Response
Question...What do the initials WWF stand for now and when did they change?
Answer...
Back in 1961 when it was founded, WWF stood for the "World Wildlife Fund".
However, as the organization grew over the 70s and into the 80s, WWF began to expand its work to conserve the environment as a whole (reflecting the interdependence of all living things), rather than focusing on selected species in isolation. So, although we continued to use our well-known initials, during the 80s our legal name became "WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature" (formerly World Wildlife Fund - except in North America where the old name was retained).
More and more, however, to avoid confusion and mixed messages across borders and languages, WWF is known as simply "WWF"
Last Updated: June-22-2009