What New England Forestry Foundation does

New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust founded in 1944 and headquartered in Littleton, Massachusetts. It is recognized as the sixth largest U.S. land trust by acreage, having conserved more than 1.2 million acres across New England through three primary mechanisms: ownership of 150 Community Forests totaling 38,000 acres (all open free to the public), conservation easements on more than 1.1 million acres of mostly private forestland (including the 762,192-acre Pingree Forest Partnership — the largest forestland easement in U.S. history), and partnership programs with other land trusts. NEFF developed and trademarked Exemplary Forestry, a science-based forest management approach with published regional standards for the Acadian Forest (2019) and Central and Transition Hardwoods (2021); these standards form the technical backbone of the organization's 30 Percent Climate Solution, which quantifies potential carbon reductions of 646 million metric tons of CO2 over 30 years across New England's forest base.

NEFF's commercial activity is structured as a diversified fundraising and grant-funded nonprofit rather than a product-revenue model. Revenue streams include individual donations (one-time and monthly "Forest Sustainers Circle"), corporate partnership sponsorships at tiers from $2,500 to $25,000+, federal grants (notably a $30M USDA Climate-Smart Commodities award in 2022 and a $32M USDA Advancing Markets for Producers award in 2025), planned giving vehicles including the Pooled Timber Income Fund, and publication subscriptions. Customer-facing segments span private forest landowners (land donation, easements, PTIF enrollment), corporate ESG partners, individual donors, land trusts (timber leasing into PTIF), and government agencies. Distribution is direct: online donations, in-person landowner outreach across all six New England states, corporate partnership engagement, and USDA-funded incentive programs covering 50,000 acres. Operating model is supported by a staff of approximately 25, a Board of Directors, Executive Director Ryan Owens (joined 2024), and a spinoff for-profit entity — New England Forestry Consultants, Inc. (NEFCo) — that manages NEFF's lands and maintains FSC and ATFS certification. NEFF carries Charity Navigator's 4-star rating, Candid's Platinum Transparency Seal, and Land Trust Alliance accreditation.

Name

New England Forestry Foundation

Legal name

New England Forestry Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://newenglandforestry.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

New England Forestry Foundation is a 1944-founded nonprofit land trust and the sixth largest in the U.S., conserving 1.2M+ acres of New England forest via Community Forests, conservation easements, and its trademarked Exemplary Forestry standards, serving private landowners, donors, corporate partners, and government agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forest Conservation and Land Trust Services

NAICS

Timber Tract Operations (11311), Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Timberland Carbon & Natural Capital Project Development (Offsets/REDD+) (AFAMAKAH), Timberland & Forest Asset Management (IMAMAJAA)

Keywords

• Forest conservation services
• Conservation easements
• Sustainable forestry management
• Land trust stewardship
• Climate-smart forestry

Headquarters

HQ city

Littleton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Contributions: NEFF raises funds from individual donors through one-time and recurring donations (monthly Forest Sustainers Circle program), bequests, planned gifts, and gifts of stocks/securities. The organization also accepts donor-advised fund contributions.
2. Monthly Giving (Forest Sustainers Circle): Recurring monthly donations from members of the Forest Sustainers Circle, providing reliable funding for land stewardship and long-term projects. Members receive field updates, behind-the-scenes insights, priority event access, and recognition.
3. Pooled Timber Income Fund (Planned Giving): Participants donate land to NEFF and timber to a pooled income fund, receiving tax benefits and lifetime income. Fund holds timber across pooled properties, generating harvests and income distributions annually. Also accepts cash donations and land trust timber leases.
4. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor NEFF programs at tiers from $5,000 to $25,000+, including the 30 Percent Solution ($25,000+), Forest Stewardship ($10,000+), and Event Sponsorship ($2,500–$5,000). Benefits include logo placement, volunteer opportunities, social media mentions, and committee placements.
5. Government Grants: NEFF receives large government grants including a $30 million USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities award (2022) and a $32 million USDA AMP award (2025) to support forest management, expand regional wood markets, and provide landowner incentives across 50,000 acres.
6. Gift Subscriptions (Publications): NEFF sells gift subscriptions to its quarterly publications — Into the Woods newsletter and Northern Woodlands magazine. Donors giving $50+ receive a complimentary Into the Woods subscription; $75+ also includes Northern Woodlands magazine.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

New England Forestry Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust that permanently conserves forestland in New England through fee ownership of Community Forests and conservation easements, while stewarding 1.2+ million acres to its proprietary Exemplary Forestry standards. It operates the Pooled Timber Income Fund as a planned-giving vehicle, runs the 30 Percent Climate Solution initiative, and manages free public recreation access across 150 Community Forests totaling 38,000 acres.

Product overview

New England Forestry Foundation is a nonprofit land trust and forestry conservation organization offering a portfolio of interconnected conservation services and programs. Core offerings include Land Conservation (fee ownership of Community Forests and conservation easements), Exemplary Forestry (a proprietary sustainable forestry management approach with regional standards), and the 30 Percent Solution (a comprehensive climate initiative combining forest conservation, climate-smart forestry, and wood building materials). Supporting offerings include the Pooled Timber Income Fund (a planned giving vehicle), Community Forests (150+ properties open to public recreation), and publications including the Into the Woods newsletter and technical forestry reports. The organization does not operate as a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 30 Percent Solution: NEFF's forest-based climate solutions approach combining four strategies: stopping net loss of forests, spreading Exemplary Forestry practices, using renewable building materials to replace steel and concrete, and storing carbon in strong wood buildings. Analysis suggests this approach could pull 646 million metric tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere over 30 years.
• Pooled Timber Income Fund
• Corporate Partners Program
• Exemplary Forestry
• Forest Sustainers Circle

Products and services

• Land Conservation NEFF conserves forestland in New England through purchases, gifts, bequests of land and easements, and conservation restriction agreements. The organization owns and manages 150+ Community Forests totaling 38,000 acres and stewards approximately 150 conservation easements protecting more than 1.1 million acres of mostly private forestland.
• Exemplary Forestry A proprietary, science-based sustainable forestry management approach developed by NEFF that prioritizes long-term forest health and outlines the highest sustainability standards for three goals: enhancing forests' role in climate change mitigation, improving wildlife habitat and biodiversity, and growing and harvesting sustainably produced wood.
• 30 Percent Solution A climate initiative combining four forest-based solutions — stopping net loss of forests, spreading Exemplary Forestry practices, using renewable building materials to replace steel and concrete, and storing carbon in wood buildings — that could eliminate nearly 30 percent of New England's energy-related CO2 emissions over 30 years.
• Pooled Timber Income Fund (PTIF) A planned-giving vehicle where woodland owners donate their land to NEFF and timber to a pooled income fund. Donors receive lifetime income and tax benefits while their land receives permanent protection managed to Exemplary Forestry standards; land trusts (e.g., The Nature Conservancy) also lease timber into the fund for 30 years.
• Community Forests 150 NEFF-owned Community Forests totaling 38,000 acres that are open daily and free to the public for recreation. Properties range from 10 to more than 3,000 acres in size, with trail maps and recreational opportunities including ROC skiing and hunting.
• Into the Woods Newsletter NEFF's quarterly print and digital newsletter featuring articles about climate work, forest conservation, stewardship of protected land, and educational content about the outdoors. Included with donations of $50 or more and available as a gift subscription.
• Forest Management Publications and Reports NEFF-produced publications including Exemplary Forestry standards documents for the Acadian Forest and Central/Transition Hardwoods, practical resources for landowners and foresters, original research reports, and annual reports documenting organizational activities.
• Corporate Partners Program Corporate sponsorship opportunities for companies supporting land conservation, forest stewardship, and nature-based climate mitigation. Tiers include Event Sponsorship ($2,500–$5,000), Forest Stewardship ($10,000+), and 30 Percent Solution ($25,000+) with logo placement, volunteer opportunities, social media recognition, and committee placements.
• Forest Sustainers Circle (Monthly Giving) Recurring monthly donation program providing reliable funding for NEFF's conservation and Exemplary Forestry work. Members receive field updates, behind-the-scenes insights, priority event access, and recognition.
• Gift Subscriptions Gift subscriptions to NEFF's Into the Woods newsletter and the Northern Woodlands magazine, available as a complementary benefit and as a stand-alone purchase to support the organization's work.
• Landowner Outreach and Conservation Services Direct engagement with private woodland owners across New England through one-on-one consultations, regional outreach initiatives (e.g., MassConn Woods), and Pooled Timber Income Fund enrollment. Services include conservation-easement negotiation, land protection planning, and Exemplary Forestry implementation.
• Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) Program A USDA-funded initiative under the Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) program that delivers landowner incentives and funds climate-smart forestry practices across 50,000 acres, with focus on increasing wood supply and market demand for residential construction and mass timber products.

Quantifiable outcome

• 646 million metric tons of CO2 could be kept out of the atmosphere over 30 years through NEFF's combined 30 Percent Solution approach
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2025USDA awarded NEFF $32 million under the new Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) program to support forest management and expand regional wood markets across 50,000 acres. The program provides incentives to private landowners and funds climate-smart forestry practices focused on residential construction and mass timber products. This follows a prior $30 million USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities award in September 2022.
• Harvard Forest (Wildlands and Woodlands Vision)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012NEFF formally endorsed Harvard Forest's Wildlands and Woodlands vision in 2012, which calls for conserving 30 million acres of New England forest. The vision identifies the need to ramp up the pace of conservation to protect forests' benefits to New England residents.
• Pingree Family (Seven Islands Land Company)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001NEFF and the Pingree family completed the largest forestland conservation easement in U.S. history in March 2001, permanently protecting 762,192 acres. The easement conserves some of Maine's most spectacular natural resources including the Allagash Lakes, 16 miles along the St. John River, numerous Bald Eagle nests, and 72,000 acres of wetlands.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Nature Conservancy leases timber from two of its properties to NEFF's Pooled Timber Income Fund for 30 years, retaining full ownership and recreational management of the land. NEFF applies Exemplary Forestry standards to the leased timber, and TNC receives Units in the PTIF based on the value of timber leased, generating a small annual income.
• Downeast Lakes Land Trust (DLLT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEFF and DLLT formed the Downeast Lakes Forestry Partnership, protecting 339,000 acres in Maine's easternmost county. DLLT purchased and manages 27,080 acres as Farm Cove Community Forest; NEFF purchased a 312,000-acre sustainable-forestry easement on surrounding lands and holds an additional 23,000-acre easement on Farm Cove. The project contributes to protection of more than 1 million acres across an international boundary.
• Northeast Wilderness TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEFF recorded a wilderness conservation easement on approximately 2,100 acres of Hersey Mountain Forest (NEFF's largest owned property at 3,200 acres) with Northeast Wilderness Trust in 2007. This was NEFF's first property to have a large number of acres designated as 'forever wild' under wilderness conservation easement.
• New England Forestry Consultants, Inc. (NEFCo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEFCo was spun off from NEFF in 1994 as a for-profit consulting forestry company. NEFCo foresters manage most of NEFF's lands, maintain NEFF's forestry certification through the Forest Stewardship Council and American Tree Farm System, and assist with design and implementation of new forestry initiatives. NEFF presented NEFCo with the Forest Champion Award in 2019.
• Irving Woodlands MainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEFF and Irving Woodlands Maine signed an agreement in June 2026 to defer timber harvesting on 500 acres of rare oldest-forest in northern Maine's Aroostook County, marking a step toward permanent protection of this rare old-growth forest.
• Maine AudubonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEFF co-leads a study with Maine Audubon on the impact of NEFF forest and habitat practices on bird habitat within the Western Maine Habitat Restoration initiative. Christine Parrish, NEFF's Western Maine Project Manager, leads this collaborative research effort.
• Dirigible Brewing Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNEFF partners with Dirigible Brewing Co. for the annual Spruce Tip Pale Ale release event, held at Dirigible's Littleton, MA location. This collaborative event promotes NEFF's work and forest conservation to the local community. Four releases of the seasonal ale have been held as of 2026.
• Climate Smart Wood GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEFF is a member of the Climate Smart Wood Group, a coalition of environmental, scientific, green building, and forestry organizations working on climate-smart wood initiatives. The group hosts regular webinar series and collaborative programming.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Forest Foundation: National nonprofit that supports family forest owners through the American Tree Farm System and other programs. Comparable to NEFF's private-landowner outreach and family-forest climate work; both deliver sustainability standards and certification programs to non-industrial private forest owners.
• Trust for Public Land: National land trust focused on land conservation for public benefit. Direct peer: operates conservation easements, acquires community forests, and partners with government agencies — overlapping mission and donor base with NEFF's land conservation work.
• The Conservation Fund: National nonprofit that combines conservation with working-land preservation, including forest projects. Direct peer to NEFF: holds working-forest conservation easements and partners with landowners on climate-smart forestry.
• The Nature Conservancy: Largest global conservation nonprofit. Direct peer to NEFF: TNC leases timber from two properties into NEFF's Pooled Timber Income Fund and shares Exemplary Forestry-style management. Both operate conservation easements, acquire land, and steward forests as climate solutions.

Regional players

• Vermont Land Trust: Vermont land trust that has conserved hundreds of thousands of acres through easements and direct ownership. Regional peer operating in NEFF's footprint with overlapping farmland and forestland conservation focus and similar donor-advised-fund/land-donation mechanics.
• Maine Coast Heritage Trust: Maine-based land trust that owns and manages more than 60,000 acres including the Farm Cove Community Forest in partnership with NEFF. Regional peer focused on the same geography and joint landowner; overlapping services in easement stewardship, community forests, and coastal/forestland preservation.
• Forest Society of Maine: Maine-based statewide land trust promoting sustainable forestry and conservation easements. Regional peer to NEFF: shares Maine landowner-engagement focus, certified-forestry expertise, and forest-climate narrative.
• Massachusetts Audubon Society: Regional conservation nonprofit operating wildlife sanctuaries and conservation programs across Massachusetts. Regional peer in NEFF's geography with overlapping habitat, forestry, and landowner engagement (e.g., the Western Maine Habitat Restoration co-led with NEFF).

Broad incumbents

• PotlatchDeltic Corporation: Timberland REIT managing ~2.2M acres across the U.S. including significant New England holdings. Broad incumbent with FSC-certified timber management and active forest-carbon programs — comparable in asset-management scale but for-profit rather than nonprofit conservation.
• Weyerhaeuser Company: Largest private U.S. timberland owner and a publicly traded timber REIT. Broad incumbent that operates at scale across New England timberland, FSC-certified forest management, and wood products — overlapping NEFF's sustainable forestry and bioeconomy activities but as a for-profit, large-portfolio operator rather than a mission-driven land trust.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NEForestry
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-england-forestry-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/neforestry
• Xx.com/neforestry

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles28 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New England Forestry Foundation