American Forest Foundation

What American Forest Foundation does

American Forest Foundation (AFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1981 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., that operates the Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP), the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) certification program, and the Fields & Forests afforestation project to empower family forest owners across the United States. FFCP — developed in partnership with The Nature Conservancy — enables landowners with as little as 30 acres (averaging 137 acres) to enter 20-year contracts and earn guaranteed annual payments of $10.50/acre for implementing improved forest management, with a Premium Partnership tier offering 25% higher compensation funded through USDA's Advancing Markets for Producers grant. The technical foundation rests on the proprietary VM0045 Dynamic Matched Baseline methodology (co-developed with TNC and TerraCarbon), which received the IC-VCM Core Carbon Principles label in 2025 as the first IFM methodology designed for smallholders, alongside the VM0047 methodology for afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation.

AFF's revenue model combines three streams: carbon credit sales (Netflix 15-year offtake and REI as first credit buyer, with first credits issued December 2025 under Verra VCS); federal grants including the $35M USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant funding the EFFICACI initiative across 13 states; and philanthropy from foundations and corporate donors. A public-private partnership model reportedly leverages $1 of public/philanthropic investment into $10 of private corporate investment. The organization operates the WoodsCamp platform and My Land Plan tool for landowner engagement, and has pioneered a Permanence Trust/Fund framework — developed with Kita, Beyond Alliance, and RMI — to address reversal risk across carbon removal pathways for 100 years beyond original contract periods. As of May 2026, FFCP had enrolled 200,000 acres across 20 states, delivered $38M in direct payments to landowners, and supported 1,000+ landowner enrollments, capturing 2.7 million metric tonnes of projected carbon sequestration over contract lives.

Name

American Forest Foundation

Legal name

American Forest Foundation

Website

https://forestfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

American Forest Foundation is a 1981-founded nonprofit that runs the Family Forest Carbon Program and related initiatives, enabling U.S. family forest owners across 20 states to access the voluntary carbon market through verified credits, technical support, and guaranteed annual payments, while serving corporate buyers like Netflix and REI.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forest Conservation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (115310), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forest Carbon Projects & Ecosystem Services (Carbon Credits, Biodiversity) (IMAMAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Carbon Accounting, Verification & Registry Services (MRV, Audits, Certification) (IMAMAJAE), Reforestation & Afforestation Services (Planting, Site Prep, Regeneration) (IMAMAAAE), Forest Ecosystem Services & Carbon/Conservation Programs (AFAMAAAJ), Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD), Carbon & Climate-Aligned Forest Certification Add-ons (e.g., FSC Ecosystem Services, climate modules) (AFAMALAH)

Keywords

• Forest conservation services
• Voluntary carbon markets
• Family forest management
• Sustainable forestry certification
• Carbon credit program

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Carbon Credit Sales: FFCP generates revenue through the sale of verified carbon credits produced via improved forest management (IFM) and afforestation practices. The organization sells credits to corporate buyers through 15-year offtake agreements (e.g., Netflix) and milestone prepayments. The first credits were issued in December 2025 from Verra under the VCS Program.
2. Government Grants: AFF receives federal funding through USDA programs including a $35 million Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant funding the EFFICACI initiative, U.S. Forest Service's Forest Landowner Support program, and Natural Resources Conservation Service's Advancing Market for Producers grant.
3. Philanthropy and Private Donations: The organization receives funding from private foundations (RK Mellon Foundation), corporate donors, and individual contributors. Donors help catalyze impact by contributing to carbon projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The American Forest Foundation delivers forest conservation services centered on enrolling family forest owners in programs that generate verified carbon credits and sustainable forestry outcomes. Its flagship Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) pays small-acreage landowners for improved forest management over 20-year contracts, while the Fields & Forests project plants trees on underused lands over 30-year contracts. The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) provides sustainable forestry certification, and supplementary platforms (My Land Plan, WoodsCamp) give landowners planning and networking tools.

Product overview

The American Forest Foundation operates a unified portfolio centered on two flagship programs: the Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) and the American Tree Farm System (ATFS). FFCP is a carbon credit program enabling small-acreage landowners to earn income through improved forest management, while ATFS provides forest certification. These core offerings are supported by the Fields & Forests afforestation project, the Premium Partnership add-on for enhanced payments, and the Permanence Trust/Trust framework addressing carbon market permanence risk. Supplementary platforms including My Land Plan and WoodsCamp provide landowner tools and professional networking. The organization also offers a conservation benefits visualization map powered by TransparenC. Together, these products empower family forest owners to improve forest health while accessing carbon markets and conservation programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP): A carbon program that partners with family landowners to implement improved forest management practices and generate verified carbon credits.
• American Tree Farm System (ATFS)
• Fields & Forests
• Permanence Trust
• My Land Plan
• WoodsCamp

Products and services

• Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) A carbon credit program co-developed with The Nature Conservancy that enables family forest owners with as little as 30 acres to access the voluntary carbon market through 20-year improved forest management contracts. Provides guaranteed annual payments (e.g., $10.50/acre/year), free forester consultations, customized forest management plans, and technical support.
• Fields & Forests An Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR) carbon project that converts underused fields into thriving forests across the U.S. South. AFF handles all site preparation, tree planting, and ongoing technical support, providing landowners annual payments (e.g., $30/acre) throughout 30-year contracts.
• American Tree Farm System (ATFS) A nationwide certification program that helps family landowners implement sustainable forest management practices and provides certification for sustainably managed woodlands. Operates a network of inspectors and recognizes outstanding Tree Farmers annually.
• Permanence Trust A market-wide legal and financial framework designed to manage reversal risk in carbon removal projects, using mechanisms such as permanence trusts, horizontal stacking, and liability assignment to compensate for carbon reversals.
• FFCP Permanence Fund A long-term financial reserve within FFCP that grows from credit sale proceeds, designed to extend stewardship and risk management for enrolled properties through 100 years beyond original contract periods and serve as a financial backstop for verified reversals.
• My Land Plan A web-based planning tool that allows landowners to map land boundaries, set goals, plan actions to protect their land, document experiences, and connect with woodland owners and foresters.
• WoodsCamp A web platform offering tools to help private woodland owners in the United States connect with programs, services, and professionals to care for their land; includes a customer relationship management tool for program partners and forestry professionals.
• Conservation Benefits Data Visualization Map

Quantifiable outcome

• 200,000 acres enrolled and 1,000 landowners reached as of May 2026
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Beyond AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026Coalition partner in releasing research introducing 'contracted durability,' a legal and financial framework designed to manage reversal risk in carbon removal projects. Coalition includes climate organizations led by AFF, in partnership with RMI.
• RMIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026Climate research organization partnered with AFF and Beyond Alliance to release framework for managing reversal risk in carbon removal projects using mechanisms such as permanence trusts.
• TransparenCsupportingTechnology or Integration · 20 March 2026Technology provider hosting AFF's data visualization map that highlights conservation benefits of family-owned forests. Compiles data sources into centralized map showing environmental, social, and economic potential.
• REI Co-opcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 December 2025REI became the first buyer to receive carbon credits from FFCP, a high-integrity forest carbon project designed for small-acreage landowners.
• KitacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2025Carbon insurance specialist partnered with AFF to conduct a design and feasibility study for the Permanence Trust, a new system-wide approach to addressing permanence for carbon markets. Kita will work on framework development, stakeholder engagement, risk modeling, entity structure, financial planning, and reversal risk assessments.
• NetflixcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 September 202515-year contract to purchase verified carbon credits from AFF's Fields & Forests project (afforestation/reforestation carbon project). Provided critical early-stage financing through milestone prepayments tied to key acres enrolled. Investment will launch first 6,000 acres and expand across U.S. South.
• TerraCarboncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2025Co-developed the VM0045 Verra Methodology for Improved Forest Management Using Dynamic Matched Baselines alongside AFF, TNC, and Verra.
• Purdue UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partner in the EFFICACI initiative (Engaging Family Forests to Improve Climate-Smart Commodities), designed to leverage FFCP to expand climate-smart timber commodities markets.
• Center for Heirs Property PreservationsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partner in EFFICACI initiative, providing legal education and services for historically underserved landowners, particularly minority landowners in the South.
• Women Owning WoodlandssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partner in EFFICACI initiative focused on engaging women landowners in forest management and climate-smart commodity programs.
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between AFF and TNC to develop and co-implement the Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP). TNC co-developed the VM0045 methodology with AFF and TerraCarbon. Jennifer Morris, CEO of TNC, has publicly praised the program milestone of 1,000 enrolled landowners.
• Arbor Day FoundationsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides funding for nursery seedling sourcing in Fields & Forests project, enabling local tree planting across enrolled properties.
• IFCO PRT NurseriessupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSupplies and grows many of the seedlings locally for Fields & Forests tree planting projects.
• F&W ForestrysupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHelps plant seedlings in the Fields & Forests project.
• NutriensupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAssists with tree planting operations in the Fields & Forests project.
• FungasupportingTechnology or IntegrationDevelops native fungi and microbe blends used to enhance soil for seedlings, enabling faster growth into mature and healthy trees.
• Climate Resilient SolutionssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorks with AFF and Kita on the Permanence Trust feasibility study in various capacities including framework development and risk modeling.
• Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFF supports DNRC in growing landowner outreach efforts in Montana, helping private landowners care for their land.
• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership launched to increase capacity of local organizations enhancing bird and wildlife habitat in Central Appalachia, supporting work in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York.
• PartnerscapessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational conservation organization promoting voluntary conservation on private land. AFF staff member John Schmidt sits on the board of directors.
• West Virginia Land TrustsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization in West Virginia. AFF staff member John Schmidt sits on the board.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Arbor Day Foundation: National nonprofit focused on tree planting and forest stewardship. Arbor Day Foundation is both a partner (funding nursery seedlings for Fields & Forests) and a direct peer in engaging family landowners for reforestation across the U.S.
• The Nature Conservancy: Global conservation nonprofit and co-developer of the Family Forest Carbon Program. TNC partners with AFF on methodology development (VM0045) and program implementation, making it the closest operational peer given shared mission, target landowners, and carbon-market origination model.
• Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI): Forest certification standard competing with American Tree Farm System (an AFF program). SFI certifies sustainably managed forests across North America and shares AFF's mission of promoting credible forest management standards for landowners and the supply chain.
• Blue Source: Carbon offset project developer with strong U.S. forestry portfolio. Blue Source directly competes with AFF/FFCP for corporate carbon credit buyers across improved forest management and afforestation projects.
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): Global forest certification body and leading chain-of-custody standard. FSC competes directly with AFF's American Tree Farm System and ecosystem services certification frameworks, addressing overlapping landowner and corporate buyer audiences.
• Finite Carbon: Leading commercial forestry carbon project developer in the U.S. Finite Carbon competes directly with FFCP for corporate carbon credit buyers and forest landowner enrollment, but operates on a for-profit basis with larger-acreage focus.

Emerging players

• Pachama: Tech-forward carbon marketplace connecting corporate buyers with nature-based carbon projects. Pachama is a competitor for corporate offtake relationships and uses remote sensing/MRV technology that overlaps with AFF's Permanence Fund monitoring approach.

Broad incumbents

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on land conservation and parks. TPL works with private landowners on conservation easements and land protection, sharing AFF's mission of engaging private landowners for conservation outcomes.
• Conservation International: Major global environmental nonprofit working on forest conservation, climate, and biodiversity. Comparable as a large, established conservation organization with corporate partnerships and forest carbon program development at global scale.

Others

• Verra: Operator of the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) program under which AFF issues carbon credits. Verra is both infrastructure provider (registry/methodology host for VM0045 and VM0047) and adjacent enabler, critical to AFF's carbon-market participation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AmForestFndn
• Facebookfacebook.com/AmericanForestFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-forest-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A1 record

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about American Forest Foundation