North Carolina Tax Checkbox Funds Endangered Species

North Carolina just made it incredibly easy for taxpayers to help save red wolves, salamanders, and dozens of other endangered species without writing a single extra check.

Starting January 26, a new checkbox on state tax returns lets residents donate all or part of their refund to the N.C. Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund. The best part? Every dollar donated automatically triggers federal matching grants that nearly triple the impact.

"Every $100 received through the program will be matched with $186 of grant funding, truly boosting wildlife conservation in North Carolina," explained Dr. Sara Schweitzer, assistant chief of The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's Wildlife Management Division.

North Carolina becomes the fourth state offering this direct conservation funding option, joining California, Colorado, and Wisconsin. The timing couldn't be better for wildlife that desperately needs help.

The donations will support monitoring and recovery efforts for species like the Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander, diamondback terrapin, and Northern gray treefrog. Much of the funding will focus on western North Carolina's Appalachian region, where vulnerable species are still recovering from Hurricane Helene's devastation.

"Donations will help us address the immense impacts of Hurricane Helene on species such as the Eastern hellbender, bog turtle, gray bat, Carolina Northern flying squirrel and several high-elevation migratory birds," Schweitzer said.

North Carolina's landscape spans four distinct eco-regions, from coastal plains to mountain ranges, with over 11% of the state's land dedicated to protected wildlife areas. Those areas include 14 National Park Service locations, four national forests, and 11 national wildlife refuges.

The Ripple Effect

This simple checkbox addresses a common frustration among taxpayers. Only 18% of Americans believe their tax dollars are being spent "the right way," and 27% admit they don't even know where their money goes. This program gives residents complete transparency and choice.

The dedicated biologists, partners, and volunteers working to protect North Carolina's wildlife now have a reliable funding stream that grows stronger with community participation. When people can see exactly where their money goes and watch it multiply through federal matching, conservation becomes a shared victory.

One checkbox, nearly triple the impact, and a whole ecosystem of species gets a fighting chance.