Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: WildCare
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 76 Albert Park Lane
City: San Rafael
State: CA
Postal Code: 94901
Main Phone: 415-453-1000
Main Fax: 415-456-0594
Organization Website: https://discoverwildcare.org
Employer ID Number: 51-0172331
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/31/25
Requested Amount: 10000

Project Title: WildCare’s Terwilliger Nature Education Programs
Project Description:

Today’s children, especially those in disadvantaged communities, are more disconnected from the natural world than ever before. Studies show this lack of connection negatively impacts their academic achievement along with their physical and emotional health and development. WildCare’s Terwilliger Nature Education Programs reconnect kids to nature, providing real-life context to science concepts taught in California’s primary-12th grade classrooms while offering healthy and meaningful outdoor experiences. Our approach is based on the experiential teaching methods developed by Elizabeth Terwilliger, a San Francisco Bay Area educator who inspired four generations to care about nature. This approach, along with a curriculum that supports state science standards, makes WildCare one of the most effective, sought-after environmental educators in the region, attracting up to 200 Bay Area schools/youth organizations. Our programs range from guided hikes through parks with trained nature guides to direct-to-school presentations featuring our mobile Nature Van and our live, non-releasable “Wildlife Ambassador” educational animals.

WildCare primarily serves students who face economic, language, and/or social barriers to environmental education: over half the 13,000+ students we serve are from low-to-moderate income families, and nearly 60% are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color. For many, a WildCare program is their first direct experience of the natural world. Our programs fill the gap in experiential nature education resulting from limited school budgets for enrichment classes and transportation. In the current school year, 52% have received a full or partial scholarship.

This year WildCare’s programs have experienced exponential growth thanks to targeted outreach to schools in low-income communities and our new Spanish-language Nature Van presentations. We anticipate this demand will continue to grow as more schools search for low-cost, high-quality, standards-based programs to help their students experience the many benefits of connecting with nature. For more details, please visit us at: discoverwildcare.org/education.

Total Project Budget: 508,682

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): WildCare’s Terwilliger Nature Education programs are supported by a variety of funding sources, including 18 private foundations and government agencies, individual donors, and corporate sponsors. Program fees from schools that can afford to pay help fund scholarships for students at low-income schools. 2025-26 program fees: $129.5K Awarded ($155K total): Gruber Family Foundation ($25K); Kimball Foundation ($30K); The Sato Foundation ($10K); Winifred Johnson Clive Foundation ($25K); Woodlawn Foundation ($65K) Potential ($109.5K) : Adobe Employee Community Fund ($20K); Alexander M. & June L. Maisin Foundation ($20K); George Wasserman Family Foundation ($10K); Harbor Point Charitable Foundation ($15K); LaureL Foundation ($15K); Leiter Family Foundation ($10K); Marin County Fish & Wildlife Commission ($4.5K); Swantz Family Foundation ($5K); Stanley S. Langendorf Foundation ($10K)

Project Duration: 1 year
Geographical Area Served: San Francisco Bay Area
Age Group To Be Served: 3-18

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Beth
Contact Last Name: Slatkin
Contact Title: Grants Program Manager
Contact Phone: 510-847-2485
Contact Email: bethslatkin@discoverwildcare.org