Wild Sheep Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $11.5 million (FY 2024-2025 mission program funding)
• Success Rate: Not available
• Decision Time: Not available
• Grant Range: Not available
• Geographic Focus: North America (focus on wild sheep habitat regions)

Contact Details

• Website: www.wildsheepfoundation.org
• Address: 412 Pronghorn Trail, Bozeman, MT 59718
• Phone: Not available
• Email: Not available

Overview

The Wild Sheep Foundation (formerly The Foundation For North America Wild Sheep) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1977 and based in Bozeman, Montana. With annual revenues of approximately $14.4 million (2024), the foundation has raised over $100 million for wild sheep conservation since its inception. The organization's mission is to enhance wild sheep populations, promote scientific wildlife management, and educate the public and youth about conservation. Their efforts have helped increase bighorn sheep populations from 25,000 in the 1950s to over 85,000 today.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Grant-In-Aid Program: Funding amount varies (supports habitat restoration, population separation, transplants, management plans, and research)
  • Total Grant-In-Aid funding reported: $2,082,259 for habitat and research projects
  • Application method: Varies by state chapter (Wyoming chapter reviews applications twice annually)

Priority Areas

• Habitat restoration and enhancement
• Wild sheep population transplants and management
• Research on wild sheep conservation
• Wildlife management plans
• Population separation projects
• Youth education and conservation programs

What They Don't Fund

Information not available from research

Governance and Leadership

• President & CEO: Gray Thornton
• VP of Operations: Kim Nieters

The organization operates through a network of state and provincial chapters, with volunteer boards of directors making grant decisions at the chapter level.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Based on limited available information, the Wild Sheep Foundation appears to distribute grants primarily through state and provincial chapters. The Wyoming chapter, for example, accepts Grant-In-Aid applications twice yearly with deadlines on May 1 and November 1. Specific application processes vary by chapter and may not be publicly available for all programs.

Decision Timeline

Wyoming chapter: Decisions made at summer and winter board meetings following application deadlines

Success Rates

Not available

Reapplication Policy

Not available

Application Success Factors

Information about specific success factors was not available from the research conducted. Applicants should contact their state or provincial chapter directly for guidance on application requirements and selection criteria.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Wild Sheep Foundation operates through a decentralized chapter system, with individual state and provincial chapters managing their own grant programs
• Focus areas are highly specific to wild sheep conservation, habitat restoration, and population management
• The organization has a strong track record of conservation success, contributing to significant population increases over several decades
• Grant applications may need to be submitted through local chapters rather than the national organization
• Strong emphasis on scientific wildlife management and measurable conservation outcomes

References

• Wild Sheep Foundation official website: www.wildsheepfoundation.org (accessed January 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Foundation For North America Wild Sheep: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/421109229 (accessed January 2026)
• GuideStar Profile - Wild Sheep Foundation: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/42-1109229 (accessed January 2026)
• Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation: www.wyomingwildsheep.org (accessed January 2026)