American Forests
American Forests is a 150-year-old Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that restores threatened forest ecosystems across the U.S. and Canada through grant-funded reforestation, post-wildfire restoration, and climate-smart forestry partnerships with federal agencies and conservation organizations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1875
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What American Forests does
American Forests is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1875, operating with 51-100 employees to restore threatened forest ecosystems across the United States and Canada. Its work spans whitebark pine restoration in western national parks, post-wildfire reforestation (notably in Colorado), and climate-smart forestry quantification co-developed with the USDA Forest Service, Michigan State University's Forest Carbon and Climate Program, the Oregon Department of Forestry, and Natural Resources Canada using the CBM-CFS3 modeling framework. The organization also runs community-based seed collection and cone scout training programs in partnership with the National Forest Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Colorado State University Extension, and Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest.
American Forests generates no commercial revenue. Its funding model is grant- and donation-based, with major disclosed supporters including Life Time Foundation (cumulative $3M+ since late 2023, including a $1M whitebark pine grant in May 2024), Liberty Mutual Insurance ($1.5M grant in December 2025), Takeda, and Salesforce. Distribution is partnership-driven rather than channel-based: the organization delivers programs through direct relationships with federal and state agencies, conservation nonprofits, academic institutions, and grassroots community organizations. Notable 2026 activity includes participation in the America The Beautiful Foundation's 50-state 250th anniversary campaign and co-authorship of state-level climate mitigation reports for Minnesota and Oregon.
The organization is led by President and CEO Hilary Franz. As a legacy nonprofit, American Forests monetizes impact through program execution and scientific output rather than product sales, making grant renewal cadence, donor diversification, and federal partnership continuity the primary drivers of operating stability.
American Forests firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- American Forests
- Website
- https://americanforests.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1875
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- American Forests is a 150-year-old Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that restores threatened forest ecosystems across the U.S. and Canada through grant-funded reforestation, post-wildfire restoration, and climate-smart forestry partnerships with federal agencies and conservation organizations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
American Forests industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Forest Conservation and Reforestation Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Support Activities for Forestry (115310), Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (1132)
- SIC
- Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ecosystem Restoration & Rewilding Services (AFAMAMAE), Forestry & Ecosystem Carbon Removal (Afforestation/Reforestation, Improved Forest Management) (EUABAFAH), Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF)
Keywords
Where American Forests is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
American Forests business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Grants and Donations: American Forests receives funding through grants from foundations and organizations such as the Life Time Foundation ($1 million donation for whitebark pine restoration), as well as broader multi-year grant programs supporting reforestation, conservation, and biological diversity initiatives.
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
American Forests product offering
Product offeringCore offering
American Forests restores threatened forest ecosystems through on-the-ground reforestation programs, seed collection and genetic studies, climate-smart forestry research, and partnerships with government agencies, foundations, and conservation organizations. Its work focuses on threatened tree species such as whitebark pine, post-wildfire reforestation, and quantifying the climate mitigation potential of forests across the United States and Canada.
Product overview
American Forests is a nonprofit conservation organization focused on forest restoration and preservation. The source data does not describe a specific product portfolio or service offerings in the form of named products, modules, or platforms. The content primarily covers grant-funded reforestation initiatives, conservation partnerships, and climate-smart forestry research collaborations rather than a commercial product/service suite.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Whitebark Pine Restoration Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Substantial increase in climate mitigation potential through climate-smart forestry actions including addressing post-fire regeneration failures, thinning, prescribed burning, innovative wood use, and reducing forest loss
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use American Forests
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
American Forests technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
American Forests partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor, flagship and major.
- Michigan State University Forest Carbon and Climate Program (FCCP)coreCo-authored report with American Forests, USDA Forest Service, and Natural Resources Canada quantifying climate-smart forestry climate mitigation potential in Minnesota. FCCP serves as academic research partner providing scientific rigor and modeling frameworks for climate-smart forestry analysis.
- USDA Forest ServicecoreFederal agency partner co-authoring climate-smart forestry climate mitigation quantification reports with American Forests and academic institutions.
- Trust for Public LandcoreEnvironmental partner organization receiving support from Life Time Foundation for tree plantings and environmental initiatives in communities.
- Forest ReLeaf of MissouriminorMissouri-based tree planting organization partner in Life Time Foundation-supported environmental initiatives.
- Great River GreeningminorEnvironmental conservation organization partner in tree planting and environmental restoration initiatives.
- America The Beautiful FoundationflagshipAmerican Forests participates in nationwide campaign launched by America The Beautiful Foundation celebrating the country's 250th anniversary. Campaign includes IMAX film series, educational programs, and reforestation projects across all 50 states.
- Oregon Department of ForestrycoreCo-authored report with American Forests, NIACS, Natural Resources Canada Forest Service Carbon Accounting Team quantifying climate mitigation potential and emission reduction strategies in Oregon using CBM-CFS3 modeling framework.
- NIACS (Northeastern Area Association of State Foresters)coreCo-authored report on climate-smart forestry and emission reduction strategies in Oregon. Part of collaborative project exploring natural climate solutions.
- Natural Resources Canada Forest Service Carbon Accounting TeamcoreInternational research partner co-authoring reports on climate-smart forestry and emission reduction strategies, part of larger collaborative project between US and Canadian institutions.
- National Forest FoundationmajorLead organization in pilot program for cone collection and seed harvesting for post-wildfire reforestation in Colorado. Partnered with Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest and Colorado organizations to train cone scouts and address severe seed shortage for restoration.
- The Nature Conservancy ColoradocoreColorado-based conservation organization partner in cone scout and seed collection pilot program addressing post-wildfire reforestation needs in Colorado.
- Colorado State University ExtensioncoreAcademic partner providing expertise and training support for cone collection and arborist training programs in Colorado.
- Arapaho-Roosevelt National ForestcoreNational forest partner providing site access and forest management coordination for cone scout and seed collection pilot program in Colorado.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
American Forests competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Nature Conservancy: The Nature Conservancy is the largest U.S. environmental nonprofit with global operations in forest conservation, climate-smart forestry, and ecosystem restoration. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping federal/state partnerships and a comparable scientific research function, but operates at much greater scale and geographic breadth than American Forests.
- Sierra Club: Sierra Club is one of the oldest and largest U.S. environmental nonprofits, with forest conservation as one pillar of its broader mission. It overlaps with American Forests on climate-smart forestry advocacy and federal land management engagement, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
- Conservation International: Conservation International is a global environmental nonprofit working on forest conservation, climate, and biodiversity. While more international in focus, it competes for the same large foundation grants and corporate partnerships relevant to American Forests' climate-smart forestry work.
- World Wildlife Fund (U.S.): World Wildlife Fund operates globally on forest conservation, climate, and biodiversity, with a U.S. office that competes for the same foundation and corporate donor pool as American Forests. It is broader in scope but comparable in forestry restoration and climate-smart program delivery.
Direct peers
- National Wildlife Federation: National Wildlife Federation is a national nonprofit focused on wildlife habitat conservation, including forested ecosystems. It directly competes for corporate foundation grants, runs comparable reforestation and policy advocacy programs, and engages similar federal agency partners.
- Arbor Day Foundation: Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to tree planting and forest restoration, directly competing with American Forests for corporate sponsorships, individual donors, and large-scale tree-planting campaigns. Both organizations operate nationwide tree-planting and education programs with similar funding sources.
- Trust for Public Land: Trust for Public Land is a national conservation nonprofit active in land conservation, urban tree planting, and federal partnership programs. American Forests is itself a recipient/grantee alongside Trust for Public Land in the Life Time Foundation portfolio, making it a directly comparable peer for foundation grants and government delivery work.
- National Forest Foundation: National Forest Foundation is the official nonprofit partner of the USDA Forest Service and operates restoration, reforestation, and tree-planting programs on national forest lands. It directly competes for USFS-related funding and is a confirmed operational partner of American Forests on the Colorado cone scout pilot.
Others
- Forest Stewardship Council (US): Forest Stewardship Council sets forest management certification standards and engages in adjacent policy and corporate partnership work in U.S. forestry. It is not a direct competitor for restoration grants but occupies adjacent space in the U.S. forest conservation ecosystem.
Emerging players
- American Farmland Trust: American Farmland Trust focuses on agricultural land conservation but increasingly engages in climate-smart land management including forestry-adjacent practices. It competes for overlapping federal and foundation funding related to climate and natural resource conservation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
American Forests social profiles
Digital presenceAmerican Forests financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
American Forests leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
American Forests funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
American Forests M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about American Forests
What does American Forests do?
American Forests restores threatened forest ecosystems through on-the-ground reforestation programs, seed collection and genetic studies, climate-smart forestry research, and partnerships with government agencies, foundations, and conservation organizations. Its work focuses on threatened tree species such as whitebark pine, post-wildfire reforestation, and quantifying the climate mitigation potential of forests across the United States and Canada.
Is American Forests a public or private company?
American Forests is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was American Forests founded?
American Forests was founded in 1875. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is American Forests based?
American Forests is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does American Forests make money?
One revenue line is on record: grants and Donations.
Who are American Forests's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Conservation International and World Wildlife Fund (U.S.). Direct peers are National Wildlife Federation, Arbor Day Foundation, Trust for Public Land and National Forest Foundation. Forest Stewardship Council (US) is listed as an others. American Farmland Trust is listed as an emerging player.
Does American Forests have an API?
No public API is recorded for American Forests.
What industry is American Forests in?
American Forests's product category is Forest Conservation and Reforestation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAD, Forestry & Reforestation, with a secondary code of AFAMAMAE, Ecosystem Restoration & Rewilding Services. Its NAICS code is 1153 and its SIC code is 800.