American Forests
American Forests reported $35.6 million in revenue and $32.3 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $88.17 went to program services, $3.60 to management and general costs and $8.23 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 99.1% of the total. Government grants made up 39.8%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $362,215 (President/CEO (To 09/25)). 30 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 217% 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 $32MFor context, the median across 371 covered environment charities: $85.82 programs, $10.80 management, $3.38 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 $36MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 88.2% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 3.6% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 8.2% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.08 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 99.1% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 39.8% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.7% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $362,215 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.12% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 30 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 5.0 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 13 of 13 | 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 expensePrograms and Public Policy - American Forests' programmatic work is focused on growing forests that last through climate-resilient forestry, restoring forest landscapes to create greater wildfire resilience and investing in trees for healthier cities through Urban Forestry. We do so through leading forest science and innovation and by convening partners across federal and state agencies, local community leaders and mayors, Tribal nations, corporate partners and donors to drive measurable impact and outcomes. For more than 150 years, American Forests has also played a leading role in shaping…
Communications - Marketing and communications are core programs that drive our mission forward by powerfully telling the stories of American Forest's impact on the ground, elevating our organization's voice, influencing policy and attracting new and continued partnership and investment. We craft high-impact national campaigns that reach millions through public relations, storytelling across our digital platforms and our strategic partnerships, ultimately driving and building trust in the American Forests strategic narrative and mobilizing support for our efforts
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President/CEO (To 09/25) Officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $315,009 | $0 | $47,206 | $362,215 |
| COO Officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $228,454 | $0 | $36,738 | $265,192 |
| CPPO Officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $225,509 | $0 | $33,061 | $258,570 |
| CPO, TE Officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $230,780 | $0 | $20,828 | $251,608 |
| SVP-GR Key employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $207,271 | $0 | $41,879 | $249,150 |
| CPO-RF Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $203,198 | $0 | $43,281 | $246,479 |
| CPO Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $218,647 | $0 | $23,930 | $242,577 |
| COS Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $201,476 | $0 | $23,775 | $225,251 |
30 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from American Forests (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.2M (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–1b13 · 13 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5199
- Volunteers Part I, line 66,850
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Sanky Communications Inc Mailing Solicitations | $811,958 |
| Ruder Finn Inc Communications Consulting | $504,280 |
| Vital Impact LLC Program Consulting | $441,804 |
| Worthy Journey Communications Communications Consulting | $288,374 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 7 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
41 private foundations reported grants to American Forests totaling $5.6M 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 American Forests's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for American Forests, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 American Forests spent in FY2025, $88.17 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Chesapeake Bay FoundationAnnapolis, MD · revenue $35M · programs 79.8% · FY2025
- National Marine Sanctuary FoundationSilver Spring, MD · revenue $36M · programs 84.7% · 2024
- Clean Future ForumWashington, DC · revenue $35M · programs 96.3% · FY2025
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden CorporationBrooklyn, NY · revenue $36M · programs 82.4% · 2024
- Serc Reliability CorporationCharlotte, NC · revenue $35M · programs 55.4% · 2025
All environment charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of American Forests's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, American Forests reported that 88.2% of its $32.3 million in expenses went to program services, 3.6% to management and general and 8.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does American Forests pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation American Forests reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $362,215, for the role of President/CEO (To 09/25) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does American Forests get its money?
Of $35.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 99.1% came from contributions and grants (including 39.8% from government grants) and 0.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is American Forests a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 53-0196544 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), 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 202641749349301224 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202531929349300508 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202420469349302397 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202310459349301131 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202210429349301651 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202130429349301343 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 53-0196544: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.