The World Wildlife Fund

 The organization was registered as a charity and its missions to raise funds for wildlife began. The founders started by supplying grants to non-governmental organizations based on the best scientific wisdom accessible at the time. One notable early project involved assisting the Indian government in creating reserve for project Tiger. The World Wildlife Fund also help set up reserves in Africa, Asia, and Latin America as part of the tropical rainforest campaign. This developed into the WWF’s forced program, which work to conserve both tropical rainforest and temperate wooded areas. In the 1970s, the organization set up a number of sanctuaries for marine life in a large-scale campaign called the Seas Must Live. Soon, the focus of the WWF shifted from endangered species and habitat destruction, to tackle other conservation-related issues as well. The groups set up offices in different countries to promote its numerous far-reaching projects. The mission and strategy was further adjusted when the WWF merged with the Conservation Foundation, along with the preservation of nature. 

The group now also aims to maintain biological diversity, encourage the usage of sustainable resources, decrease pollution, and develop communication and collaboration with locals. Even more new goals were set in the 1990s. While conserving forests was still deemed important, the WWF added freshwater, ecosystems, oceans and coasts to its roster of causes. Today, the WWF continues working to reduce our ecological footprint, but also concentrate on the conservation of over thirty species and eco regions considered to have the most exceptional and biologically diverse habitats. In addition, the global program framework includes global initiatives, concerning the Amazon, the Arctic, smart energy, smart fishing, and more. Throughout its history, the WWF has attempted to bring about policy changes by both collaborating with and lobbying world governments. For instance, international moratoriums on whaling and the ivory trade are partly the result of the group’s efforts. Debt for nature swaps are another example where developing countries can both lower their foreign debt and yield funds for conservation efforts. The organizational was also instrumental in convincing government to endorse climate change conventions during the 1992 United Nations conference on Environment and development. The WWF now works with businesses, banks, scientists, and other groups on their campaign as well. 

‘Because water is essential to nature, communities, and business, The Coca Cola Company and WWF launched a transformational partnership in 2007 to help conserve the world’s freshwater resources. Expanding this focus and building on their progress, they have renewed their collaboration through 2020 to achieve even greater impact by helping address the natural resource challenges that impact fresh water. WWF and Coca-Cola will work together to conserve some of the world’s most important places spanning Asia, Africa and the Americas. Driving innovative, climate-smart solutions to freshwater challenges through basin-wide engagement and comprehensive policy support, they will focus their efforts on the catchments of the Mesoamerican Reef and the Yangtze River. In addition to their freshwater conservation efforts, WWF and The Coca-Cola Company joined forces to help protect the polar bear and its habitat. They launched the Arctic Home Campaign in North America during the 2011 holiday season to raise widespread awareness and funds for these efforts.

Since April 2009, Bank of America has offered a World Wildlife Fund BankAmerica Cash Rewards™ Visa® credit card and checking account to support our global conservation efforts. Bank of America contributes to WWF for each new qualifying credit card and checking account opened and activated. Bank of America will contribute $100 to WWF for each new qualifying credit card account. Support WWF even further with a World Wildlife Fund personal checking account, featuring checks and debit cards with the WWF logo printed on them. WWF will receive a $10 contribution from Bank of America for each new qualifying account.’ (WWF)

            As climate change becomes an increasingly significant issue, Earth Hour is an example of social entrepreneurship. The annual event organized by the WWF raises global awareness, where people are turning out their lives to signal their concern about the future of our life on this earth. Through online media, they challenged millions of people globally in a fun and easy way. To help people make better choices and be accountable for them, Earth Hour launched an ‘I will if You Will’ campaign that aims to drive participation by making ‘doing’ more rewarding and more exciting. ‘I will if You Will’ encourages people to go ‘Beyond The Hour.’("I Will If You Will – We're Supporting Earth Hour To Save Our Planet." The Yammer Blog. Customer Stories, 26 Mar. 2012. Web. 29 Oct. 2014)

By working with locals and non-governmental organizations to learn about how cultures effect the environment, the group also encourages countries to invent their own conservation strategies. Since the WWF is a charitable foundation, it receives financing from outside sources. Gifts and individual donations make up the majority of funding. Through governmental agencies, institutions and corporations contribute as well. However, this organization’s weaknesses led to criticism. Some have accused the WWF of bias campaigning due to its relationships with certain big businesses. Despite the group’s contributions, the underperformance of some of its programs, plus the alleged misrepresentation of certain risks, and order to attract more funding have also drawn criticism. Since its creation, the WWF’s approach to conservation and the environment has evolved from a preservationist plan to one that examines development issues. Now the World Wildlife Fund seeks solutions for global environmental security and hopes that humanity will one day live in harmony with nature.

WWF’s focus has evolved from localized efforts in favor of single species and individual habitats, to an ambitious strategy to preserve biodiversity and achieve sustainable development across the globe, including finance, business practices, laws, and consumption choices. WWF’s mission statement is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment, and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. To do so, they conserve the world’s biological diversity, they ensure that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and they promote the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. Their guiding principle is to be global, independent multi-cultural and non-party political, and to run its operations in a cost effective manner and apply donors’ funds according to the highest standards of accountability.