American Forest Foundation
We grow stewardship every day.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Across the U.S., forests are facing critical challenges that must be addressed if we are to continue to have the clean drinking water, wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration and wood supply that all Americans count on. Family forest owners, who have a passion for conservation, can help. That’s why the American Forest Foundation (AFF) is working with partners on conservation projects in the most critical landscapes where intervention is needed. Taking on the biggest issues, these partnerships are working to significantly increase the number of family and private landowners actively managing their woodlands to ensure the health of these forests and the resources they provide.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
American Tree Farm System (ATFS)
The American Tree Farm System works to give people the tools they need to be effective stewards of America's forests. Privately owned woodlands are vital to our country's clean water and air, wildlife habitat, recreational activities, and producing the jobs, wood, and paper products we all need.
Family Forest Carbon Program
Today, small family forest owners are left out of current carbon markets that would make it possible for them to bring in income to support good forest management, sequestering more carbon from our forests. The Family Forest Carbon Program is a new approach to a forest carbon project designed specifically for owners of small forest parcels.
Wildfire Mitigation
Protecting clean water is an urgent and pressing issue in the West, especially given the growing population and agriculture need in the region. Healthy forests are key to this supply, acting as a natural water filter and storage system, keeping water clean, regulating stream flow and reducing flooding. But insect epidemics, frequent droughts and over grown forests are causing catastrophic wildfires to strain these forested watersheds and the water supply that comes from them.
But contrary to popular thinking, this is not just a public lands issue. More than one-third of the forests in critical drinking water watersheds that are at a high risk to wildfire, are privately owned.
AFF is working to help private landowners in these critical watersheds to restore forest health, through conservation projects with partners.
Biodiversity
The South’s forests rank at the top in biodiversity and number of wildlife species in the world. But today, many of these species are under pressure due to years of conversion of forests to non-forest uses, to fragmented waterways, natural fire suppression and an influx of invasive species. In fact, there are more than 500 at-risk wildlife species in this region. Since families and individuals own most of the forest habitat on which those species depend for food and shelter, their efforts to protect and enhance that habitat are key to improving at-risk wildlife’s chances of survival. AFF is working closely with family landowners in the Southeast to measurably and verifiably improve habitat for at-risk and listed species unique to the region.
White Oak Initiative
The White Oak Initiative, led by AFF and including partners within many governmental agencies and partners across many sectors most notably the wine and spirts sector, works to ensure the long-term sustainability of America’s white oak and the economic, social and conservation benefits derived from white oak dominated forests. White oak is critical to many wildlife species, and to industries making forest products such as furniture, flooring, cabinetry, barrels for wine and spirits, as well as for recreational activities like hunting, generating billions of dollars to local economies throughout the white oak region. White oak is widespread, with a range of approximately 104 million forestland acres. It is a cornerstone species from southwest Maine to northern Florida, from Wisconsin to Alabama, covering most of the Eastern United States. Saplings and small trees are more reliable sprouters than large-diameter trees.
Where we work
Awards
Top-Rated 2012
GreatNonprofits
4-Star Rating 2011
Charity Navigator
External reviews

Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Build a national movement of landowners – 200,000 strong – who are actively caring for their woods to protect the clean water, wildlife habitat and sustainable wood their forests provide in order to:
--Double the number of acres of healthy, resilient family-owned forests
--Ensure the 22 million Americans in the West have cleaner water by reducing wildfire risks and creating more ecologically-resilient family woodlands
--Protect and enhance habitat on family woodlands for more than 300 at-risk species
--Increase sustainable wood supplies from family woodlands while protecting and enhancing habitat for at-risk species
--Increase the awareness of the role of family forests in delivering the benefits these lands provide and engage family forest owners in forest stewardship and in producing these outcomes.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
American Forest Foundation
Board of directorsas of 09/01/2021
Kathryn Fernholz
Clint Bentz, CPA
Boldt, Carlisle & Smith, LLC
John Burke
Connie Best
Managing Director, Pacific Forest Trust
Kenneth Stewart
Shorna Broussard Allred
Associate Professor, Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University
Wanda Barrs
Judd Brooke
Frank Gallagher
Administrator, New Jersey Department of Parks and Forestry
David Gray
EVP, Mill & Timber Products Ltd.
Steve Quarles
Partner, Crowell & Moring LLP
Sara Vickerman
Senior Director, Biodiversity Partnerships Defenders of Wildlife
Sally Collins
Owner, Sally Collins, LLC
Nat Frazer
College of Natural Resources, Utah State University
Rick Holley
President and CEO, Plum Creek Timber Company
James Buzzard
President, MeadWestvaco Corporation
Daniel Beard
Tom Gideon
Weyerhaeuser Company
Tom Beall
Managing Director, Global Social Marketing Practice, Ogilvy Public Relations
Organizational demographics
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Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
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Gender identity
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