© McDonald Mirabile / WWF-US
People and culture
Our differences make the difference
At WWF, we are working to create an organization where the richness of all our unique views, experiences, and backgrounds combine to create the most sustainable and inclusive conservation outcomes possible, bringing the greatest benefit to the planet and every person who lives on it.
Our core commitment
Strength in differences
Our workforce is made up of unique lives, and we are the strongest when we blend our varied experiences, backgrounds, histories, and modes of expression into our daily work and interactions.
© WWF-US/Keith Arnold
Ensuring fairness
To create a fair, just, balanced, and healthy workplace that benefits all, we must ensure that everyone has equal access to opportunities, resources, and support—so that all may thrive.
© WWF-US/Keith Arnold
Sense of belonging
We seek to create a workplace that depends on a mutual sense of ownership—where everyone's voice is heard, people share a sense of urgency about our work, and all are afforded respect and opportunity.
© WWF-US/Keith Arnold
Who we are
WWF seeks to foster a culture that allows our staff to bring their whole selves to work every day. Our work is rooted in our core values of courage, integrity, respect, and collaboration. As one of the world's leading conservation organizations, our employees work around the globe with colleagues, partners, governments, and communities from different cultures and countries that have been shaped by a vast breadth of values, beliefs, and experiences. It is crucial that our staff reflects the diversity of the people with whom we work, and that we value and embrace our differences.
We also know that many conservation challenges disproportionately affect communities of color, lower-income working families, Indigenous peoples, and other frontline communities, yet their voices are underrepresented in the broader environmental conversation and in many environmental organizations. We are working to change that.
© Rebecca Greenfield / WWF-US
Our people-focused objectives
Attract and retain talent
Attract and retain talent that includes populations that haven’t explored conservation as a potential career path
© WWF-US/Keith Arnold
Cultivate an engaging culture
Build a culture that fosters a sense of belonging and enables staff to bring their authentic selves to work and to contribute to their full potential.
© Aaron Gekoski / WWF-US
Demonstrate leadership
Demonstrate the leadership behaviors that ignite innovation and inspire staff to form authentic connections and increase cultural agility.
© Simon Rawles / WWF-UK
Expand our reach
Earn the recognition as an employer of choice and expand our member and supporter base to reflect the diverse communities we serve.
© WWF-US/Keith Arnold
Initiatives in the spotlight
© WWF-US/Athena Eftychiou
Paid internships
In 2021, WWF launched a new, fully funded summer internship program for students (BRIDGE).
The BRIDGE program aims to build a pool of talented early-career professionals from among undergraduate and graduate students who bring fresh thinking and innovation to the environmental sector and are well-positioned to develop into the next generation of environmental leaders. Offering paid internships, this program is a critical step toward reducing the barriers to attracting internship candidates. WWF is also developing and strengthening relationships with academic institutions and organizations that are aligned with our recruitment and programmatic goals.
© WWF-US/Jessica Leung
Employee Resource Groups
WWF established an employee resource group (ERG) program to support employees, foster a sense of belonging, create safe spaces, and inspire authenticity.
The program currently includes 12 ERGs (see below), all of which are created and led by our employees, with executive sponsors engaged to coach, mentor, and collaborate with each ERG in developing and achieving their mission. All of this is supported by our Inclusion Council, an internal body that is co-chaired by our CEO and COO, which helps to facilitate collaboration and best practices among all ERG groups, as well as candid dialogues between ERGs and our executive leaders. All ERGs welcome supporting allies to join and participate in activities.
WWF's Employee Resource Groups
APEX: Asian Pacific Employee Experience. Supports WWF’s Asian American and Pacific Islander employees.
ECOLATINO: Supports Hispanic and Latino/Latina employees
ECo Network: Early Conservationist Network. Supports WWF’s employees in early stages of their careers or those pivoting into conservation.
Global Pandas: Supports colleagues hired to work at WWF-US from abroad.
Jewish Conservationist Club: Supports a community of WWF colleagues who identify/practice the Jewish faith and customs.
LORAX: Learned, Optimistic, Resilient, Ageless, and Experienced. Supports WWF’s most experienced employees.
Panda Parents: Supports WWF’s expecting, new, and working parents.
PAWS: Supports WWF’s Professional and Administrative WWF Support staff.
SABLE: Sustaining Active Black Leadership and Empowerment. Supports WWF’s Black employees.
We're Here: LGBTQ+ at WWF: Supports LGBTQ+ employees.
Whole Beings: Supports employees living with or caring for others with mental or physical illness and disability.
Women Rise!: Supports WWF’s employees who identify as women.
Civic Engagement Leave
As a way of supporting the local communities where WWF employees live and work, WWF implemented a new Civic Engagement Leave policy authorizing eligible staff to take a day of paid leave per year to participate in service-oriented activities that strengthen our communities.
© WWF-US/Keith Arnold
Our journey
© WWF-US/Keith Arnold
WWF hosts first-ever HBCU Career Fair
The organization's first Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Career Fair was held on February 22, 2023.
© Courtesy of Grace Lee
WWF's Grace Lee on onggi, resilience, and the abundance of nature
Grace Lee is the lead specialist on the Activism and Outreach Team and outreach at WWF.
© Francesca Edralin
How my Filipino family’s traditions embrace eco-friendly living
Francesca Edralin works on the Private Sector Engagement Team and supports cause marketing campaigns that engage the public on environmental conservation and sustainable living.