Ducks Unlimited
“To conserve, restore, and manage wetlands and associated habitats for waterfowl.”
19 comments to the agencies, 86 cents of every dollar to the work.
The origin
How they started
Ducks Unlimited was founded in 1937 by waterfowl hunters watching the Dust Bowl destroy the wetlands their birds needed. It has since become the largest wetland and waterfowl conservation organization in the world, having conserved millions of acres across North America. Hunter-led and science-driven, it works with private landowners and federal agencies rather than against them, and it is one of the few groups that bridges the sporting and conservation worlds.
Every year they sign one sentence and file it with the federal government: “Ducks Unlimited, inc.” as filed.
Where the money went, FY2025
The work, and what it cost
Ducks Unlimited supports the life cycle of waterfowl in north America by developing, preserving, restoring and maintaining waterfowl habitats.
Including $23,372,484 granted onward.
Read it as they filed it
DUCKS UNLIMITED SUPPORTS THE LIFE CYCLE OF WATERFOWL IN NORTH AMERICA BY DEVELOPING, PRESERVING, RESTORING AND MAINTAINING WATERFOWL HABITATS. DIRECT ALLOCATIONS ARE MADE TO AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS - DUCKS UNLIMITED CANADA ($22,137,717) AND DUCKS UNLIMITED MEXICO ($1,234,767).
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2025, signed under penalty of perjury.
Educating the Public About Wetlands
$27.7M, 7% of spendingAnd waterfowl management is a critical component of sustaining the life cycle needs of migratory waterfowl.
Read it as they filed it
EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT WETLANDS AND WATERFOWL MANAGEMENT IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF SUSTAINING THE LIFE CYCLE NEEDS OF MIGRATORY WATERFOWL. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE WETLANDS DEMONSTRATIONS, EDUCATIONAL LITERATURE, INTERPRETIVE CENTER, YOUTH PROGRAMS, AND OUTDOOR CONSERVATION EXHIBITS.
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2025, signed under penalty of perjury.
Ducks Unlimited maintains a public policy presence in Washington, DC because of the critical importance of public policy to maintaining wetlands and ecosystems that support migratory waterfowl.
Read it as they filed it
DUCKS UNLIMITED MAINTAINS A PUBLIC POLICY PRESENCE IN WASHINGTON, DC BECAUSE OF THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC POLICY TO MAINTAINING WETLANDS AND ECOSYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT MIGRATORY WATERFOWL.
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2025, signed under penalty of perjury.
Ducks Unlimited provides member services to approximately 653,414 total members (including greenwings) through educational membership materials, Ducks Unlimited magazine, conservation brochures, and educational…
Read it as they filed it
DUCKS UNLIMITED PROVIDES MEMBER SERVICES TO APPROXIMATELY 653,414 TOTAL MEMBERS (INCLUDING GREENWINGS) THROUGH EDUCATIONAL MEMBERSHIP MATERIALS, DUCKS UNLIMITED MAGAZINE, CONSERVATION BROCHURES, AND EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS OF FUNDRAISING EVENTS.
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2025, signed under penalty of perjury.
Follow the dollar
86 cents of every dollar goes to the work
A good sign, not a scorecard: what matters is the extremes, and this is nowhere near one.
$330,724,624 programs, $8,694,631 management, $47,269,451 fundraising. Form 990, FY2025.
The backers
Backed on the record by Walton Family Foundation and Pew Charitable Trusts, latest filing FY24.
The people
Who does the work
Honesty note: leadership comes from each year’s federal filing, so it can run a year behind. If it’s out of date, tell us. Work at Ducks Unlimited? Claim this page.
Those 31,562 volunteers are people who decided this ground was theirs to defend. If Ducks Unlimited is fighting for your place too, the matchmaker will find your way in.
Find your way inThe filings
14 years of filings
Total revenue by fiscal year, as filed. Point at or tap the line for any year.
| Year | Revenue |
|---|---|
| 2011 | $155,059,722 |
| 2012 | $153,872,987 |
| 2013 | $172,342,451 |
| 2014 | $178,406,052 |
| 2015 | $209,619,176 |
| 2016 | $202,398,122 |
| 2017 | $190,924,990 |
| 2018 | $192,778,583 |
| 2019 | $201,529,617 |
| 2020 | $185,369,449 |
| 2021 | $215,328,335 |
| 2022 | $339,454,630 |
| 2023 | $302,178,704 |
| 2025 | $380,340,506 |
From $155.1M in 2011 to $380.3M in FY25, across 14 public filings (none on record for 2024).
On the Hill
Ducks Unlimited has hired federal lobbyists: 33 filings from 2019 to 2026. The filings, at the Senate.
Most filed on natural resources, clean air and water and the environment.
The record
On the record with the agencies
19 comments on federal decisions since 2023, each filed under the group’s own name on regulations.gov. The latest on decisions we track:
Year by year
The record, in order
- 1937Ducks Unlimited is formed.the return, formation year
- 2022First appears in Walton Family Foundation’s grants.the funder’s return
- 2023First appears in Pew Charitable Trusts’ grants.the funder’s return
- 20242 comments, both to the Fish and Wildlife Service, under the group’s own name.regulations.gov
- 20251 comment to the Fish and Wildlife Service, under the group’s own name.regulations.gov
- 202616 comments, all to the Fish and Wildlife Service, under the group’s own name.regulations.gov
Green, a funder’s return. Hollow, a filing. Every row is a record we hold: 19 comments filed under its own name, 2 funders whose returns name it. Nothing here is written from memory.
Their ground
Ducks Unlimited is not on our editors’ record for a threatened place yet. See every threatened place on one map, and who stands for each.
Ducks Unlimited files 2 related organizations on its return: Wetlands America Trust INC (501(c)(3)) and Ducks Unlimited Group Return (501(c)(3)). A related organization shares people or purpose; it does not share the books.
Ways in
How to help
Straight to their own donation page. Your dollar never passes through us.
Give on their site ↗Show upVolunteer with themFind their volunteer door on their own site.
Find it on their site ↗FollowWatch the mapEvery threatened place in the country, tracked, with who stands for each.
Threatened Lands MapStand with Ducks Unlimited
The mission is theirs. The backing is yours.