The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation continues to support Iowa environmental education in Ding Darling's name.

After Darling's death in 1962, the J.N. "Ding" Darling Foundation was created to continue some of his favorite projects. For example, for forty years the foundation provided annual Ding Darling scholarships for wildlife students at Iowa State University.

In 2005-06, as Darling Foundation planned to dissolve, they worked with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation to create a new Ding Darling Conservation Education Fund at INHF to keep the Darling name and spirit alive in Iowa through a variety of education activities. Their challenge grant provided $100,000 to this fund, and their grant was matched by contributions from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, the Ding Darling Chapter of the Izaak Walton League in Des Moines, former scholarship recipients, and many others.

The Ding Darling Conservation Education Fund supports the following good work in Ding’s name:

• Ding Darling Scholarships for Iowa State University students who are studying the natural world and/or communications.
  
  
• Ding Darling Interns: support from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust provided 11 internships in 2005-07 and helped us expand our summer land stewardship intern program into the future.
  
  
• A variety of other educational projects in tribute to Ding Darling. About $2,000 annually is provided from the Ding Darling Conservation Education Fund for education opportunities.

Gifts to this special fund are accepted and are tax-deductible.