Community and Conservation Grants

Community and Conservation Grants

The Wild Waters Fund exists to, in some small way, help protect the places we fish, and the communities that depend on them. Through a limited annual grants program, partnerships, and hands-on projects, we direct resources where they matter most: restoring rivers and flats, strengthening remote communities, and inspiring the next generation of anglers and guides.

Our approach blends collaboration, education, and action. By uniting anglers, guides, non-profits, and local leaders, we create solutions that ensure wild waters remain vibrant and resilient for generations to come.

Our Core Areas of Focus

1. Protecting Wild Fisheries
The foundation of our mission. We invest in projects that conserve, restore, and enhance freshwater and saltwater habitats — from trout rivers to tropical flats — ensuring resilient ecosystems for the future of angling.

2. Responsible Access & Protection
Conservation and access must go hand in hand. We support efforts that defend fair and responsible access to wild waters, while also backing measures — from seasonal closures to private water management — that protect fragile ecosystems and preserve the quality of the angling experience.

3. Strengthening Communities
Fishing is never just about the water. We work alongside the communities who depend on these ecosystems, funding grassroots initiatives, supporting local economies, and ensuring that conservation benefits people as well as places.

4. Inspiring the Next Generation
The future of wild waters depends on those who will wade them next. We introduce young people to fishing and guiding, providing mentorship, training, and conservation values that transform passion into lifelong stewardship.

Pathways for Impact

The Wild Waters Fund structures its grantmaking and activities in three key ways:

  • Collaborative Impact — Partnering with foundations, non-profits, and mission-aligned companies to channel resources directly into local and global conservation efforts.

  • Hands-On Stewardship — Engaging directly through workshops, hosted trips, volunteer projects, and guide training that turn passion into action.

  • Rapid Response & Innovation — Reserving funds to respond to urgent needs or breakthrough opportunities when wild waters require swift support.

FOR GRANTEES

The Wild Waters Fund provides support to projects that align with our four core areas of focus.

We welcome applications from:

  • Non-profit organizations with a proven track record in conservation, education, or community impact.

  • Community-led initiatives that address local challenges tied to freshwater or saltwater ecosystems.

  • Projects that demonstrate measurable outcomes, scalability, and alignment with long-term stewardship goals.

If your work advances the health of wild waters and the communities connected to them, we encourage you to apply.

What We Do Not Fund

To ensure our resources are directed where they will have the greatest impact, The Wild Waters Fund does not typically fund:

  • General operating expenses for organizations unrelated to conservation or community impact.

  • For-profit businesses or commercial ventures.

  • Political campaigns or lobbying activities.

  • Projects outside the scope of fisheries, aquatic ecosystems, or communities directly connected to wild waters.

  • Activities that do not demonstrate measurable outcomes or long-term sustainability.

FOR DONORS

The Wild Waters Fund invites you to be part of something bigger than any one trip or project. By working together, we can restore rivers, support communities, and inspire the next generation of anglers and guides.

  • Foundations & Companies: Amplify your impact by partnering with us to fund targeted conservation and community initiatives worldwide.

  • Individual Supporters: Join the movement through donations, hosted trips, or by sharing your own stories that inspire others to care for wild waters.

Every contribution helps protect fragile ecosystems and the people who depend on them. Together, we can keep wild waters thriving for generations to come.

The Wild Waters Fund channels 1% of all Isolation Outfitters annual sales into protecting freshwater and saltwater habitats worldwide.

Its purpose is to preserve rivers, lakes, flats, and oceans, support local communities, and promote sustainable fly fishing practices — ensuring that the wild waters we explore today remain vibrant for generations of anglers to come.

Thank you for supporting the Wild Waters Fund with your exploration angling.

The Wild Waters Fund is administered by Isolation Outfitters LLC in Montana, USA and Isolation Outfitters Ltd in New Zealand.