American Forest Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION IS TO DELIVER MEANINGFUL CONSERVATION IMPACT THROUGH THE EMPOWERMENT OF FAMILY FOREST OWNERS. THROUGH STRONG PARTNERSHIPS AND ADVOCACY, WE STRIVE TO EQUIP AMERICA'S RURAL LANDOWNERS WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF THEIR FORESTS.
- Income
- $20.3 million
- Spending
- $31.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 50.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 46%
- Employees
- 135
- Volunteers
- 752
- Highest pay
- $401,457, president and ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 50.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 55% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 80% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (2)
- $7.5 million spent. WOODLANDS: LEVERAGING OVER 80 YEARS OF WORKING WITH FAMILY FOREST OWNERS TO CARE FOR THEIR LAND, THE AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION'S (AFF) WOODLANDS PORTFOLIO SPANS VARIOUS PROGRAMMATIC EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FAMILY FORESTS UNDER SUSTAINABLE ACTIVE MANAGEMENT. WHETHER ADDRESSING WILDFIRE THREATS, PROVIDING ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR UNDERSERVED LANDOWNERS, BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH THE AMERICAN TREE FARM SYSTEM, OR PROMOTING BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION, AFF'S WOODLANDS WORK ALL CENTERS ON DELIVERING MEANINGFUL ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT VIA AMERICA'S FAMILY-OWNED FORESTLANDS WHICH COMPRISE 39% OF ALL US FORESTS.
- $18.9 million spent. CARBON: HARNESSING THE POWER OF FAMILY FORESTS AS A CRITICAL ELEMENT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE, AFF CONTINUES ITS WORK TO UNLEASH THE POTENTIAL FOR FAMILY FOREST OWNERS TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS WHILE MAKING IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS. THROUGH EXPANDING ACCESS AND REDUCING BARRIERS TO THE VOLUNTARY CARBON MARKET FOR FAMILY FOREST OWNERS, AFF IS WORKING WITH THOUSANDS OF LANDOWNERS TO CARE FOR THEIR LAND, IMPROVE FOREST HEALTH, AND INCREASE TIMBER GROWTH. WITHIN THE FAMILY FOREST CARBON PROGRAM, LANDOWNERS CAN ADOPT LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT THAT IMPROVES CARBON SEQUESTRATION AND STORAGE WHILE BALANCING OTHER ESSENTIAL FOREST BENEFITS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1994.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 7, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Americares Foundation Inc (Stamford, CT), EIN 06-1008595. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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.