CONTACT:                           
Charles Miner 271-3511
Judy Stokes 271-3211
December 19, 2008

N.H. Fish and Game Designates Nonprofit Partner

CONCORD, N.H. -- The New Hampshire Fish and Game Commission recently endorsed the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire as an official nonprofit partner of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, one of the final steps in the process of establishing a nonprofit organization to assist the Department with its critical conservation work.

In many states, nonprofit foundations have been established for the purpose of providing new sources of funding for specific programs and projects at state wildlife agencies. Wildlife Heritage Foundation of N.H. chair Dr. Donald A. Normandeau explained the partnership, saying, "Our resources are in no way intended to be budgetary supplements to normal management and operations of the fish and wildlife agencies, but instead are intended to help fund specific programs or projects which would otherwise not be conducted. They will focus on programs that affect everyone in New Hampshire, from private citizens to businesses benefiting from the quality of life that comes from conserving wild places and wild things."

As an official nonprofit partner of the state's wildlife agency (the N.H. Fish and Game Department), the 501(c)(3) Foundation will work hand-in-hand with scientists and wildlife educators to conserve the wildlife and natural places that are important to many of our family traditions - hiking, hunting, paddling, fishing and watching wildlife. The types of projects the Foundation may be able to support include:

• Conservation education for children and young adults, including hunting, fishing and wildlife education;
• Purchase of land or conservation easements that provide habitat for wildlife and protect water quality;
• Unique research projects related to the Department's Wildlife Action Plan;
• Providing public access to public lands and waters;
• Barry Conservation Camp in Berlin, N.H. - a summer camp focused on outdoor education, operated in partnership with UNH Cooperative Extension;
• Becoming An Outdoors-Woman program activities;
• Conservation communication efforts, such as video/television production and distribution and outdoor education programs.

The Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire has already begun supporting Fish and Game projects.  In 2008, the Foundation helped make possible Fish and Game's community conservation education event, Discover WILD New Hampshire Day, as well as Wild Times for Kids, a conservation newsletter distributed to 25,000 New Hampshire fourth and fifth graders. 

The Board of Directors of the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire includes Charles Barry of North Haverhill; Joseph Bellavance IV of Nashua; Donna Cote of Mirror Lake; Dr. Donald A. Normandeau of Goffstown; Thomas L. Rea of New Castle; John R. Monson of Bedford; and Kenneth P. Wilson of Gilford.

The process of establishing the Foundation began in 2006, when legislation sponsored by Rep. David L. Smith of Nashua was passed, enabling N.H. Fish and Game to designate one or more nonprofit foundations as an official nonprofit partner for the purpose of accepting gifts, grants, bequests and donations to further New Hampshire Fish and Game Department goals.

For its funding, the foundation relies on gifts from individuals and businesses, as well as grants and bequests. To make a donation, send a check, payable to the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of N.H., to: 

Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire
P.O. Box 3993,
Concord, NH 03302-3993

For information on planned giving and donations of appreciated stock, contact Chuck Miner at 603-271-3511 or email foundation@wildlife.nh.gov. Thank you for your support!

Learn more about the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire at www.wildlife.state.nh.us/foundation.

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