RESTON, Va. — The National Wildlife Federation honored Hilary Barbour, its director of planned giving, with the Charlie Shaw Conservation Partnership Award. The award recognizes Barbour’s mentorship of affiliate organizations in their establishment of planned giving programs, bolstering their financial footing and enabling them to better pursue their conservation goals. 

 “By volunteering her expertise to develop curriculum and lead training sessions that guided 15 affiliates through the details of forming and maintaining a planned giving program, Hilary has helped our partners take advantage of an immense opportunity in front of them,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “Her behind the scenes work has provided our affiliates with the resources that come with a long-term sustainable income source. Hilary makes our One Federation strong every day by helping strengthen our affiliates and increasing their collective capacity to build a shared future for wildlife and people.”

“I am truly honored to receive such a distinguished award,” said Barbour. “The opportunity to work with our affiliates to help establish and strengthen their legacy programs has been incredibly rewarding, especially because the outcome can be a complete game-changer, as in a single, unrestricted multi-million dollar gift.”

The Federation’s Gift Planning program is a lead driver for unrestricted revenue that generates key funding for operational and mission-driven endeavors.  Over her tenure, Barbour has orchestrated an impressive turnaround and refocusing of the program for continued revenue growth and Legacy Society expansion.  Under her leadership, the Gift Planning enterprise has consistently exceeded annual revenue targets since 2016 and reached an all-time revenue peak this year with the receipt of the single largest bequest gift in recent history. 

Barbour’s understanding of the current and immense transfer of wealth from one generation to the next is what spurred her to ensure the Federation’s affiliate partners are well positioned to take advantage of this opportunity. As people choose where they want to leave their legacy gifts it is critical that non-profits have a robust planned giving program in place to best support their conservation goals. This is what led Barbour to develop an affiliate mentorship program in which she led trainings and offered her expertise on the importance of integrating gift planning within existing fundraising programs. As a result of her efforts, 15 affiliates are better positioned to receive significant bequest gifts and secure a brighter future.

Throughout her time at the Federation, Barbour has exhibited an understanding of the value and power of the National Wildlife Federation-affiliate partnership.  She knows that bolstering affiliate organizations supports the overall strength of the National Wildlife Federation and is more than willing to dedicate her gift planning expertise, fundraising experience, and limited time to educate affiliates on how to integrate legacy giving in their fundraising programs.  Barbour’s passion and cooperative nature embodies the spirit of Charlie Shaw and has made her a valuable and recognized partner to all in the Federation family. 

The Charlie Shaw Conservation Partnership Award honors individuals who have demonstrated a true appreciation for the value and potential of the National Wildlife Federation-affiliate partnership. Barbour was honored during the National Wildlife Federation’s annual meeting, which was held for the third time as a virtual event this year.

This award was created in Charlie’s memory to honor individuals whose actions reflect the spirit of his work — first as executive director of North Carolina Wildlife Federation and later as a National Wildlife Federation regional executive. Charlie loved the National Wildlife Federation. In his eyes, the Federation was not simply a relationship between “national” and each affiliate partner. Charlie rightly saw one big family — many different conservationists all working together toward the goal of protecting wildlife and habitat.

The National Wildlife Federation Conservation Achievement Awards began in 1966. Since then, the National Wildlife Federation has celebrated individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting wildlife through education, advocacy, communication and on-the-ground conservation. Previous honorees have included former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, First Ladies Lady Bird Johnson and Michelle Obama and other national leaders, including U.S. Sen. John McCain and filmmaker Robert Redford.