Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

New England Forestry Foundation Inc

EIN 04-2024022 · Littleton, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF OUR CORE EXPERTISE IN CONSERVING FORESTLAND AND ADVANCING EXEMPLARY FORESTRY, NEW ENGLAND FORESTRY FOUNDATION (NEFF) HELPS THE PEOPLE OF NEW ENGLAND TO SUSTAIN THEIR WAY OF LIFE, PROTECT FOREST WILDLIFE HABITAT AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, AND MITIGATE AND ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

Income
$9.1 million
Spending
$6.6 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
32
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$439,700, fmr. executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 87% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $5.2 million spent. THE FOUNDATION'S EDUCATION AND OUTREACH WORK FOSTERS THE PUBLIC POLICIES AND PRIVATE ACTIONS NEEDED TO CONSERVE AND SUSTAINABLY MANAGE NEW ENGLAND'S FORESTS. IN THE COURSE OF OUR EDUCATION WORK, NEFF CONDUCTS PUBLIC EVENTS INCLUDING WALKS, TRAINING SESSIONS, WORKSHOPS, AND TALKS; DEVELOPS AND DISTRIBUTES PRINT AND ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS; PUBLISHES ARTICLES IN BOTH CONSUMER AND PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS; AND PARTICIPATES IN LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL CONFERENCES AND EVENTS. THROUGH ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES, NEFF AIMS TO FOSTER INCREASED LANDOWNER AND PUBLIC APPRECIATION OF THE MANY BENEFITS THAT FORESTS PROVIDE THE CITIZENS OF NEW ENGLAND, AND THE ROLE OF FOREST CONSERVATION AND EXEMPLARY FORESTRY MANAGEMENT IN FOSTERING AND ENHANCING THOSE BENEFITS.
  2. $284,578 spent. TO PROTECT FORESTS FROM FRAGMENTATION AND DEVELOPMENT, NEFF ACQUIRES LAND AND CONSERVATION EASEMENTS BY BOTH DONATION AND PURCHASE. TO DATE WE OWN MORE THAN 140 COMMUNITY FORESTS CONSERVING MORE THAN 30,000 ACRES ACROSS NEW ENGLAND. WE ALSO HOLD MORE THAN 150 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT PROTECT AND PROVIDE FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF MORE THAN 1.1 MILLION ACRES OF FOREST LAND OWNED BY PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS AND FOREST PRODUCTS COMPANIES IN SEVEN STATES.
  3. $101,239 spent. CONSERVATION DOES NOT STOP ONCE A FOREST OR EASEMENT IS ACQUIRED. NEFF CONDUCTS ANNUAL MONITORING SURVEYS WITH ALL LANDOWNERS WITH WHOM WE HOLD AN EASEMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE TERMS OF THE EASEMENT ARE MAINTAINED. WE WORK WITH LOCAL FORESTERS THROUGHOUT NEW ENGLAND TO SUSTAINABLY MANAGE OUR COMMUNITY FORESTS, DEMONSTRATING HIGH-QUALITY FOREST PRACTICES AND PROVIDING A SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY OF WOOD, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AND JOBS TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES. FORESTS CONSERVED BY NEFF SEQUESTER CARBON AND THROUGH THAT SEQUESTRATION CAN PROVIDE CARBON CREDITS FOR CO2 EQUIVALENTS WHICH CAN BE SOLD VIA A CARBON MARKET, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL REVENUES FOR CONSERVATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending April 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1952.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.