WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 26, 2021) - SCI Foundation (SCIF)'s First for Wildlife Endowment recently made its first ever grant disbursements following approval from its Board of Directors. The endowment was established in 2015 to support the long-term implementation of the Foundation's mission to ensure the future of wildlife through conservation, education and hunting. The generosity and passion for wildlife among SCIF supporters is shown by the almost 400% growth of the endowment from 2015 to its current balance of over $3.5 million.

"It's a historic day for SCIF," said SCI Foundation President, Craig Kauffman. "The vision of our leadership and successful development efforts, thanks to our dedicated donor base, is finally being realized."

The first funds will be applied to SCIF's newly developed conservation strategies focused on African leopard conservation, grizzly bear management and chronic wasting disease risk assessment. In recent years, the organization's leadership with input from membership surveys identified these issues as priority focal areas, representing a significant shift in the way SCIF implements its conservation mission to increase impact.

This endowment funding comes right after a matching grant contribution from SCI Foundation's Hunter Legacy 100 Fund Endowment, combining for an unprecedented investment in the organization's conservation program and long-term commitment to these strategies. With this support, these funding mechanisms have set up SCI Foundation for continued success through the challenging COVID pandemic and beyond.

Over the years, the First for Wildlife Endowment has been funded by the contributions of SCI members and other hunter-conservationists that have made a commitment to the future of wildlife. A special thank you goes to all these donors for making this historic moment happen.

To completely fund these three critical strategies for the next five years will take everyone with an interest in wildlife conservation working together. To this end, SCIF is asking hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to step up and contribute to the future of wildlife. To learn more about the strategies or to make a donation, visit SafariClubFoundation.org.

SCI is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. Nearly 200 Chapters represent all 50 states of the United States as well as 106 countries. SCI's proactive leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation. Learn more at SafariClub.org, or call (520) 620-1220 for more information. International Headquarters Washington, District of Columbia * Tucson, Arizona * Ottawa, Canada