Forest and Bird is New Zealand’s largest independent conservation organisation. They rely on donations from supporters to fund their important conservation work across the country. In this article, we will take a detailed look at where Forest and Bird’s funding comes from.
Government Funding
Forest and Bird receives some funding from central and local government in New Zealand. This includes project-based funding for specific conservation initiatives. However, government funding makes up a relatively small portion of Forest and Bird’s overall income.
In their latest annual report for 2020/21, Forest and Bird listed $248,869 in government contracts and grants. This was only around 3% of their total revenue for that year of $8.3 million.
The main government grants Forest and Bird received were from:
- Department of Conservation – for conservation projects
- Ministry for the Environment – for specific initiatives
- Local councils – for regional conservation work
While appreciated, Forest and Bird considers government funding supplementary to their main funding sources. It allows them to undertake extra conservation projects, but their core operations are not dependent on unstable government funding.
Donations from Individuals
By far Forest and Bird’s main source of funding comes from individual donations and bequests. In 2020/21, 53% of their total revenue came from this source.
Forest and Bird has over 70,000 financial supporters who contribute regular donations. They also receive one-off donations from individuals throughout the year.
Bequests from supporters leaving gifts in their wills are a significant contribution. In 2020/21, bequests totalled $1.84 million.
As a non-profit, Forest and Bird relies heavily on the goodwill of individual New Zealanders who care about conservation. Thousands of people choose to support Forest and Bird financially because they share the organisation’s nature protection goals.
Revenue from Investments
Forest and Bird has built up an investment portfolio over time, mainly through bequests and past surpluses. Returns from these investments are now a major source of funding.
In 2020/21, revenue from investments totalled $2.5 million or 30% of total revenue. Forest and Bird’s investment portfolio includes cash assets, term deposits, bonds, equities and property investments.
Having investment revenue gives Forest and Bird more financial stability and means they are not solely dependent on donations. It also provides funding for long-term conservation projects that require sustained resourcing over many years.
Sponsorship Income
Forest and Bird partners with a number of sponsors from the corporate sector who provide funding support. This allows Forest and Bird to undertake extra conservation projects while providing sponsorship opportunities for partners.
In 2020/21, sponsorship totalled around $530,000 or 6% of total revenue. Sponsors come from a range of industries including banks, energy companies, and outdoor clothing brands.
Forest and Bird has strict guidelines around sponsorships. Partners must have values aligned with Forest and Bird’s conservation goals. Sponsors also cannot influence Forest and Bird’s positions on conservation issues.
Revenue from Products and Services
Forest and Bird generates income by providing products and services to its members and the general public. This includes membership fees, merchandise sales, eco-tourism activities, and conservation project consulting.
In 2020/21, this revenue stream contributed $1.3 million or 16% of total revenue. Forest and Bird has over 26,000 paying members who provide ongoing funds to support the organisation.
Income generated from products and services helps to cover Forest and Bird’s operating costs for running its conservation programmes nationwide.
Breakdown of Total Revenue
To summarise Forest and Bird’s funding sources, here is a breakdown of their total revenue in 2020/21:
Funding Source | Total Revenue | Percentage of Total |
---|---|---|
Donations and bequests | $4.4 million | 53% |
Investment revenue | $2.5 million | 30% |
Products and services | $1.3 million | 16% |
Sponsorship | $530,000 | 6% |
Government funding | $248,869 | 3% |
Total | $8.3 million | 100% |
This highlights Forest and Bird’s diversity of funding sources. But individual donations and bequests provided over half of total revenue in 2020/21.
Membership Breakdown
As mentioned, revenue from Forest and Bird’s 26,000+ members is a key funding source. Here is a breakdown of their membership numbers at the end of 2020/21:
Membership Type | Number of Members |
---|---|
Life members | 11,063 |
Regular members | 15,051 |
Total | 26,114 |
Life members make an upfront payment to gain lifetime membership. Regular members pay an annual membership fee. Having over 26,000 paying members provides Forest and Bird with a consistent revenue base.
Bequests and Reserves
Bequests from supporters leaving Forest and Bird gifts in their wills help build the organisation’s reserves. At the end of 2020/21, bequests and reserves totalled:
- Bequests – $5.6 million
- Reserves – $32 million
Strong reserves mean Forest and Bird has funds to draw on for large-scale conservation projects, land purchases, and handling emergency situations like oil spills. The reserves also help provide financial stability.
Expenditures and Operations
In 2020/21, Forest and Bird spent a total of $8.2 million on conservation programmes, campaigns and operations. The major expenditure categories were:
- Conservation management – $3.8 million
- Education and awareness – $1.4 million
- Advocacy and policy work – $1.1 million
- Membership activities – $730,000
- Fundraising costs – $690,000
Delivering practical conservation work on the ground took up the largest share of expenses. And a significant portion went towards engaging the public through education and advocacy.
Administration and overhead costs accounted for around 11% of total expenses. Forest and Bird works to keep overhead costs low so the majority of funding goes directly to conservation programmes.
Staffing and Volunteers
At the end of June 2021, Forest and Bird had 129 paid staff. The staff help coordinate and deliver the organisation’s extensive conservation work.
Forest and Bird also has a network of over 1,300 volunteers around New Zealand. These volunteers make an enormous contribution to everything Forest and Bird does.
In 2020/21 alone, volunteers gave over 50,000 hours of their time. Having dedicated staff and volunteers enables Forest and Bird to achieve substantial conservation gains across New Zealand.
Financial Sustainability
While Forest and Bird’s income fluctuates from year to year, overall they have a track record of strong financial management. Their diversified funding sources and substantial reserves put them in a sustainable position.
Looking ahead, Forest and Bird aims to continue broadening its income streams. This will provide greater ability to invest in priority conservation projects nationwide.
Maintaining and growing Forest and Bird’s supporter base will be crucial. This will provide the donations and bequests that are the lifeblood allowing Forest and Bird to be an independent advocate for New Zealand’s native plants and wildlife.
Conclusion
Forest and Bird’s independent voice and on-the-ground conservation impact depends on sustainable funding. While they receive a small portion of income from government, their financial strength stems from individual supporters.
Donations, bequests, membership fees and investment returns allow Forest and Bird to deliver tangible gains for conservation year after year. Supporters value Forest and Bird’s critical role in giving nature a voice. With continued public backing, Forest and Bird will keep making positive change for our forests, birds and other wildlife far into the future.