PURPOSE
The purpose of the Missouri
Conservation Heritage Foundation (MCHF) is to raise funds and to provide resources
for the efforts of the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and to take
a leading role in ensuring both the protection of Missouri’s unique
conservation heritage and the provision of outdoor opportunities for future
generations.
MCHF was founded in September 1997 to meet the increasing demand placed on
Missouri's natural resources. Public demand for development of areas for outdoor
activities simply exceeds the Missouri Department of Conservation's funding
capability. The Foundation's priority is to stimulate partnerships where local
and Foundation funds can provide the necessary resources to meet local conservation
needs.
Our challenge is to provide funds where the need is greatest and where private
support has made the critical difference in the success of protecting Missouri’s
rich fish, forest and wildlife resources.
The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of business and
community leaders. Directors serve staggered terms without remuneration. The
Board of Directors responsibility is to establish policies to be carried out
by the Foundation, select projects and programs, and allocate resources to
those projects and programs.
Contributions to the Foundation are fully deductible to the extent allowed
by law. The Foundation is incorporated in the State of Missouri under the
Missouri Nonprofit Corporation Act to assist the Missouri Department of Conservation
in carrying out its authorized purposes. It holds Federal Tax Exempt Status
under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.
PROGRAMS
MCHF projects and programs fall in one of these areas of emphasis:
• Acquisition of lands important to natural resource
conservation and management.
• Facility & construction projects to enhance
public use of conservation areas.
• Conservation Education and Recreation including
nature centers and support of conservation workshops, outdoor classrooms and
Stream Teams.
• Forest, fish & wildlife management &
restoration.
• Natural resource research projects.
• Wildlife enforcement and hunter education programs.
• Disabled user projects.
PROGRESS
Since MCHF's founding, over $7 million has been raised or pledged for disabled
and kids fishing clinics, Kansas City Discovery Center (an urban nature center),
peregrine falcon release (Springfield), cold-water trout stream purchase,
education projects throughout the state, and wetlands and stream restoration.
All donated funds are used for projects. We also raise funds from the Missouri
Conservation License Plate program and have several endowments and trust accounts
with funds held for conservation programs.
Accomplishments
to date:
• Raised $3.5 million to match $4.6 million for
Kansas City Discovery Center in partnership with Missouri Department of Conservation.
Discovery Center opened in April 2002.
• Raised over $1 million for Stream Stewardship
Trust Fund.
• Start-up of Cape Girardeau Conservation Campus
capital campaign to raise $500,000 with local community for new center (to
open in May 2005).
• Helped purchase 391 acres around headwaters
of Bryant Creek in southwest Missouri (Cedar Gap Conservation Area, $140,000)
and cold water stream (Capps Creek, $50,000) in Newton County.
• Funded a suspension foot bridge and trail at
Fountain Grove Conservation Area (Livingston County), a scenic view overlook
(Boone County), Lewis & Clark signage (Buchanan County), and wetlands
development (Lewis County).
• Established funds for endowing the Bronstein
Flower Gardens at Powder Valley Nature Center (metropolitan St. Louis).
• Provided fishing equipment for disabled anglers
and youth fishing clinics statewide.
• Received $200,000 for Western Greater prairie
chicken and prairie research and management in northwest Missouri from National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Phillips Petroleum.
• Received $150,000 for grassland management in
partnership with the Grassland Coalition from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
and FMC.
• Received over $500,000 in for conservation projects
statewide including native landscaping in metro St. Louis, canebrake restoration
in the Ozarks, bird monitoring in northeast Missouri, native plant nurseries,
and streamside restoration.
• Provided fiscal oversight for outdoor recreation
clinics such as youth hunts and kids fishing programs.
• Designed and implemented statewide conservation
heritage license plate program for unrestricted funds for Outdoor Classroom
grants to schools ($35,000 annually to schools and other conservation projects
statewide).
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
Officers
Howard Wood, Chairman of the Board, Bonne Terre
Jan Phillips, President, Glendale
Norman Stucky, Vice-President, Jefferson City
Julius Wall, Secretary, Clinton
Chris Nattinger, Treasurer, Springfield
Directors
Jack Garret, West Plains
Ronald Stites, Platte City
Davis Minton, Dexter
Randy Herzog, St. Joseph
Jeff Churan, Chillocothe
Anita Gorman, Kansas
City
Dave Murphy, Columbia
Ex-officio Directors
John D. Hoskins, Director
Missouri Department of Conservation
William F. "Chip" McGeehan , Chairman
Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri
Executive Director
Richard Thom