Safari Club International Foundation

From the website (accessed 7/1/2011): http://www.safariclubfoundation.org/

"About the Safari Club International Foundation

Since 2000, SCI Foundation (SCIF) has provided $47 million to conservation, wildlife education, and humanitarian programs around the world. Growth of SCIF has continued to gain momentum through charitable donations from SCI members and direct grants from local chapters and the SCI organization. A recent effort that just completed its fund-raising drive is the Hunter Legacy Fund which is a dedicated funding source for wildlife conservation . This endowment was created by one hundred individuals and corporations, dedicating a pledge of $100,000 to create a $10 million endowment to ensure conservation programs of SCIF will continue long into the future. A similar effort kicked off in 2008 to create an endowment for conservation education.

With recent expenditures exceeding $5 million annually, SCI Foundation has continued to promote science–based conservation through wildlife research, capacity building in governments, youth and teacher education, and humanitarian programs which show the importance of the hunting community in society. A project nearing completion, called the “White Book”, will showcase nearly 150 conservation projects where SCIF has made major contributions to the world of wildlife management.

This year, the Conservation Department facilitated nine African nations to sit down together and discuss conservation of the African lion, including the issue of human-lion conflict. SCIF continues to strengthen our emphasis on North American conservation, with major support for two predator-prey projects and involvement in several projects throughout the continent. Our Eurasian efforts feature a ground breaking field study of snow leopards in Siberia as well as significant contributions to the management of several species across that continent.

Nestled in the beautiful Bridger-Teton National Forest near Jackson, Wyoming, SCIF’s American Wilderness Leadership School (AWLS) provides the perfect atmosphere for the accredited educational programs. Established in 1976 with the vision of providing educators with a useful hands-on experience that they can use in the classroom, AWLS has provided a credited wildlife management program more than 5,000 teachers who reach more than a million students annually, and fun, challenging experiences for 1273 high school students. The AWLS program has expanded to provide conservation education opportunities in 4 other locations in the United States. SCIF has also provided scholarships to nearly 100 college students who have enrolled in natural resource management or conservation education fields.


SCIF Humanitarian Services programs have also experienced significant growth in recent years. Since 2003, the SCIF Sportsmen Against Hunger^TM program has donated more than 2.2 million pounds of wild game meat to those in need.  SCI members delivered 1,114 SafariCare^TM “Blue Bags” filled with humanitarian supplies to needy villagers, schools, clinics and orphanages around the world since 2005.  In the same time period, more than 1,000 disabled hunters were given an assisted hunting experience through the Disabled Hunter^TM program, and 224 youngsters with terminal or life-threatening illnesses had their hunting dreams fulfilled through our SafariWish^TM program.  Each year, via our Sensory Safari^TM program, SCI member volunteers assist between 60,000 and 70,000 children and adults through a maze of mobile touch displays, describing the animal’s size, sounds, habitats and behaviors to give the visually impaired a unique opportunity to “see” wildlife through the sense of touch.  Through its annual Pathfinder award, a part of our Disabled Hunter^TM program, the Foundation sponsors and coordinates world-class hunting safaris for one or two deserving recipients each year.

The International Wildlife Museum is dedicated to increasing knowledge of, and appreciation for, the diverse wildlife of the world as well as explaining the role of wildlife management in conservation. Founded in 1988, the museum has over 400 kinds of insects, mammals and birds from all over the globe, provides visitors the opportunity to see animals up close, and to gain a better understanding of their size and adaptive characteristics. At the museum, visitors are also exposed to the role of hunting in wildlife management and the role SCI and SCIF play in promoting wildlife management. In 2008, nearly 70,000 visitors from all over the world (almost 40% of them children) experienced the exhibits and were exposed to SCI’s message.
These are just a few of the accomplishments of Safari Club International and Safari Club International Foundation.

Throughout the world, our approximately 190 chapters contribute time, talent and financial support to local, national, and international conservation projects. While economic times may be trying, the passion for conservation remains strong with SCI Foundation. Please join us in membership or partnership as we continue to ensure that wildlife remains abundant for future generations. SCI and SCIF have earned the coveted Charity Navigator 4-star rating, your contribution will be used in an effective manner.

Safari Club International Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization."