The Texas Master Naturalist (TMN) program has grown from one chapter established in 1997 to 49 chapters today, yet the level of funding and program support staff remains the same. The Texas Master Naturalist program is sponsored by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
The TMN program has outgrown the federal funding available. The Texas Master Naturalist Endowment exists to create a self-sustaining funding source for program expansion and support for local chapters.