Deadline Extension to Dec. 17 for Wells Fargo-National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Environmental Grants

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced a deadline extension for the Environmental Solutions for Communities environmental grant program for 2013. The new deadline for grant consideration is Dec. 17, 2012.

"Due to the overwhelmingly positive interest in our environmental grant program, we are extending our deadline to allow more organizations an opportunity to apply for funding in 2013," said Ashley Grosh, Wells Fargo head of Environment Philanthropy. "This has become a highly competitive program for environmental and community-based  projects with a positive impact on communities across the country."

"We are looking for the best ideas and programs to protect and conserve the environment for local communities," said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. "Through
Wells Fargo's generous contributions, these community-based habitat restoration projects will not only provide immediate benefits to fish and wildlife, but also help to build a local environmental stewardship ethic."

As part of Wells Fargo's $100 million philanthropy commitment to nonprofits and universities by 2020, a $15 million, five-year relationship with NFWF was created and launched earlier in 2012 to promote environmental stewardship across the country. The Wells Fargo Environmental Solutions for Communities grant program, funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation and administered by NFWF, received nearly 500 applications for the first round of funding in 2012.

The goal of the Wells Fargo-NFWF grant partnership and program is to provide grants for highly impactful projects that link economic development and community well-being to the stewardship and health of the environment. The program will fund proposals in select cities/regions (see website for full list) in the following areas:

• sustainable agriculture and forestry
• conservation of land and water resources
• restoration of urban ecosystems
• clean energy infrastructure

Projects that benefit underserved communities and encourage volunteerism will be given priority consideration. Grant recipients for the 2013 program will be announced on Earth Day, April 22, 2013. For this program there is one announcement and one round of applications per year. Full details of the program and link to the application can be found at the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation application website:  www.nfwf.org/environmentalsolutions 

About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.4 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 stores, 12,000 ATMs, the Internet (wellsfargo.com), and has offices in more than 35 countries to support the bank's customers who conduct business in the global economy.

Since 2006, Wells Fargo has provided more than $11.7 billion in environmental finance, supporting sustainable buildings and renewable energy projects nationwide. This includes investments in more than 260 solar projects and 34 wind projects that generate enough clean renewable energy to power hundreds of thousands of American homes each year. In April 2012, Wells Fargo released a set of environmental commitments to be achieved by 2020; including reducing the company's environmental impact, financing the transition to a greener economy and encouraging stronger and more sustainable communities. A leader in reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions and building sustainably, Wells Fargo has been recognized by the Carbon Disclosure Project and the U.S. Green Building Council. The company was listed as one of the 2012 "Best Corporate Citizens" by Corporate Responsibility Magazine. For more information, please visit: www.wellsfargo.com/environment.

About National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Established by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) sustains, restores and enhances the nation's fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal, corporate and individual partners, it has awarded over 12,100 grants to more than 4,000 organizations and leveraged $618 million in federal funds into $2.1 billion for on-the-ground conservation. To learn more, visit www.nfwf.org.

Related references: http://www.nfwf.org/Content/ContentFolders/NationalFishandWildlifeFoundation/PressReleases/2012/Environmental_Grant_Program.pdf

SOURCE National Fish and Wildlife Foundation