GROW WILD INC

Programs

1. Grow wild's project area encompasses some of the most ecologically and economically important resources in the state, providing vital habitat and water for plants, wildlife, and the people who live and recreate in the area. Grow wild works to address and mitigate the impacts of human activity upon natural resources to ensure what we love so much about this place is not destroyed by our pursuit to experience it. Thank you to the 58 sponsors, 146 donors, 122 partners, 8 canine conservation ambassadors, and 161 volunteers who put in 374 hours in 2023 to help grow wild protect our natural resources and conserve wildlife habitat. Together, we can conserve the landscapes we all love!education & outreach project: to protect natural resources from invasive species, grow wild works collaboratively with partners and organizations on an array of projects, creates and disseminates educational materials, and provides educational opportunities via local kid's camps, farmers market, guided hikes, and classes. In 2023, grow wild reached 1,891 kids, 2,947 adults and hosted or participated in 56 classes and events. Since 2008, we've educated 14,418 kids and 5,417 adults via 263 classes and events.

   $59,032 spent$3,070 earned by the program
   33% of program spending

2. Landowner stewardship project: active stewardship by landowners is critical to protect natural resources on both private and public lands. Grow wild offers free on-site assistance and provides a suite of resources to landowners so they can address invasive species using best management practices and adaptive strategies. In 2023, we conducted 53 property inspections that represent 332 acres. Since 2008, grow wild has inspected 1,002 properties, impacting 12,392 acres and finding only 2 noxious weed free properties. Hoa (habitat owners association) project: in response to the increasing threats to wildlife habitat, grow wild initiated our hoa program to manage invasive plants in open space for the benefit of wildlife. Partnering with homeowner associations and the gallatin county weed district, grow wild aims to enhance wildlife habitat in open space by leading an invasive species management effort for a three-year period. The goal is to assist with education and technical assistance to kick start habitat improvement. In 2023, grow wild continued to assist porcupine park, a 460-acre subdivision with 160 acres of total open space. Preserved in perpetuity, these open spaces are…

   $35,363 spent
   20% of program spending

3. Clean recreation projectrecreation leads to invasive species introduction and spread, threatening local trails and rivers. In response, grow wild promotes established clean recreation programs (playcleango and clean.drain.dry.) via multiple media platforms, trailhead and highway signs, and at events. Since 2015, grow wild has installed 7 playcleango trailhead signs, distributed 617 playcleango kits for kids, totaled 7.6 million media impressions with our clean.drain.dry. Campaign, 11.8 million views of our gallatin canyon billboards, and distributed 18,900 promotion items.

   $31,735 spent
   18% of program spending

4. Wildlife habitat conservation projects: wildlife in our area face habitat loss and degradation due to invasive species introduction and spread. Grow wild works to mitigate the threat via noxious weed management on bighorn sheep winter range, in the gallatin canyon, and with our community weed pulls.bighorn sheep winter range project: in 2010, we identified the winter range of the spanish peaks bighorn sheep herd as critical wildlife habitat compromised by invasive species. Montana fish, wildlife and parks lists bighorn sheep as a "species of conservation concern," meaning those species for which population viability is threatened as evidenced by a significant downward trend in population or habitat capacity. The combination of compromised habitat and a species at risk prompted grow wild to take action to improve the winter range of our local and beloved herd of bighorn sheep. In the past 12 years we've been climbing that hill to battle noxious weeds and experimenting with native plant restoration. Since 2011, grow wild has invested $14,644 in noxious weed treatment on bighorn sheep winter range, and our 8 partners have matched that with $156,507. In 2022, we initiated an herbicide…

   $26,155 spent
   15% of program spending

5. Crail gardens project: in 2019, grow wild built a demonstration garden at crail ranch using native plants that are wildlife friendly, water wise, and preserving of the historic landscape. In 2023, 33 volunteers put in 93 hours at crail gardens. Improvements to the garden included: weeded & maintained the garden, planted 105 more wildflowers & 6 new species, and built garden #5 filled drought-tolerant plants. We hosted 20 events with 493 people in attendance, including 3 open houses and a cornhole tournament fundraiser. The highlight of the year was our first annual big sky wildflower festival, a 5-day summer festival that offered workshops in wildflower expertise, including sustainable landscaping, pollinators, scavenger hunts, wildlife habitat improvement, photography, flowering arranging, and guided hikes. The community joined us at our annual bag the peak cornhole tournament fundraiser in early august, and we closed the summer with our annual summer wine down event. Since 2019, we've planted 1,141 wildflowers (49 native species), with 159 volunteers putting in 584 hours to help us grow wild!

   $25,154 spent
   14% of program spending

The 5 programs described on its FY2023 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $177,439.