Rainforest Action Network logo

Rainforest Action Network

Public charity · Grantmaker San Francisco, CA EIN: 94-3045180 Website

Rainforest Action Network (RAN) is a public charity based in San Francisco, California, formed in 1987. It supports forest protection, climate action, and human rights through campaigns and partnerships, and provides grants to Indigenous and frontline communities and grassroots initiatives.

Rainforest Action Network at a glance

In short: Rainforest Action Network gave $291K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $26K), mostly in California. 45% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$290,500
+10.2% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
11
-15.4% vs 2024
Average grant
$26,409
+30.2% vs 2024
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$11,052,534
-22.5% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
45% first-time grantees (5 of 11, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
California (68% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Rainforest Action Network

How to Apply

Submit a formal proposal with supporting materials. Applications are reviewed by staff and considered by a Board subcommittee and the Board. Approved grantees sign a grant agreement and submit a final report within one year.

Contact

Mailing address: 425 Bush Street Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone: (415) 398-4404
Website: https://ran.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Rainforest Action Network funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Amazon Watch: $88KAmazon Watch$88KIf Not Us Then Who: $85KIf Not Us Then Who$85KCivil Liberties Defense Ctr: $30KCivil Liberties Defense Ctr$30KGlobal Exchange: $15KGlobal Exchange$15KGreen 20: $15KGreen 20$15KAmazon Frontlines: $10KAmazon Frontlines$10KBusiness Capacity De: $10KBusiness Capacity De$10KEastern Woodland Lacrosse: $10KEastern Woodland Lacrosse$10KInstitute for Enhanced Equity: $10KInstitute for Enhanced Equity$10KTexas Campaign for Environmen: $10KTexas Campaign for Environmen$10K

The largest 2025 recipient was Amazon Watch ($88K). Together the top 10 received $283K.

Grant Size Distribution

57 grants across all recorded years

47<$50K9$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 47 grants of 57 (82%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

RAN describes its Community Action Grants as supporting communities across the globe. The Climate Action Fund supports frontline communities globally, while Protect-an-Acre supports organizations and communities in forest regions. In filing year 2025, 68% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 10% to Oregon, 6% to Texas, 5% to Washington, D.C., and 3% to New York.

Grant Distribution by State

13states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.

Cities

San FranciscoOaklandNew YorkBoulderEugeneWashingtonBemidjiBrooklynDes MoinesFairbanksFloresvilleMebaneNew OrleansSan AntonioArvataAustinCharlottesvilleDentonFreeportHurleyville

Is Rainforest Action Network open to new grantees?

45%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 5 of 11 grantees (45%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $26K; repeat grants $27K. How we count

Medians: $10K first-time, $13K repeat.

  • 45% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+7%). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). 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

$0$100K$200K$300K$400K10 grants2021 10 grants2022 13 grants2023 13 grants2024 11 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $224K (2023) to $352K (2021). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $291K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Amazon Watch Oakland, CAGeneral Support$88,000
If Not Us Then Who Santa Monica, CAGeneral Support$85,000
Civil Liberties Defense Ctr Eugene, ORGeneral Support$30,000
Global Exchange San Francisco, CAGeneral Support$15,000
Green 20 Washington, DCSponsorship$15,000
Amazon Frontlines San Francisco, CAGeneral Support$10,000
Business Capacity De Brooklyn, NYGeneral Support$10,000
Eastern Woodland Lacrosse Mebane, NCGeneral Support$10,000
Institute for Enhanced Equity New Orleans, LAGeneral Support$10,000
Texas Campaign for Environmen Austin, TXGeneral Support$10,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Amounts below are reported by filing year.

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$11,052,534$9,157,665$12,773,094$290,50011$363,639
2024$14,256,182$11,566,375$12,047,180$263,70013$208,694
2023$15,419,027$12,904,672$11,018,175$224,37213$135,553
2022$13,980,269$11,682,993$8,835,459$272,50010$15,065
2021$10,778,812$8,297,079$8,358,711$352,21910$39,708

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

RAN’s stated mission is to preserve forests, protect the climate, and uphold human rights by challenging corporate power and systemic injustice through frontline partnerships and strategic campaigns.

Its Community Action Grants prioritize grassroots organizing, education, training, and capacity building; community-led strategies opposing destructive development; and work to secure or maintain Indigenous and traditional communities’ land rights. Other supported activities include sustainable economic alternatives, opportunities to amplify community voices, field research used to hold companies accountable, safety and security for threatened Land Defenders, and seed funding for emerging grassroots organizations. The Climate Action Fund supports local groups addressing fossil-fuel extraction and combustion; Protect-an-Acre supports grassroots leadership and organizations in forest regions.

Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of organizations receiving support. Amazon Watch says it works to protect the rainforest and advance Indigenous peoples’ rights in the Amazon Basin. Amazon Frontlines says it builds power with Indigenous peoples to defend rights to land, life, and cultural survival. If Not Us Then Who describes its work as raising global awareness of local peoples’ role in protecting forests.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, RAN reported 11 grants totaling $290,500. Grants ranged from $7,500 to $88,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest awards included $88,000 to Amazon Watch for general support, $85,000 to If Not Us Then Who for general support, and $30,000 to Civil Liberties Defense Ctr for general support. Other reported awards included $15,000 each to Global Exchange for general support and Green 20 for sponsorship, and $10,000 to Amazon Frontlines for general support.

RAN’s website describes Climate Action Fund grants as generally $5,000–$10,000. Its 2024 filing says applicants are invited to submit a formal proposal with supporting materials. Staff review applications and prepare recommendations for a Board subcommittee; the Board reviews funding requests. Approved grants are governed by agreements signed by RAN management and the grantee. RAN requires a final report within one year of the grant and communicates with grantees for activity updates.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Ginger Cassady as Executive Director; Jennifer Njambi Good as Deputy Director; Elisabeth Rimaud Williams as CFO; Aditi Sen as Climate Director; Marie Michelson as Digital Director; Suzanne Garland as Development Director; Robin Averbeck as Forest Program Director; Christopher Herrera as Communications Director; Eos deFeminis as former CFO; and Avi Mahaningtyas as Board Chair.

Rainforest Action Network is led by Ginger Cassady, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 9 of 19 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Ginger Cassady

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $169K (2021) → $234K (2025)

  • Andre Carothers

    Board President

    On filings since 2021

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Avi Mahaningtyas

    Board Chair

    Governance → Board Member, 2023

    Board Member → Board Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Christopher Herrera

    Committee Director

    Comms Director → Committee Director, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $112K (2021) → $140K (2025)

  • Marie Michelson

    Digital Director

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $131K (2021) → $158K (2025)

  • Robin Averbeck

    Forest Program Director

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $101K (2021) → $158K (2025)

  • Aditi Sen

    Climate Director

    On filings since 2024

    40 hrs/week

    $142K (2024) → $153K (2025)

  • Suzanne Garland

    Devo Director

    On filings since 2024

    40 hrs/week

    $139K (2024) → $145K (2025)

  • Elisabeth Rimaud Williams

    CFO

    On filings since 2024

    40 hrs/week

    $19K (2024) → $191K (2025)

  • Jennifer Njambi Good

    Deputy Director

    On filings since 2024

    40 hrs/week

    $160K (2024) → $211K (2025)

  • Eos deFeminis

    Ex-Cfo

    New on the 2025 filing

    4.5 hrs/week

    $32K (2025)

  • Alberto Saldamando

    Board Member

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Anna Lapp

    Vice Chair

    On filings since 2021

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marsela Pecanac

    Secretary

    On filings since 2021

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Scott B Price

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2021

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Asad Rehman

    Board Member

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Leila Salazar-Lpez

    Board Member

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dan Scales

    Secretary

    Board Member → Secretary, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Hana Heineken

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (14)
  • Former: Eos De Feminis (2021–2024) — Finance Director
  • Former: Anna Hawken (2021–2023) — Board Member
  • Former: Jodie Evans (2021–2023) — Board Chair
  • Former: Pallavi Phartiyal (2021–2023) — Deputy Director
  • Former: Thomas Parkin (2022–2023) — Organizing Director
  • Former: Emily Selzer (2023) — Ind Giving Director
  • Former: Njambi Good (2023) — Deputy Director
  • Former: Ibrahim AlHusseini (2021–2022) — Board Member
  • Former: Jim Gollin (2021–2022) — Board Member
  • Former: Deepa Isac (2021) — Board Member
  • Former: Laurie Martin (2021) — Development Director
  • Former: Lindsey Allen (2021) — Executive Director
  • Former: Michael Northrop (2021) — Board Member
  • Former: Patrick McCully (2021) — Program Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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

Ginger Cassady — Exec Director: $234KGinger CassadyExec Director$234KJennifer Njambi Good — Deputy Director: $211KJennifer Njambi GoodDeputy Director$211KElisabeth Rimaud Williams — CFO: $191KElisabeth Rimaud…CFO$191KRobin Averbeck — Forest Program Dir: $158KRobin AverbeckForest Program Dir$158KMarie Michelson — Digital Director: $158KMarie MichelsonDigital Director$158KAditi Sen — Climate Dir: $153KAditi SenClimate Dir$153KSuzanne Garland — Devo Dir: $145KSuzanne GarlandDevo Dir$145KChristopher Herrera — Comm Dir: $140KChristopher HerreraComm Dir$140KEos deFeminis — Ex-CFO: $32KEos deFeminisEx-CFO$32K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $234K, to Ginger Cassady (Exec Director). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Rainforest Action Network

How much does Rainforest Action Network give each year?

Rainforest Action Network gave $291K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $264K across 13 grants.

What is Rainforest Action Network's typical grant size?

Rainforest Action Network's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $26,409, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Rainforest Action Network that year got $26K on average.

Where does Rainforest Action Network give grants?

Rainforest Action Network gives mostly in California: 68% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Oregon (10%) and Texas (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (2 grants).

Does Rainforest Action Network give general operating support?

Yes: 91% of Rainforest Action Network's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Who are Rainforest Action Network's largest grantees?

Rainforest Action Network's largest 2025 grantees include Amazon Watch ($88,000), If Not Us Then Who ($85,000) and Civil Liberties Defense Ctr ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Rainforest Action Network?

Rainforest Action Network reported $11.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.2M.

What does Rainforest Action Network fund?

RAN’s stated mission is to preserve forests, protect the climate, and uphold human rights by challenging corporate power and systemic injustice through frontline partnerships and strategic campaigns. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Rainforest Action Network?

Submit a formal proposal with supporting materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Rainforest Action Network's EIN?

Rainforest Action Network's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3045180. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 1, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 3, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Rainforest Action Network funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/rainforest-action-network-morg_1008dd807f874b59b09ebc7df43a539a

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_943045180_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Rainforest Action Network funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/rainforest-action-network-morg_1008dd807f874b59b09ebc7df43a539a},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Rainforest Action Network'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.

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