The Wild Fund Inc

WILD GIFT PROVIDES UNCONVENTIONAL SUPPORT TO OUTSTANDING YOUNG INDIVIDUALS WITH WILD IDEAS THAT WILL DISRUPT THE STATUS QUO AND IGNITE POSITIVE CHANGE. USING WILDERNESS IMMERSION EXPERIENCES AS A SPRINGBOARD COMBINED WITH MENTORING, SEED FUNDING AND A COLLABORATIVE NETWORK OF SUPPORT, OUR UNIQUE FELLOWSHIP FOSTERS GRIT, INTEGRITY AND KNOW-HOW CRITICAL TO THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF THEIR GROUNDBREAKING VENTURES.

THROUGH VIGOROUS OUTREACH AND AN INTENSIVE SELECTION PROCESS, EACH YEAR WILD GIFT SUCCESSFULLY RECRUITS IMPRESSIVE VISIONARIES (AGES 21-35) WITH BREAK-THROUGH IDEAS WHO DEMONSTRATE THE ABILITY TO GROW A SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISE, BRING DIVERSITY OF BACKGROUND, AND WILL MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE PROBLEM THEY ARE TRYING TO SOLVE. EACH CLASS OF FELLOWS EMBARKS ON A 16-MONTH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, COMMENCING WITH THE WILD GIFT- A 20-DAY EXPEDITION IN THE IDAHO WILDERNESS. THE EXPEDITION CHALLENGES EACH FELLOW PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY, REMOVES THEM FROM THEIR COMFORT ZONE, AND CONNECTS THEM TO THE NATURAL WORLD ON A VERY PERSONAL LEVEL. THEY ARE ABLE TO UNPLUG, GAIN CLARITY, INCUBATE IDEAS, AND ENVISION THE TRUE SCOPE OF THEIR WORK AND LIVES, AND BUILD LIFE LONG BONDS WITH PEERS TACKLING SIMILAR CHALLENGES. CONNECTIONS ARE DRAWN BETWEEN THE CHALLENGES OF SURVIVING IN THE WILD TO THOSE CONFRONTED ON THE GROUND WHEN LAUNCHING A SOCIAL VENTURE - THE WILLINGNESS TO EMBRACE RISK, SEEING OBTACLES AS OPPORTUNITIES, PERSEVERANCE, HUMILITY, THE INTERCONNECTNESS OF ALL THINGS, AND FRAGILITY OF THE NATURAL WORLD.THE PROGRAM INCORPORATES A PLATFORM WHERE AUTHENTICITY, COLLABORATION AND SUSTAINABILITY ARE REVERED, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND LIFE BALANCE MATTER, AND FAILURE IS VIEWED AS A NECESSARY STEP TO SUCCESS. POST-EXPEDITION, EACH WILD GIFT FELLOW IS PROVIDED WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND DEDICATED MENTORS TO HELP THEM LAUNCH THEIR INITIATIVE. THEY ARE NETWORKED INTO A TIGHT-KNIT CADRE OF OTHER WILD GIFT SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS WORKING ALL OVER THE WORLD, INCLUDING SPONSORSHIP TO ATTEND ANNUAL FELLOWSHIP RETREATS. FELLOWS ARE ALSO SUPPORTED BEYOND THE OFFICIAL SPONSORSHIP TERM OF THEIR FELLOWSHIP THROUGH ONGOING NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, KNOWLEDGE SHARING, SPEAKING INVITATIONS, AND CONTINUED INCLUSION IN WILD GIFTS NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH.