National Forest Foundation
National Forest Foundation reported $132.1 million in revenue and $123.6 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $93.03 went to program services, $3.77 to management and general costs and $3.20 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 77.9% of the total. Government grants made up 6.9%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $507,992 (FORMER PRESIDENT & CEO). 5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 436% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $124MFor context, the median across 237 covered recreation & sports charities: $88.05 programs, $10.89 management, $1.06 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $132M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$13.95 $18M
- Government grants$6.90 $9.1M
- Program service revenue$77.90 $103M
- Investment income$1.25 $1.6M
Other revenue was negative: −$50,139. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 93.0% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 3.8% | 10.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.2% | 1.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.14 | $0.05 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 20.9% | 25.2% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 6.9% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 77.9% | 61.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $507,992 | $365,322 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.41% | 2.14% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 5.7 | 14.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 22 of 22 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseThe National Forest Foundation's (nff) conservation work is focused on three enduring priorities. Building wildfire resilience, nff works with local communities and partners to strengthen forest health, safeguard nearby homes, and protect wildlife habitat. Restoring lands and watersheds, nff revives native ecosystems, repairs streams, and plants millions of trees to renew and preserve these essential resources. Enhancing recreation opportunities, nff helps build and restore trails, campgrounds, and infrastructure so they remain safe, welcoming, and accessible to the more than 170 million…
The National Forest Foundation's two major grant programs-the matching awards program (map) and collaborative capacity program (ccp)-support meaningful stewardship and community impact on National Forest lands. Map, nff's flagship competitive grant program, fosters community engagement and helps complete projects that create lasting benefits for all communities. Ccp financial awards support collaborative efforts that advance wildfire resilience, recreation opportunities, land and watershed restoration, and rural economies, with a particular emphasis on shared decision-making, a broad range of…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FORMER PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $477,788 | $0 | $30,204 | $507,992 |
| CHIEF CONSERVATION OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $220,597 | $0 | $34,088 | $254,685 |
| CFO Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $207,463 | $0 | $31,363 | $238,826 |
| CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $201,523 | $0 | $29,638 | $231,161 |
| CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $193,249 | $0 | $36,813 | $230,062 |
| PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $56,318 | $0 | $109 | $56,427 |
5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from National Forest Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $878K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b22 · 22 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5230
- Volunteers Part I, line 610,225
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| BAMFORD-ROBINSON JV LLC Forestry services | $3,890,411 |
| ROBINSON ENTERPRISES INC Forestry services | $2,917,390 |
| USDA FOREST SERVICE Tree planting/conservation | $2,845,058 |
| VIBRANT PLANET INC Forestry services | $2,723,963 |
| GE FORESTRY INC Forestry services | $2,655,877 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 97 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
56 private foundations reported grants to National Forest Foundation totaling $2.1M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from National Forest Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for National Forest Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 National Forest Foundation spent in FY2025, $93.03 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Pasadena Tournament of Roses AssociationPasadena, CA · revenue $126M · programs 96.6% · FY2026
- Usta National Tennis CenterPurchase, NY · revenue $140M · programs 99.4% · 2024
- United States Olympic and Paralympic FoundationColorado Springs, CO · revenue $112M · programs 76.8% · 2025
- University of Louisville Athletic AssociationLouisville, KY · revenue $143M · programs 94.2% · FY2025
- PAC-12 ConferenceSan Ramon, CA · revenue $112M · programs 83.0% · FY2025
All recreation & sports charities · Largest charities in Montana
Questions people ask
How much of National Forest Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, National Forest Foundation reported that 93.0% of its $123.6 million in expenses went to program services, 3.8% to management and general and 3.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does National Forest Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation National Forest Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $507,992, for the role of FORMER PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does National Forest Foundation get its money?
Of $132.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 20.9% came from contributions and grants (including 6.9% from government grants) and 77.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is National Forest Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-1786332 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, object 202622159349300502 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202532249349301208 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202442129349300519 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202302169349300815 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202222279349301002 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202141239349301999 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-1786332: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.