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World Forestry Center Inc

EIN 93-6034757 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 104 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

CREATE AND INSPIRE CHAMPIONS OF SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$3.6 million
Spent on programs
52%
Reserves
18.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
32
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$280,309, executive director & president

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 92% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    52% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 104 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 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, 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)
  1. $995,411 spent. PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS - WE DRIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING BY CURRENT AND FUTURE FORESTRY PROFESSIONALS. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH EVENTS AND PROGRAMS LIKE OUR ANNUAL CANOPY CONFERENCE, ONE OF THE LARGEST TIMBERLAND INVESTMENT CONFERENCES IN THE WORLD; OUR WILDFIRE FELLOWS PROGRAM BRINGING CROSS-SECTOR LEADERS TOGETHER TO UNDERSTAND COMPLEX FORESTRY ISSUES; CONVENINGS, AND WORKSHOPS.
  2. $902,938 spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMS - WE CREATE EXPERIENCES THAT CONNECT THE PUBLIC TO ITS INTERDEPENDENCE WITH FORESTS. THE HEART OF THIS WORK IS OUR DISCOVERY MUSEUM, WHICH FEATURES INFORMATION ON THE NATURAL SYSTEMS, STRUCTURES, AND CYCLES OF FORESTS, THE HISTORY OF FORESTRY, CULTURE AND INNOVATION, AND THE CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS OF SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY. WE CREATE UNIQUE EXHIBITS TO TEST ISSUES AND UNDERSTANDING AROUND HOW TO LINK PEOPLE WITH THEIR FORESTS ACROSS EMERGING ISSUES SUCH AS CLIMATE CHANGE, CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS, WILDFIRE AND OTHER CATASTROPHIC EVENTS. WE ALSO HOST PUBLIC EVENTS AND ART EXHIBITS TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO TREES AND FOREST ISSUES USING DIFFERENT LENSES TO SHOWCASE THE DIVERSITY OF HUMANITY AND EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS SUCH AS WILDFIRES.

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

  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 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 1966.

    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.