growth, funding, publications, and academia involvement. In 2024 the RPC completed the Tribal Guide for Conducting Research with Non-Tribal entities.Grants Team: In 2024, the Grants Team, composed of a Grants Coordinator and two Grant Field Liaisons provided direct technical services and helped seek out and apply for funding opportunities with the goal of getting more funds directed towards Tribal fish and wildlife programs. The team assisted with 270 direct technical service requests regarding seeking, applying for, managing, and reporting on grants.In 2024, NAFWS staff provided direct technical services (includes one on one communication, trainings, webinars, workshops, conferences and events) to 348 Federally Recognized Tribes, 52 Government Entities, 68 Tribal Organizations, 65 Academic Institutions (including 15 Tribal Colleges), 146 Non-governmental Organizations/Contractors. Assistance varied greatly but the majority of direct requests were assistance identifying and accessing funding, trainings requests, media requests, and research.

  Expenses $2,700,573 · Revenue $213,502

• For over 40 years, the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society (NAFWS), an intertribal non-profit 501(c)3, has strived to meet the needs of its members and member Tribes; directly, through conferences, training, youth education, and indirectly; through ongoing support of, and providing venues for government consultations, discussions, and by participating with innovative projects and initiatives in Indian Country. These included the 41st Annual National Conference sponsored by the Great Lakes Region and hosted by the Prairie Island Indian Community in Welch, MN May 13-16, 2024. In attendance were 364 people representing 77 Tribes from all 7 NAFWS regions. We also hosted 4 regional conferences with a total of 313 participants from 75 Tribal nations.MembershipIn 2024, there were 77 active Member Tribe memberships and 493 active Individual memberships with memberships renewed on a rolling basis. Conferences in 6 regions and a strong social media presence contributed to membership growth.

  Expenses $25,592

• EducationNational Summer Youth Practicum: Twelve students representing 9 Tribes from four NAFWS regions attended the 2024 National SYP which took place at both the Colorado State University Mountain Campus and main campus. Students heard from 24 guest lecturers and participated in team building activities. Students utilized the knowledge gained throughout the week for a Wildlife Management Challenge and staff selected a student group to attend the 2025 NAFWS National Conference to present their plan.Alaska Summer Youth Practicum: Nine Alaska Native youth from nine Tribes participated in the second Alaska SYP. The six-day program took place in Anchorage, AK on the Alaska Pacific University campus. Participants learned about options for post-secondary education, career pathways, salmon restoration, riparian plant ecology, watershed science, Alaska fish & wildlife regulatory systems, and wildlife management with human interactions in a nearby park.Internships: NAFWS welcomed Arial Vaughan and Katie Smith-Easter and Mairuaq Lauryn Nanouk Jones as interns for the summer.Scholarships: NAFWS awarded scholarships to 11 Native Scholars.Native Emerging Professionals: NAFWS hosted the fourth National Tribal Poster Session and Professional Mixer during the National Conference in May.

  Expenses $12,706 · Grants $39,246

As filed on the 2024 return.

Listed in Part VII

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2024

Filed

14 November 2025

IRS schema version

2024v5.2

Source object

202543199349300204

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