RALEIGH, N.C. — Help conserve North Carolina’s wildlife with a voluntary contribution to the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund (NGEWF), found on line 30 of your North Carolina state income tax form.
Your contribution will help the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission fund projects and programs that benefit sea turtles, songbirds, freshwater mussels and fish, and other wildlife species without a designated hunting and fishing season.
The agency uses “tax check-off” donations to the NGWEF to support nongame wildlife research, conservation and management, such as monitoring populations of Bachman’s sparrows and bald eagles, managing habitat to benefit ephemeral pool-breeding amphibians like gopher frogs and mole salamanders, conducting research and surveys for rare fishes and freshwater mussels, and developing the North Carolina Birding Trail.
Although tax check-off donations target projects benefiting nongame animals and their habitats, game species such as deer, turkey and bear also benefit because these animals live in many of the same habitats.
Donations make up the largest and most significant source of non-federal funding to help these animals, so donations — no matter how small — are critical to the continuation of many projects.
“Whether it is $2 or $200, any amount of money that people can donate is greatly appreciated and goes a long way toward helping the agency match federal and other grants, as well as pay for outreach activities and programs, such our birding trails, which are located throughout the state,” said Sara Schweitzer, the Commission’s Wildlife Diversity Program supervisor. “When we match grants using donations, we increase the dollars that we can spend on programs. For instance, if we receive a $100 donation, through grants, we get an additional $185 that we use for a variety of programs and projects to protect our wildlife.”
While paper tax forms show line 30 as the donation line, tax preparation software, such as TurboTax, does not have numbered lines, but e-filers will be asked if they would like to make a donation to the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund. Other tax filers can also tell their tax preparer they would like to donate.
Tax season isn’t the only time or way to contribute to wildlife conservation. Other ways to help North Carolina’s wildlife and their habitats year-round are:
Learn more about the projects and programs Wildlife Commission staff conduct to benefit nongame and endangered wildlife by reading the agency’s Wildlife Diversity Program’s Quarterly Reports.
Download a high-resolution image to complement this release. Suggested cutline: Your NC state tax donation to the Wildlife Commission's Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund (line no. 30) will help fund projects and programs to benefit sea turtles, freshwater mussels and fish, reptiles, amphibians, and songbirds, such as this indigo bunting. (Photo credit: Mike Carraway/NCWRC)
About the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
Since 1947, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has been dedicated to the conservation and sustainability of the state’s fish and wildlife resources through research, scientific management, wise use and public input. The Commission is the state regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of fishing, hunting, trapping and boating laws and provides programs and opportunities for wildlife-related educational, recreational and sporting activities. To learn more, visit www.ncwildlife.org.
Get N.C. Wildlife Update — news including season dates, bag limits, legislative updates and more — delivered free to your Inbox from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Go to www.ncwildlife.org/enews.