MISSISSIPPI FORESTRY ASSOCIATION

What MISSISSIPPI FORESTRY ASSOCIATION does

The Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA) is a statewide nonprofit membership organization founded in 1938 and headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi. It is the only statewide nonprofit in Mississippi dedicated to sustaining the state's forests, serving nearly 3,000 members that span timberland owners, forest-industry firms (pulp, paper, sawmills, bioenergy, chip mills), consulting foresters, logging contractors, hunting clubs, banks and financial institutions, and students. Its core offering is the MFA Membership Program, which is structured into more than 16 dues tiers calibrated to acreage, production volume, or gross sales depending on member category.

MFA operates as an advocacy, certification-administration, insurance-brokerage, and education platform rather than a technology company. It has no proprietary technology products; its digital infrastructure (website, member portal, event registration, online store) runs on YourMembership.com association-management software under a relationship dating to 1998. Its substantive "platform" consists of (1) legislative monitoring and political advocacy, including an affiliated Mississippi Forest Sustainability PAC formed in 2015; (2) administration of the Mississippi Sustainable Forestry Initiative State Implementation Committee and the Mississippi Tree Farm Program; (3) member insurance access brokered through AssuredPartners, FMIC Insurance Company, and United Risk Advisors; (4) continuing education including PLM Core/Business Management courses and Teachers Conservation Workshops; (5) workforce development via ForestryWorks (brought to Mississippi in 2022) and youth programs such as Project Learning Tree, FFA/4-H contests, and a Mass Timber Studio with Mississippi State University; and (6) a Member Rewards program with discounts from vendors including TIMCO, Forestry Suppliers, and Gateway Tires. The Mississippi Forestry Foundation (MFF), established in 1964 as a wholly-owned nonprofit subsidiary, handles fundraising for educational exhibits and outreach programs.

MFA generates revenue through annual membership dues (subscription/recurring), referral commissions from insurance partnerships (affiliate/referral), paid continuing-education and workshop fees (professional services), event registration and sponsorship (annual meeting, golf tournaments, fundraisers like Sip the Forest), and one-time online store sales of books and merchandise. Distribution is multi-channel: online and mail membership applications, 50+ County Forestry Associations serving as grassroots affiliates, direct insurance carrier portals, in-person workshops at community colleges and extension offices, and e-commerce. The organization operates exclusively within Mississippi and is governed by a Board of Directors / Executive Committee led by Executive Director Casey Anderson.

Name

MISSISSIPPI FORESTRY ASSOCIATION

Legal name

Mississippi Forestry Association

Website

https://msforestry.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Mississippi Forestry Association is a 1938-founded, Jackson-based statewide nonprofit serving nearly 3,000 members across Mississippi's forestry community with advocacy, certification administration (SFI, Tree Farm), insurance brokerage, continuing education, and workforce development programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forestry Trade Association Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Forestry advocacy services
• Forest certification programs
• Membership trade association
• Landowner education
• Timber insurance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Jackson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues structured by category and acreage/sales volume. Multiple tiers for timberland owners (0-250 acres at $60 up to 2,501+ acres at $60 plus $0.025 per acre), associates (based on gross sales to forestry industry), and other categories including student ($25), lifetime ($1,250), hunting clubs ($80), logging contractors ($90), and various industry categories based on production metrics.
2. Insurance Programs: MFA provides access to discounted insurance policies through partnerships with AssuredPartners (timberland liability, hunt lease, prescribed burn, property, standing timber, consulting forester, reforestation, guides/outfitters) and United Risk Advisors (workers compensation, property, inland marine, general liability, business auto, commercial umbrella). Revenue generated through member referrals and group purchasing power.
3. Store/Merchandise Sales: Online store selling books (Family TREES at $15-20, timber history books at $20 each, combo packs at $35), promotional items, annual meeting materials, and MFF fundraiser items.
4. Education Programs: Continuing education courses including PLM Core Classes ($100) and PLM Business Management courses ($150). Teachers Conservation Workshops ranging from $60-$125. These programs offer CFE/CLE credits for professionals.
5. Events and Annual Meeting: Annual meeting generates revenue through registration, golf tournaments ($150), sporting clay shoots, spouse events, and student sponsorships. Fundraiser events like Sip the Forest and Lagers and Foresters also generate donations and attendance revenue.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Mississippi Forestry Association is a statewide non-profit trade association that sells tiered memberships to timberland owners, forest industry companies, consultants, logging contractors, and other forestry stakeholders in Mississippi. Members gain access to advocacy representation, forest certification programs (SFI and Tree Farm), discounted insurance programs through partner brokers, continuing education courses, youth workforce development programs, publications, and member networking through County Forestry Association affiliates. The organization also generates revenue through its online bookstore, paid professional workshops, annual meeting sponsorships, and donations to its supporting Mississippi Forestry Foundation.

Product overview

Mississippi Forestry Association is a membership-based nonprofit organization offering a unified platform of products and services for the forestry community. The core offering is the MFA Membership Program with tiered categories for various stakeholders (timberland owners, consultants, logging contractors, etc.). This membership provides access to insurance programs through AssuredPartners and FMIC, forest certification programs (SFI and Tree Farm), educational programs (Project Learning Tree, Teachers Conservation Workshops), workforce development (ForestryWorks), and youth forestry initiatives. Members also receive publications and advocacy services. The organization supports the forestry industry through advocacy, education, and outreach while promoting sustainable forest management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MFA Membership Program Annual tiered membership program for timberland owners, forest industry companies, consulting foresters, logging contractors, hunting clubs, students, and other forestry stakeholders in Mississippi. Includes advocacy, education, certification access, insurance programs, publications, and member rewards.
• Hunt Club and Timberland Insurance (AssuredPartners) Discounted insurance coverage for members including Timberland Liability, Hunt Lease Liability, Prescribed Burn Insurance, Property, Standing Timber, Consulting Forester, Reforestation, and Guides and Outfitters coverage, accessed through AssuredPartners.
• Commercial Insurance (FMIC) Workers compensation insurance and commercial coverage for the wood products industry including logging, sawmills, and pulp and paper mills, accessed through FMIC Insurance Company.
• Teachers Conservation Workshops (TCW) Multi-day in-person workshops for K-12 teachers emphasizing forests and natural resources, offered at Jones College (South), Northeast Mississippi Community College (North), and Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum (Metro). Includes CEU credits and 50 contact hours. Priced at $60-$125 per person.
• PLM Core and Business Management Courses Continuing education courses for forestry professionals covering core land management and business management topics. PLM Core Class priced at $100 per person and PLM Business Management Course priced at $150 per person including lunch and 8 hours CLE credit.
• MFA Publications Store Online bookstore selling Family TREES ($15-20), Timber: A Photographic History of Mississippi Forestry ($20), Mississippi Forests and Forestry ($20), and combo packs ($35), plus promotional items and annual meeting materials.

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ForestryWorks National ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022MFA brought ForestryWorks, an affiliate of the national ForestryWorks program, to Mississippi in 2022 to strengthen the pipeline of skilled forestry professionals. ForestryWorks hosts a free job board for MFA and Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Association member companies.
• YourMembership.comcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1998YourMembership.com provides the association management software powering the MFA website, including membership management, event registration, online store, and member communications.
• SFI Inc. (Sustainable Forestry Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFA manages the Mississippi Sustainable Forestry Initiative State Implementation Committee (MS-SIC). Across Canada and the United States, 370 million acres are certified to the SFI forest management standard. MFA coordinates SFI program participation, fiber sourcing requirements, and chain-of-custody certification for Mississippi stakeholders.
• American Tree Farm System (ATFS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFA administers the Mississippi Tree Farm Program, affiliated with the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), a program of the American Forest Foundation. The first Mississippi Tree Farm was certified in 1944. Mississippi was one of the first states to join ATFS.
• FMIC Insurance CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFA partners with FMIC Insurance Company to provide Workers Compensation insurance to wood products industry members. FMIC has been a trusted leader in wood products industry insurance for over fifty years, founded in 1971.
• TIMCOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTIMCO offers a $250 discount on purchases over $5,000 for MFA members. TIMCO provides natural resource investment services.
• TreeTrackerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTreeTracker offers 10% discount for MFA members on their tree tracking/management services.
• Forestry SuppliersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFamily-owned Mississippi business offering 7% discount off non-sale items plus free UPS ground shipping up to 150 lbs for MFA members.
• Gateway TiresminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGateway Tires offers 10% discount on tires at participating stores in Ridgeland, Jackson, and Flowood for MFA members.
• Meeks' Farms and NurseryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMeeks' Farms and Nursery offers $50 off purchase of 5,000 seedlings or $100 off purchase of 10,000 seedlings for MFA members.
• Frederick's Sales and ServiceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOffers 10% discount off MSRP on Stihl gasoline or battery operated chainsaws, trimmers, blowers, or hedge trimmers for MFA members at Brandon location.
• Mississippi State University School of ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFF sponsors an annual Mass Timber Studio for MSU architecture students. MFA staff and members tour sawmills and Tree Farms with students during their second year, then engage with fourth-year Mass Timber Studio projects.
• Project Learning Tree (PLT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFA provides Project Learning Tree professional development workshops. PLT is an award-winning environmental education curriculum. MFA participants become certified to use PLT materials.
• Mississippi Children's MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFF raised over $250,000 to fund a forestry exhibit at MCM, which opened in 2010. The exhibit allows children to operate a kid-sized skidder. MFF continues to support the museum to maintain the exhibit.
• Mississippi Museum of Natural SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFF led fundraising for the Towering Treasures exhibit at the museum, which opened in 2004. The exhibit allows visitors to explore trees and forest ecosystems while learning about biological and economic value of trees.
• Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFF Communications Committee funded updates to the forestry exhibit, sawmill exhibit, ground level fire tower exhibit, and construction of an observation deck.
• AssuredPartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFA partnered with AssuredPartners to offer discounted insurance programs for members including Timberland Liability, Hunt Lease Liability, Prescribed Burn Insurance, Property, Standing Timber, Consulting Forester, Reforestation, and Guides and Outfitters coverage.
• United Risk AdvisorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFA membership provides access to discounted insurance policies through United Risk Advisors including Workers Compensation, Property, Inland Marine, General Liability, Business Auto, and Commercial Umbrella.

Scale indicators9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0SVpv_oC4ARcD0pRjmhK0w?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/msforestry
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mississippi-forestry-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 MISSISSIPPI FORESTRY ASSOCIATION