The National Wildlife Federation, America’s largest wildlife conservation and education organization, welcomes Dirk Sellers as its new vice president for philanthropy.
“I’m thrilled for Dirk to join us. He brings a wonderful combination of philanthropy experience, passion for conservation, results-oriented pragmatism, and executive management expertise that we need,” Collin O’Mara, president and chief executive officer of the National Wildlife Federation. “I’m confident that with Dirk leading philanthropy, our efforts to protect wildlife and connect Americans with the great outdoors will reach new heights.”

“It’s a role I feel like I’ve been training for my entire life,” said Sellers, who will report directly to O’Mara. “National Wildlife Federation’s Ranger Rick® was the first magazine I ever read and my earliest childhood memories are of exploring the wildlife preserve my grandfather managed, so my connection to nature and NWF’s important work runs very deep.”

Sellers’ previous roles include serving as vice president of the consulting firm Campbell & Company and executive director and president of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations’ U.S. entity. Over the past 20 years, he has held various leadership roles in conservation, international development, health, education, and management consulting. Sellers has hands-on experience in developing and implementing successful fundraising strategies and campaigns, and he has led complex philanthropic partnerships and cross team collaborations. He also brings experience in program assessment, team building, donor communications, board relations, and volunteer engagement.

Sellers is a lifelong angler who grew up fishing with his father and grandfathers in the native trout waters of the Laurel Highlands of Western Pennsylvania like Tubmill Creek and Shannon Run. He received his BS from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the American Society of Association Executives.

The National Wildlife Federation and its state and territorial affiliate organizations include nearly six million members and supporters across the country. Founded in 1936, NWF combines the staff expertise and grassroots power to make a difference for wildlife conservation, to make our communities more wildlife-friendly through efforts like our Garden for Wildlife program, and to reconnect Americans with our great outdoors.