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The Forest Stewards Guild

EIN 85-0446866 · Santa Fe, NM

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GUILD PRACTICES AND PROMOTES STEWARDSHIP TO FORGE A HEALTHY FUTURE FOR PEOPLE AND FORESTS. OUR NATIONAL NETWORK OF MEMBERS, STAFF, AND PARTNERS ADVANCE A CULTURE OF FOREST STEWARDSHIP BASED ON ETHICAL PRINCIPLES, SCIENCE, AND DIVERSE EXPERIENCE. WE EXPLORE AND DEMONSTRATE WHAT WORKS IN THE WOODS AND SHOWCASE THOSE EFFECTIVE FOREST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THROUGH OUTREACH, TRAINING, AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$5.9 million
Spending
$5.5 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 87%
Employees
103
Volunteers
98
Highest pay
$118,054, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 December 31, 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 (4)
  1. $1.0 million spent. PUBLIC LANDS STEWARDSHIP: FOR 30 YEARS, THE GUILD HAS PARTNERED WITH PUBLIC LANDS MANAGERS AND NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES. WE DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT PLANS FOR RESTORATION, TIMBER PRODUCTION, AND WILDFIRE RESILIENCE. THEN WE SHARE THE LESSONS WE'VE LEARNED NATIONWIDE. IN THE 2-3-2 PARTNERSHIP LANDSCAPE, THE GUILD IS FACILITATING COLLABORATIVE RESTORATION ACROSS TWO WATERSHEDS, THREE RIVERS, AND TWO STATES (NM AND CO). WE DRAFTED A COMPREHENSIVE MONITORING PLAN AND SECURED OVER TWO MILLION DOLLARS OF NEW FUNDING FOR THE REGION. GUILD STAFF ASSIST WITH PRESCRIBED BURNS AND PROVIDE LANDOWNERS WITH MANAGEMENT PLANS.
  2. $667,424 spent. SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF FOREST STEWARDS: OUR FOREST STEWARDS YOUTH CORPS (FSYC) PROGRAM HAS EMPLOYED OVER 700 YOUTH, ACHIEVED 300,000 HOURS OF CONSERVATION SERVICE AND EDUCATION, AWARDED OVER 200 HOURS OF COLLEGE CREDIT, AND INVESTED OVER 7 MILLION IN RURAL NEW MEXICO COMMUNITIES. FSYC MEMBERS HAVE GONE ON TO BUILD SUCCESSFUL CAREERS IN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND BECOME STRONG LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE GUILD IS BUILDING ON THIS SUCCESS WITH A SIMILAR FOREST STEWARD APPRENTICE PROGRAM IN VIRGINIA, MAINE AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
  3. $1.2 million spent. STEWARDSHIP: ECOLOGICALLY BASED STEWARDSHIP IS AT THE CORE OF THE GUILD'S WORK. PRACTICING THE KIND OF FORESTRY THAT WE PROMOTE IS CRITICAL TO UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES TO GOOD MANAGEMENT. STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ENGAGE OUR STAFF AND MEMBERS IN RESTORATION, HABITAT IMPROVEMENT, TIMBER PRODUCTION, AND OTHER FOREST MANAGEMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, THE GUILD'S GUIDE TO FORESTRY FOR MINNESOTA BIRDS USES THE BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE TO PROVIDE STRATEGIES FOR CREATING BIRD HABITAT. BY COLLABORATING WITH LAND MANAGERS, LANDOWNERS, AND FOREST STEWARDS, WE ARE IMPROVING HABITAT AND SUPPORTING BIRD POPULATIONS THROUGH SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT.
  4. $1.6 million spent. VARIOUS OTHER PROJECTS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 November 6, 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 December 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 May 1997.

    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 November 4, 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.