The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program
The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that recruits, trains, and places formerly incarcerated and underrepresented individuals into professional wildland firefighting careers with agencies such as the US Forest Service, CAL FIRE, and the Bureau of Land Management.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersPasadena, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program does
The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program (FFRP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2017 by Royal Ramey and Brandon Smith, both formerly incarcerated firefighters, to create a workforce development pipeline from California Conservation Camps into professional wildland firefighting careers. FFRP operates an 8-week paid Career Training Program (CTP) delivered in Southern California (San Bernardino) and the Bay Area (Oakland), complemented by holistic case management, legal support, financial literacy training, and job placement services that connect graduates with the US Forest Service, CAL FIRE, and the Bureau of Land Management. The organization also runs Buffalo Handcrew as a vertically integrated employment social enterprise and a Work Crew Services line providing fee-for-service fuels reduction, defensible space projects, tree removal, weed abatement, and vegetation management to businesses, homeowners, and communities.
FFRP holds exclusive inreach access to all 35 California Conservation Fire Camps, which functions as its primary recruitment channel and a structurally defensible participant pipeline. The organization is funded through individual donations (with 100% of donations directed to program implementation), state grants (most notably $4 million from Proposition 4, a $10 billion Climate and Wildfire Prevention Bond passed by California voters in November 2024), foundation grants from supporters including Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Google.org, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and New Profit, and earned revenue from Work Crew Services contracts. Demonstrated outcomes include 200+ individuals placed in employment with forestry agencies and a less-than-10% recidivism rate among participants, compared with a California state average of 41.9% and a national average of 82%.
The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program
- Legal name
- The Urban Association of Forestry and Fire Professionals, Inc.
- Website
- https://forestryfirerp.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that recruits, trains, and places formerly incarcerated and underrepresented individuals into professional wildland firefighting careers with agencies such as the US Forest Service, CAL FIRE, and the Bureau of Land Management.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Workforce Development Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Firefighter & Fire Service Training (EDAOAMAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community College / Training Provider Workforce Pathways Programs (EDAAAOAO), Wildfire Fuel Reduction & Prescribed Burning (AFAMAAAF), Forest Fuels Management (Thinning, Mastication, Prescribed Burning) (AFAMAEAD), Wildfire Suppression & Incident Response (AFAMAEAE)
Keywords
Where The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pasadena
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations: FFRP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on donations from individuals and organizations. 100% of donation funds go to implementation of crew and volunteer projects, including protective wear, training, and tools.
- Government Grants: FFRP secured $4 million in State Funds from Proposition 4, a $10 billion Climate and Wildfire Prevention Bond passed by voters in November 2024.
- Fee-for-Service Work Projects: FFRP provides wildfire prevention and hazard mitigation services to businesses, homeowners, and communities through work crews performing fuels reduction, defensible space projects, tree removal, weed abatement, and other vegetation management services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Free | Free career support services for participants |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program (FFRP) is a nonprofit workforce development organization that recruits formerly incarcerated individuals from California's Conservation Fire Camps and trains them for careers in wildland firefighting and forestry. It delivers an 8-week paid Career Training Program (CTP) in Los Angeles/San Bernardino and Oakland, places graduates with US Forest Service, CAL FIRE, Bureau of Land Management and other agencies, and operates Work Crew Services (fuels reduction, defensible space, tree removal, weed abatement) and the Buffalo Handcrew social enterprise for paid wildfire prevention and hazard mitigation work.
Product overview
FFRP is a nonprofit career support organization offering a multi-phase pathway for formerly incarcerated individuals to enter the wildland firefighting sector. The core offering consists of the Career Training Program (CTP), an 8-week paid training and credentialing program; Work Crew Services providing fuels reduction and fire prevention to external partners; and the Buffalo Handcrew employment social enterprise. The program also provides inreach through California Conservation Camps, outreach via re-entry organizations, and comprehensive employment support connecting graduates with agencies like US Forest Service and CAL FIRE.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Career Training Program (CTP) An 8-week paid rigorous wildland firefighter training and credentialing program offered in Los Angeles/San Bernardino and Oakland, CA, providing participants with holistic case management, legal support, and financial literacy training.
- Work Crew Services Wildfire prevention and hazard mitigation services including fuels reduction, defensible space projects, tree removal and maintenance, weed abatement, groundskeeping, snow removal, vegetation hauling, and land abatement provided to businesses, homeowners, and communities.
- Buffalo Handcrew FFRP's employment social enterprise providing wildland firefighting employment opportunities, with participants engaging in wildfire prevention and suppression efforts.
- Inreach and Outreach Services Recruitment and engagement activities conducted through California's 35 Conservation Fire Camps statewide, plus outreach through local re-entry and community organizations to attract participants from non-traditional and underrepresented communities.
- Employment and Career Support Comprehensive job placement services connecting participants with employment at US Forest Service, CAL FIRE, Bureau of Land Management, and other forestry agencies, including job application support, mentorship, and resume assistance.
Quantifiable outcome
- Less than 10% recidivism rate compared to California state average of 41.9% and National average of 82%
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Bay Area Council California Resilience ChallengecoreCohort 6D staff and trainees in the SF Bay Area were featured as part of video highlighting FFRP and its impact on the community with support from Bay Area Council California Resilience Challenge.
- California Conservation Fire CampscoreFFRP conducts inreach through the 35 California Conservation 'Fire' Camps statewide to recruit and engage individuals interested in pursuing professional careers in forestry and wildland firefighting.
- US Forest ServicecoreFFRP connects participants with employment opportunities and prepares them for careers with US Forest Service. Co-founder Royal Ramey worked for USFS. Mojave Greens crew is USFS-affiliated.
- CAL FIREcoreFFRP connects participants with employment opportunities with CAL FIRE. Multiple FFRP graduates have become CAL FIRE firefighters.
- Bureau of Land ManagementcoreFFRP connects participants with employment opportunities with BLM as part of their career placement services.
- California Fire FoundationmajorListed as supporter/partner on FFRP team page
- LA CountymajorListed as supporter/partner on FFRP team page. LA County WDACS partnership noted.
- The Last MileminorPodcast interview with CEO Royal Ramey discussing Fire Camps and fight for fair pay
- Stentorians IncminorChief Ramey joined Assemblymember Sade Elhawary, legislators, and advocacy groups for Firefighting to Freedom Press Conference to support bill package for incarcerated firefighters
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program social profiles
Digital presenceThe Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program
What does The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program do?
The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program (FFRP) is a nonprofit workforce development organization that recruits formerly incarcerated individuals from California's Conservation Fire Camps and trains them for careers in wildland firefighting and forestry. It delivers an 8-week paid Career Training Program (CTP) in Los Angeles/San Bernardino and Oakland, places graduates with US Forest Service, CAL FIRE, Bureau of Land Management and other agencies, and operates Work Crew Services (fuels reduction, defensible space, tree removal, weed abatement) and the Buffalo Handcrew social enterprise for paid wildfire prevention and hazard mitigation work.
Is The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program a public or private company?
The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program founded?
The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program based?
The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program is headquartered in Pasadena, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are government Grants and fee-for-Service Work Projects.
Does The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program.
What industry is The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program in?
The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program's product category is Workforce Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAOAMAB, Firefighter & Fire Service Training, with a secondary code of EDAAAOAO, Community College / Training Provider Workforce Pathways Programs. Its NAICS code is 11531 and its SIC code is 8200.