The NFWF advances its mission through innovative public and private partnerships, and by investing financial resources and intellectual capital into science-based programs designed to address conservation priorities and achieve measurable outcomes.

[citation needed] As part of its Congressional charter, the NFWF also serves as a neutral, third-party fiduciary to receive, manage and disburse funds that originate from court orders, settlements of legal cases, regulatory permits, licenses, and restoration and mitigation plans.

Prior to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion at a BP drilling platform, NFWF supported approximately 450 projects in the Gulf of Mexico with an estimated total value of $128 million.

The priority focus was the species most at risk – sea turtles, shorebirds, water birds and migratory waterfowl – and the immediate actions needed to reduce losses.

Following the crisis, NFWF collaborated with government agencies, non-profit organizations and corporations to develop a series of longer-term conservation strategies designed to ensure healthy populations of fish and wildlife in the Gulf.

NFWF worked with farmers and other private landowners to create quality foraging sites for waterfowl, water birds and shorebirds inland from the Gulf danger zones and to increase survival rates by providing sufficient food and resting areas.

NFWF also funded efforts to protect and restore critical nesting habitat, while increasing capacity on the Gulf Coast to manage important bird conservation areas.

Other NFWF Gulf projects include promoting sustainable commercial and recreational fisheries and restoring oyster reefs to assist in providing crucial habitat and safeguard coastal communities.