American Forests
American Forests is a public charity based in Washington, DC, formed in 1875. It works to create healthy, resilient forests in cities and large natural landscapes, with benefits for climate, people, water and wildlife.
American Forests at a glance
In short: American Forests gave $4.3M across 56 grants in 2025 (avg $77K), top state Idaho. 7% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,336,020
- -12.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 56
- -22.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $77,429
- +13.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $35,549
- Total assets
- $16,963,330
- +10.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (4 of 56, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Idaho (30% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to American Forests
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
American Forests does not accept unsolicited requests. It publishes requests for proposals when open funding opportunities become available.
- Review Cycle
- The Fall 2024 Catalyst Fund opportunity is closed.
- Deadline
- The Fall 2024 Catalyst Fund opportunity is closed.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1220 L Street Nw 750, Washington, DC 20005-4079
Phone: (202) 737-1944
Website: https://americanforests.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who American Forests funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Red Mtn Resource LLC ($1.3M). Together the top 10 received $2.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
302 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 187 grants of 302 (62%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
American Forests describes its work as spanning cities and large natural landscapes. Its 2025 grant dollars were distributed across recipient states, with the largest shares going to Idaho (30%), Michigan (16%), California (10%), Texas (7%) and Georgia (5%). The Catalyst Fund supports Tree Equity projects across the country.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 56 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is American Forests open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 56 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $58K; repeat grants $79K. How we count
Medians: $36K first-time, $36K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2019) to $8.1M (2023). In 2025 it made 56 grants totaling $4.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Red Mtn Resource LLC Oakley, ID | McNally vegetation control project; Francis Meadow and aspen restoration and conifer removal project; CCI_SQF and WINDY_SPA Project: planting on the Castle and Windy fire footprints | $1,318,763 |
| Greening of Detroit Detroit, MI | Detroit tree equity programs | $334,783 |
| Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division Lansing, MI | Planting Of 1,132,200 Jack Pine; Mastification And Scarfication For Natural Jack Pine Regeneration | $240,670 |
| Sierra Nevada Alliance South Lake Tahoe, CA | Staffing and field crew support | $189,468 |
| Alta Archaeological Consulting LLC Santa Rosa, CA | Program Support | $149,012 |
| US Forest Service Portland, OR | Program Support | $121,875 |
| The University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN | Funding and technical assistance in permanently transitioning the national register of champion trees | $111,000 |
| Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Saint Paul, MN | Program Support | $106,093 |
| Michigan State University East Lansing, MI | Support research on the carbon impacts of the Forest Management projects and supporting the Roots of Rock Program | $100,000 |
| PRT USA Inc Moultrie, GA | Seedling Management | $94,795 |
Ready to take the next step with American Forests?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $16,963,330 | $35,611,433 | $32,336,555 | $4,336,020 | 56 | $46,080 |
| 2024 | $15,382,567 | $26,297,858 | $29,476,460 | $4,932,890 | 72 | $172,420 |
| 2023 | $17,915,111 | $24,269,126 | $25,811,116 | $8,100,645 | 70 | $116,082 |
| 2022 | $19,022,353 | $21,945,499 | $18,524,271 | $5,509,920 | 64 | $149,740 |
| 2021 | $15,499,643 | $16,015,859 | $12,868,435 | $2,684,365 | 40 | $368,145 |
| 2020 | $11,834,340 | $11,227,734 | $11,434,083 | $2,474,885 | 37 | $138,224 |
| 2019 | $10,385,131 | $10,088,062 | $7,590,196 | $1,382,625 | 24 | $113,504 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
American Forests’ mission is to create healthy and resilient forests, from cities to large natural landscapes, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water and wildlife. It advances this mission through forestry innovation, place-based partnerships to plant and restore forests, and movement building. Its 2024 filing describes work on climate-resilient forestry, wildfire resilience, urban forestry, forest science, policy and partnerships.
The Catalyst Fund supports organizations working on Tree Equity, including faith-based organizations and congregations, community-based organizations, and cities and towns. Its stated priorities include projects centered on underinvested communities and approaches rooted in community needs and vision. Catalyst Fund support can cover equitable urban forestry planning, tree planting and care, coalition building, workforce development and tree nursery development, alongside technical assistance and coaching.
The 2025 grants include support for varied organizations and projects. For example, Greening of Detroit describes its mission as growing a healthy urban community through trees, green spaces, education, training and job opportunities. Bexar Branches Alliance describes itself as an urban forestry nonprofit dedicated to expanding and preserving the San Antonio region’s tree canopy. Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative says it works toward conservation for the common good and seeks a future in which humans and wildlife thrive in healthy ecosystems.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, American Forests reported 56 grants totaling $4,336,020. Grant amounts ranged from $5,665 to $1,318,763, with a median of $35,549.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $1,318,763 to Red Mtn Resource LLC for vegetation control and restoration projects, including planting on the Castle and Windy fire footprints; $334,783 to Greening of Detroit for Detroit tree equity programs; and $240,670 to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division for jack pine planting and natural regeneration work. Other notable awards included $189,468 to Sierra Nevada Alliance for staffing and field crew support, $100,000 to Michigan State University for research on the carbon impacts of forest management projects and support for Roots of Rock, and $70,000 to Bexar Branches Alliance for a tree planting program at Driggers Elementary School.
American Forests’ Catalyst Fund webpage reports $42 million awarded to 33 municipalities, 12 community-based organizations and 10 faith-based organizations for Tree Equity programs. Separately, in September 2024, the organization announced a Catalyst Fund opportunity offering over $12 million in reimbursement-based grants of $100,000 to $1.5 million. That opportunity was for faith-based and frontline environmental justice organizations; its Fall 2024 funding opportunity is now closed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ara Erickson as chair, Chad Hesters as vice chair, Zimmerman Boulos as treasurer and Nes Parker as secretary. Directors listed are Paul Boynton, Taldi Harrison, David Hunter, Michael F Klein, Karen Kocher and Paolo Mottola.
American Forests is led by James Daley, President & CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2019); 11 of 24 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James Daley
President & CEO
President & CEO → President & Chief Executive Officer, 2021
President & Chief Executive Officer → President & CEO, 2022
On filings since 2019
37.5 hrs/week
$190K (2019) → $315K (2025)
Hilary Franz
President & CEO
New on the 2025 filing
37.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ara Erickson
Chair
Secretary → Director, 2023
Director → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Hunter
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Tate
Director
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Taldi Harrison
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Kocher
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael F Klein
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paolo Mottola
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Boynton
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sunya Norman
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Hutchins
COO
COO → Chief Operating Officer, 2022
Chief Operating Officer → COO, 2024
On filings since 2019
37.5 hrs/week
$161K (2019) → $228K (2025)
Leslie Jones
Svp-Gr
Senior Vice President Policy → Senior Vice President & Policy, 2023
Senior Vice President & Policy → Svp-Gr, 2025
On filings since 2021
37.5 hrs/week
$133K (2021) → $207K (2025)
Benita Hussain
Cpo
Chief External Affairs Officer → Advisor, 2024
Advisor → Cpo, 2025
On filings since 2023
37.5 hrs/week
$144K (2023) → $231K (2025)
Brian Kittler
Cpo-Rf
Vice President & Resilient Forests → Cpo, 2024
Cpo → Cpo-Rf, 2025
On filings since 2023
37.5 hrs/week
$141K (2023) → $203K (2025)
Joel Pannell
Vp-Ufp
Vice President & Urban Forestry Policy → Vice President & Policy, 2024
Vice President & Policy → Vp-Ufp, 2025
On filings since 2023
37.5 hrs/week
$167K (2023) → $172K (2025)
Rekha Patricio
CMO
Vice President, Marketing & Communications → Vice President & Marketing, 2024
Vice President & Marketing → CMO, 2025
On filings since 2023
37.5 hrs/week
$188K (2023) → $163K (2025)
Becky Turner
Cppo
On filings since 2024
37.5 hrs/week
$214K (2024) → $226K (2025)
Holly Bostrom
Cos
On filings since 2024
37.5 hrs/week
$209K (2024) → $201K (2025)
Brittany Michelle Dyer
Vp-Rf
New on the 2025 filing
37.5 hrs/week
$183K (2025)
Mary A T Alexander Taliaferro Picka
Cpo
New on the 2025 filing
37.5 hrs/week
$219K (2025)
Zimmerman Boulos
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nes Parker
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chad Hesters
Vice Chair
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (31)
- Former: Elisa Rapaport (2019–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Mary Wagner (2019–2024) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Richard B Kabat (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: William Bill P Hazelton (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: William Bohnett (2019–2024) — Chair
- Former: Ian Leahy (2020–2024) — Vice President
- Former: Holly Alpine (2023–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Kevin O'Hara (2023–2024) — Vice President
- Former: Rebecca Turner (2020–2023) — Chief Strategy Officer
- Former: Chris David (2022–2023) — Vice President, Gis & Data Science
- Former: David Bennell (2023) — Director
- Former: Geoffrey Glick (2023) — Vice President & Philanthropy
- Former: Jeffrey M Elliott (2019–2022) — Vice Chair
- Former: Alexandra Murdoch (2020–2022) — Vice President of Conservation Finance & Policy
- Former: Eric Sprague (2020–2022) — Vice President of Forest Restoration
- Former: Clara Poffenberger (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Holly Beale (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Jill Schwartz (2021–2022) — Vice President Communications
- Former: Bruce Lisman (2019–2021) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Jeffrey Prieto (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Broome (2019–2021) — Vice President Development
- Former: Candace Dodson-Reed (2021) — Director
- Former: David M Max Williamson (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Jonathan Silver (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Jad Daley (2020) — President & CEO
- Former: Tom Evslin (2020) — Director Beginning May
- Former: Donna Dabney (2019) — Director
- Former: Eleanor Sloan (2019) — Vice President Communications
- Former: Robert Steinberg (2019) — Director
- Former: Roderick A DeArment (2019) — Director
- Former: Scott Steen (2019) — President & CEO
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $315K, to James Daley (President/CEO (To 09/25)). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about American Forests
How much does American Forests give each year?
American Forests gave $4.3M across 56 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $4.9M across 72 grants.
What is American Forests's typical grant size?
American Forests's median grant in 2025 was $35,549, and its average grant was $77,429, across 56 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from American Forests that year got $58K on average.
Where does American Forests give grants?
American Forests's top state is Idaho, with 30% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Michigan (16%) and California (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (2 grants), Portland, OR (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does American Forests give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 56 grants with a stated purpose on American Forests's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Tree equity planting events & watering programs" (4 grants) and "Program Support" (4 grants).
Who are American Forests's largest grantees?
American Forests's largest 2025 grantees include Red Mtn Resource LLC ($1,318,763), Greening of Detroit ($334,783) and Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division ($240,670), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is American Forests?
American Forests reported $17.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $35.6M.
What does American Forests fund?
American Forests’ mission is to create healthy and resilient forests, from cities to large natural landscapes, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water and wildlife. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from American Forests?
American Forests does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is American Forests's EIN?
American Forests's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 53-0196544. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does American Forests accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 11, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 13, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in American Forests's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
National Arbor Day Foundation
Lincoln, NE
The National Arbor Day Foundation funds tree planting, forest restoration, community forestry, and related education, including urban tree inventories, maintenance, and environmental-justice projects. It supports work in communities and forests globally; its 2025 grants had a median of $37,500, with awards ranging from $5,000 to $1.71 million. The profile describes an application and review process but does not say whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$136.3M
Grants
181
Total Given
$11.6M
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
Urban Forestry Organization
Pine Plains, NY
The foundation funds urban forestry and related tree-planting, conservation, and greening work, with 2025 grants ranging from $500 to $2,000 and a median of $1,000. It supports organizations in multiple states, with the largest share of 2025 giving going to New York. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$607K
Grants
30
Total Given
$34K
The Nature Conservancy
Arlington, VA
The Nature Conservancy funds conservation work, including land and easement acquisition, research, planning, organizational capacity, and sustainable agriculture, across the United States and internationally. In 2025, its grants had a median of about $31,000, with awards ranging from about $5,000 to $2.1 million; some regional programs offer grants of up to $100,000.
Assets
$10.1B
Grants
671
Total Given
$67.8M
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Washington, DC
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation makes competitive grants for science-based projects that conserve or restore fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats; it does not fund advocacy or litigation. Its 2025 grants had a median of about $106,500, and it supports projects across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Applications are competitive and program-specific; whether pre-proposals are required varies by program.
Assets
$3.6B
Grants
1,286
Total Given
$464.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in District of Columbia
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). American Forests funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/american-forests-morg_38fc4e16b64f4924a6a79c4a406bcef8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_530196544_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{American Forests funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/american-forests-morg_38fc4e16b64f4924a6a79c4a406bcef8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from American Forests's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
American Forests down — hundreds of funders to go?