Michigan Forest Association

What Michigan Forest Association does

Michigan Forest Association (MFA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1972 and headquartered in Okemos, Michigan, that serves as the state's primary membership-based association for private forest landowners, professional foresters, and educators. Its stated mission is to inspire and empower people to sustainably manage, conserve, and enjoy forests through education, advocacy, and fellowship. MFA delivers value through a portfolio of educational programs and services rather than technology products, including a quarterly Michigan Forests magazine (in publication since 1980), a monthly LEAVES e-newsletter, the Neighbor Network tree-planting initiative operated through conservation district hubs, the WOAW Weekend women landowners event, an annual celebration at Treetops Resort, K-12 teacher workshops, and management of six demonstration forest properties across the state.

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Nicole F. Doyle, supported by a lean staff of 1-10 employees including a Project Manager (Vic Lane), Outreach Forester (Ellie Johnson, hired September 2025), and Grant Accountant (Melissa Franquist). MFA generates revenue through annual membership dues, tax-deductible donations processed via the Kindful platform, advertising in its quarterly magazine, event registration fees ($100-$200 per attendee across WOAW and Annual Celebration), and administration of the Forest and Water Fund—a partnership with the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts and US Forest Service that controls $6.4 million in federal cost-share funding for private landowner forest management projects.

MFA's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, anchored by longstanding partnerships with the National Woodland Owners Association (its national affiliate representing 11 million family woodland owners), Michigan State University Department of Forestry, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, US Forest Service, and a growing network of county conservation districts that serve as Neighbor Network hubs. Key recent developments include the 2025 expansion of staff capacity, the 2026 rollout of two new Neighbor Network hubs in Marquette and Presque Isle counties, and the assumption of administrative responsibility for federal pass-through funding—signaling gradual programmatic growth within the structural constraints of a small membership nonprofit.

Name

Michigan Forest Association

Legal name

Michigan Forest Association

Website

https://michiganforests.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Michigan Forest Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1972 that provides education, advocacy, and community programs for Michigan's private forest landowners, professional foresters, and educators, supported by membership dues, donations, events, and federal grant administration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forestry Education and Conservation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Timberland Asset Management & Consulting (AFAMAAAI), Tree Protection & Browsing Control (Guards, Fencing, Repellents) (AFAMACAH)

Keywords

• Forest conservation education
• Woodland stewardship resources
• Forestry advocacy services
• Sustainable forest management
• Private forest landowner support

Headquarters

HQ city

Okemos

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues providing access to quarterly Michigan Forests magazine, monthly LEAVES e-newsletter, educational programs, field days, and member community. 7% discount at Forestry Suppliers included.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations under 501(c)(3) status. EIN 38-1981176. Various fundraising campaigns and event-based donations.
3. Forest and Water Fund Administration: Partnership with MACD and USFS to administer $6.4 million available for forest management projects. Individual landowners can apply for up to $25,000 in direct cash reimbursement.
4. Publication Advertising: Advertising rates available for Michigan Forests quarterly magazine. Contact Grant Accountant for advertising rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Michigan Forest Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization that provides education, resources, and advocacy for private forest owners and woodland enthusiasts in Michigan. Its core offerings include a quarterly magazine, monthly newsletter, demonstration forests, the Neighbor Network tree-planting initiative, and the Forest and Water Fund grant program, alongside annual events such as the Annual Celebration and WOAW Weekend. The organization also runs targeted teacher workshops on sustainable forest management in partnership with Michigan State University and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Product overview

Michigan Forest Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves as a membership-based association for forest owners, foresters, and those interested in Michigan's forests. The organization offers a portfolio of educational products and services including Michigan Forests Magazine (quarterly publication), LEAVES monthly e-newsletter, educational videos, and various programs such as the Neighbor Network tree planting initiative, Forest and Water Fund grant program, WOAW Weekend, and Annual Celebration events. MFA also manages demonstration forests across Michigan for educational outreach and hosts the annual celebration featuring panel discussions and field tours.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Michigan Forest Association Membership Annual Individual/Family membership providing access to the quarterly Michigan Forests magazine, monthly LEAVES e-newsletter, educational programs, field days, and a 7% discount at Forestry Suppliers. Designed for private forest owners and woodland enthusiasts in Michigan.
• Michigan Forests Magazine Quarterly periodical featuring forest management insights, landowner stories, research updates, and association news for Michigan Forest Association members.
• LEAVES Newsletter Monthly e-newsletter sent to current and prospective members through email, covering news and updates about forest management.
• Neighbor Network Tree planting initiative partnering with conservation districts across Michigan to connect private landowners, educate communities on tree planting practices, and provide tools, funding, and resources for tree planting projects.
• Forest and Water Fund Partnership between MFA and Michigan Association of Conservation Districts supported by the US Forest Service, offering up to $25,000 in direct cash reimbursement for forest management practices on private lands.
• WOAW Weekend Annual Women Owning and Appreciating Woodlands Weekend event designed to discuss forest management recommendations, ecological properties of Michigan ecosystems, and what it means to be a good forest steward, with sessions hosted by natural resource professionals.
• Annual Celebration MFA's largest annual event featuring panel discussions, concurrent sessions, field tours, awards ceremony, and member meetings celebrating Michigan's forest heritage.
• MFA Demonstration Forests Properties managed by MFA as demonstration forests for educational purposes, including parcels in Clare County, Emmet County (Valley Road and Robinson Road), Gogebic County, Iron County, Isabella County, and the Argow Property (Whitetail Run).
• Sustainable Forest Management Teacher Workshops Workshops for K-12 teachers ($100 per teacher) on forest ecology, tree identification, forest management systems, and Michigan forest history, including field trips to timber sales and forest product mills.
• Green Gold: Michigan Forest History Educational publication geared toward childhood education for elementary school age children about Michigan's forest history.
• Michigan's Famous and Historic Trees A publication documenting Michigan's famous and historic trees.
• MFA Educational Videos A virtual collection of educational and enjoyable videos geared towards private forest owners and managers, with some content for younger audiences. Includes content on forest history, ownership, and management.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,275 native tree and shrub seedlings planted through Neighbor Network
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Marquette County Conservation DistrictminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Newly established Neighbor Network hub as of 2026. Currently has 8 passionate Neighbors ready to assist in planting trees.
• Presque Isle Conservation DistrictminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Newly established Neighbor Network hub as of 2026. Currently has 8 Neighbors ready to assist. Planted 200 seedlings at Herman Vogler Conservation Area in 2026.
• Fred Prince / Forests for the FuturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Fred Prince invested in over 12,000 acres of Michigan property for reforestation. After his death in 2011, six properties were deeded to MFA for educational demonstration and sustainable management.
• National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFA's national partner, headquartered in Washington DC with 42 affiliated state landowner associations. Represents 11 million family woodland owners who own and manage half of all forested landscapes in America. NWOA founder Keith Argow donated property to MFA.
• Walnut Council (Michigan Chapter)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience-based organization encouraging research, discussion, and application of knowledge about growing hardwood trees. Represents nearly 800 woodland owners, foresters, forest scientists, and wood-producing industry representatives.
• Michigan Association of Conservation Districts (MACD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFA and MACD are proud partners in the Forest and Water Fund, supported by the United States Forest Service with $6.4 million available for forest management projects on private lands.
• Benzie Conservation DistrictcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNeighbor Network hub where the initiative began. Now has over 90 members who have helped complete seven tree plantings resulting in 3,275 native tree and shrub seedlings planted.
• Keith ArgowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder and President Emeritus of National Woodland Owners Association passed one of his 40-acre parcels to MFA as a demonstration forest between Cadillac and Manistee along M37.
• Michigan State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSU Department of Forestry partnership for teacher workshops. MSU Extension foresters (Bill Cook, Georgia Peterson) serve as main instructors for MFA programs. Dr. Emily Silver is Associate Chairperson at MSU Department of Forestry.
• Michigan Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Forest Stewardship Program, sustainable forest management initiatives, and access to DNR Ralph A. MacMullen Conference Center for teacher workshops.
• Michigan Audubon SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNear MFA's office location, enabling collaboration on bird habitat and forest ecosystem education programs.
• Michigan Nature AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNear MFA's office location, enabling collaboration on conservation and native species education.
• MSU ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsored Forest Therapy outreach activities. Partnership for educational programming and extension services.
• U.S. Forest ServiceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for MFA teacher workshops and Forest and Water Fund partnership ($6.4 million program). Forest Stewardship Program co-sponsor with Michigan DNR.
• Industrial Arts InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for dibble bar tools used in Neighbor Network tree plantings. Two IAI students attended spring tree planting workshop.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Forest Foundation: National nonprofit focused on family forest stewardship through the Tree Farm program and conservation incentive funding. Comparable in mission (private landowner support, education, advocacy) but operates nationally with broader programmatic scale than MFA.
• Arbor Day Foundation: National nonprofit promoting tree planting and forest stewardship through membership, education, and partnerships. Comparable in membership-based nonprofit model and education-driven mission, though broader in scope (tree planting rather than active forest management).
• National Woodland Owners Association: National umbrella organization for family woodland owners, representing 11M owners across 42 state affiliates including MFA. Operates at federal advocacy and national policy scale; MFA is one of its affiliated state associations, making NWOA both a partner and the natural national-level peer.

Direct peers

• Michigan Association of Conservation Districts: Statewide association of Michigan's conservation districts and MFA's closest operational partner. Shares private landowner service mission in Michigan, co-administers the Forest and Water Fund, and operates the Neighbor Network hub channel — comparable in geographic scope and stakeholder overlap.
• Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association: State-level forest landowner association serving Wisconsin, structurally identical to MFA with education, advocacy, and member services for private woodland owners. One of 42 NWOA state affiliates operating the same playbook in a neighboring Great Lakes state.
• Minnesota Forestry Association: State-level nonprofit supporting private forest landowners in Minnesota with educational programming, advocacy, and publications. Directly comparable in scale, geography (Great Lakes forestry), and member-services model to MFA.
• Pennsylvania Forestry Association: State-level nonprofit advocating for private forest landowners in Pennsylvania through education, publications, and policy engagement. Operates the same membership-nonprofit model for private woodland stewardship as MFA.

Emerging players

• Forest Guild: National organization of professional foresters and allied practitioners providing technical guidance on ecological forestry. Comparable in forestry advocacy and education mission, but focused on professionals rather than private landowners — adjacent rather than direct overlap with MFA's landowner base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MichiganForestAssociation1972
• Facebookfacebook.com/MichiganForestAssociation
• Instagraminstagram.com/michiganforestassociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/michigan-forest-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 Michigan Forest Association