Since its foundation in 2009, the Wheen Bee Foundation has established itself as Australia’s premier, registered charity for bees. It promotes awareness of the importance of bees for food security, biodiversity and ecosystem health, and funds research and development activities that address the national and global threats to bees. Its founder, Gretchen Wheen, was a well-known commercial beekeeper specializing in the supply of quality queen bees for local and overseas markets. Wheen recognised the fundamental link between honey bees and food security, and was concerned about the growing threats to the beekeeping industry. Before she died she donated her farm and other resources to establish the Wheen Bee Foundation, with the aim of supporting and developing research, innovation, training and communication to ensure a viable beekeeping industry and protect our food supply. The Foundation actively works to attract donations to enable further research and innovation projects to achieve its mission of food security through bee security. The Wheen Bee Foundation is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). The Foundation's Research Fund is a registered Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR), which means any gifts and contributions to The Wheen Bee Foundation Research Fund are tax deductible.