Our Story

The Friends of Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge was formed in early 2020 by a group of individuals passionate about the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex who recognize the importance of the complex to the region as well as the ongoing need for additional resources. In July, the Friends was approved by the IRS as a 501C3 non-profit. Our mission is to work in partnership with the Sacramento National Wildlife Complex and the public to maintain and expand wildlife observation, education and all forms of recreational opportunities to a broader audience in this important asset of the Central Valley of Northern California.

The Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex has never had a non-profit partner to work with. In discussions with Refuge management as well as regional USFWS staff, everyone agreed that the time was right to form a non-profit partner of the refuges who could assist in raising awareness of the refuge complex as well as to provide external resources that would be of value in executing projects to benefit the Complex and its visitors. In early 2020 in the midst of a pandemic, the Friends of Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge was formed in California. We formed a Facebook group and Facebook page under our name, and launched our website (www.friendsofsnwr.org) and Instagram page. We are now beginning our outreach into the regional community as well as across the country via our social media presence.