Sustainable Forests and Communities Grant

The Sustainable Forests and Communities Grant aims to foster environmentally and economically sustainable forest communities in the U.S., particularly where the Weyerhaeuser Family has interests. It prioritizes projects enhancing the environment, economy, and community through sustainable practices. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entities operating in forested areas, focusing on integrated approaches that value forest ecosystem services. This initiative encourages local job creation, sustainable economic activities, and innovative partnerships to achieve sustainability goals.

Program Goal
The goal of the Sustainable Forests and Communities Initiative is to promote the creation of environmentally and economically sustainable forest communities in the regions of the United States where the Weyerhaeuser Family's business interests originated.
Program Guidelines
The Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation through its Sustainable Forests and Communities Initiative is interested in supporting organizations that work in forested landscapes to enhance the environment, the economy, and community. Implementation of integrated approaches in these areas that also enhance market valuation of forest ecosystem services is favored.
Program Priorities
The Foundation gives priority to projects that promote vibrant forest-based communities that address one or more of the following outcome areas:
EnvironmentEmploying sustainable forest management, conservation, and ecological restoration.EconomyDeveloping and encouraging enterprise-based sustainable economic activities.CommunityUse innovative social and locally-based business processes to meet agreed- upon environmental and economic sustainability goals.
Projects of potential interest include the following examples:
Creation of local market-based jobs for in-forest activities (such as sustainable forest management, forest restoration, or sustainable silviculture).Development of demand for certified wood and for products made with sustainably produced forest resources (e.g., wood, boughs, biomass, and mushrooms).Promoting sustainable forest management alternatives to conversion of private forested land to other uses (e.g., community forests, working forest conservation easements, or other title-related forest conservation tools).Creating value in forests and forest communities through developing, producing, and marketing new forest products or forest ecosystem services.Advancing community-wide long-term planning for monetizing the full range of forest values, including explicit valuation of and creation of markets for forest ecosystem services.Forest Ecosystem Services: using innovative business or policy models to better establish prices and markets for ecosystem services. Forest ecosystem services can include, but are not restricted to, carbon sequestration, forests' role in the carbon, nutrient, and water cycles, providing habitat to support biodiversity, and providing aesthetic, educational, and other cultural services.Partnerships: utilizing partnership-based programs that build on the strengths and capacity of collaborating organizations. Benefits of this approach may include:facilitating expansion of successful program models to new geographies;enabling organizations to broaden the impact of their expertise or benefit from the expertise of partners;allowing organizations to deploy their core expertise without creating redundant capacity.

Eligibility

SFCI focuses on supporting activities in forested communities throughout the United States.Organizations must be classified by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.Applications from an organization acting as a fiscal sponsor will be considered when a Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement has been signed by both parties and submitted with the application. Fiscal Sponsor's must be able to demonstrate substantial and direct fiscal and program oversight.

Ineligibility

Foundation will not commit funds for the second or third year without an annual review.The foundation does not accept applications from fiscal agents.The Foundation will not consider proposals in the following areas:Relief and rescue programs.Programs whose purpose is to create specific media, film, photography, or books.Programs that attempt to change behavior by education of the general public.Capital projects, including land acquisition or the construction of buildings. Note, while WFF funds cannot be used to purchase land, SFCI will fund work associated with land acquisition such as staff time, community engagement, and management planning.Grants or scholarships to individuals.Camps or cultural exchange programs.General operating costs not connected to the project proposal.Lobbying prohibited by the Internal Revenue Code.Endowments.Start-up costs for new organizations.Research projects