US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

16 U.S.C. § 3701

Establishment and purposes of Foundation

(a)

Establishment

There is established the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (hereinafter in this chapter referred to as the “Foundation”). The Foundation is a charitable and nonprofit corporation and is not an agency or establishment of the United States.

(b)

Purposes

The purposes of the Foundation are—
(1)
to encourage, accept, and administer private gifts of property for the benefit of, or in connection with, the activities and services of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to further the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, plants, and other natural resources;
(2)
to undertake and conduct such other activities as will further the conservation and management of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources of the United States, and its territories and possessions, for present and future generations of Americans; and
(3)
to participate with, and otherwise assist, foreign governments, entities, and individuals in undertaking and conducting activities that will further the conservation and management of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources of other countries.

Pub. L. 98–244, § 298 Stat. 107Pub. L. 100–240, § 1(a)101 Stat. 1785Pub. L. 103–232, title I, § 102108 Stat. 336Pub. L. 106–408, title II, § 202114 Stat. 1777(, , ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 106–4082000—Subsec. (b)(1). added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “to encourage, accept, and administer private gifts of property for the benefit of, or in connection with, the activities and services of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;”.

Pub. L. 103–2321994—Subsec. (b)(1). inserted before semicolon at end “and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration”.

Pub. L. 100–2401988—Subsec. (b)(3). added par. (3).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–281, § 1122 Stat. 2617

section 3702 of this title“This Act [amending ] may be cited as the ‘National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act Amendment of 2008’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2006 Amendment

Pub. L. 109–363, title II, § 201120 Stat. 2075

“This title [amending sections 3703 and 3709 of this title] may be cited as the ‘National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2006’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2000 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–408, title II, § 201114 Stat. 1777

section 3710 of this titlesection 3703 of this title“This title [enacting , amending this section and sections 3702, 3703, 3705, 3706, and 3709 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as a note under ] may be cited as the ‘National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act Amendments of 2000’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(b) [title IX, § 901]112 Stat. 2681–50

section 3703 of this titlesection 3703 of this title“This title [amending and enacting provisions set out as a note under ] may be cited as the ‘National Whale Conservation Fund Act of 1998’.”
, , , 2681–119, provided that:

Short Title of 1994 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–232, title I, § 101108 Stat. 336

section 668dd of this titlesection 3702 of this title“This title [amending this section and sections 3702 and 3709 of this title and enacting provisions listed in a table of National Environmental Centers set out under and provisions set out as notes under ] may be cited as the ‘National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Improvement Act of 1994’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1990 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–593, title I, § 110(a)104 Stat. 2959

“This section [amending sections 3702 and 3709 of this title] may be cited as the ‘National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act Amendments of 1990’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title

Pub. L. 98–244, § 198 Stat. 107

“This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act’.”
, , , provided that: