The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Needs To Improve Oversight of Its Friends Program

We audited the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to determine whether it ensured that donations and revenues collected by friends organizations were accounted for and spent in accordance with governing laws. We found that the FWS did not ensure its friends organizations fully accounted for and spent donations and revenues in accordance with governing laws and its own friends program policy. Specifically, we found that the FWS did not maintain the information necessary to manage the friends program. We determined that the FWS was not aware of the number of friends organizations operating across the Nation and did not monitor the amount of donations collected and spent. In addition, the FWS was unable to ensure friends organizations had the necessary documents required to participate in the friends program, such as evidence of nonprofit status. The program is at risk for misuse and mishandling of funds, and undetected violations of partnership agreements and program regulations. We make six recommendations that, if implemented, will help strengthen the FWS’ friends program. The FWS concurred with all six recommendations in its response to our draft report. We consider one recommendation resolved and implemented and five recommendations resolved but not implemented. We will refer the recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget to track implementation. The FWS’ response also included six financial and program management control initiatives that should further enhance its oversight of friends organizations. We commend the FWS for taking extra measures to improve this important program.