American Forests

Tax-deductible

Washington, DC501(c)(3)Since 1875EnvironmentEIN 53-0196544Revenue $35.6M in FY2025

On file with the IRSamericanforests.org1220 L St Nw Ste 750, 20005-4079 · Washington, DCTax-exempt since Aug 1943Publicly supported — 509(a)(2)

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501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
88¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 6,850 volunteers and 199 employees.
Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

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FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $819K a year · 4% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
88%
of spending
Looks good: 88% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.3M
to officers and key staff · 7% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 68% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 7% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $8K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$3.4M
20% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 20% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
13
of 13 voting members
Looks good: 13 of 13 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$35.6M
+35% vs prior year
Spent
$32.3M
To programs
88%
Net assets
$13.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$35.6M
FY2025▲ +35%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$11.2M
FY2021$16.0M
FY2022$21.9M
FY2023$24.3M
FY2024$26.3M
FY2025$35.6M
Expenses
$32.3M
FY2025▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$11.4M
FY2021$12.9M
FY2022$18.5M
FY2023$25.8M
FY2024$29.5M
FY2025$32.3M
Net assets
$13.6M
FY2025▲ +33%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$8.4M
FY2021$11.8M
FY2022$14.2M
FY2023$13.0M
FY2024$10.2M
FY2025$13.6M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending September 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Aug 1943.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

88 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 88% · $28.5M Management & general 4% · $1.2M Fundraising 8% · $2.7M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

24 people listed on the 990; $2.3M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
President/CEO (to 09/25)
$315,009Pt VII · Sec A
$230,780Pt VII · Sec A
$228,454Pt VII · Sec A
$225,509Pt VII · Sec A
$218,647Pt VII · Sec A
$207,271Pt VII · Sec A
$203,198Pt VII · Sec A
$201,476Pt VII · Sec A

James Daley’s $315K as President/CEO (to 09/25) is at the 68th percentile of top reported officer pay among 324 $10–100M environment nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
James Daley$315,009$348,410$384,579$323,890$286,906—
Jad Daley—————$249,072
Peter Hutchins$228,454$241,248$232,190$210,651$191,136$175,050
Benita Hussain$230,780$226,331$144,189———
Rebecca Turner——$228,990$188,412$177,994$152,392
Becky Turner$225,509$213,558————
Mary A T Alexander Taliaferro Picka$218,647—————
Holly Bostrom$201,476$209,036————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See American Forests executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Protects and expands threatened urban and wildland forest ecosystems across the United States through public awareness campaigns, policy advocacy, and community engagement.

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $28.5M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Programs and Public Policy

American Forests' programmatic work is focused on growing forests that last through climate-resilient forestry, restoring forest landscapes to create greater wildfire resilience and investing in trees for healthier cities through Urban Forestry.

$26.2Mprogram expense
02

Communications

Marketing and communications are core programs that drive our mission forward by powerfully telling the stories of American Forest's impact on the ground, elevating our organization's voice, influencing policy and attracting new and continued partnership and investment.

$2.3Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$8K
Grants paid · 340 grants · $28.1M · 2019–2024
Red Mtn Resource LLCFY2024$1,318,763
The Greening of DetroitMI · FY2024$334,783
Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife DivisionFY2024$240,670
Sierra Nevada AllianceCA · FY2024$189,468
Alta Archaeological Consulting LLCFY2024$149,012
US Forest ServiceFY2024$121,875
The University of TennesseeFY2024$111,000
Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcesFY2024$106,093
Michigan State UniversityMI · FY2024$100,000
Prt USA INCFY2024$94,795
Bexar Branches Alliance CorpTX · FY2024$70,000
City of CamasFY2024$65,000
NC Dept of Agriculture and Consumer ServicesFY2024$63,489
Bbrac Farms LLCFY2024$63,200
Trees Atlanta INCGA · FY2024$60,000
Knox INCCT · FY2024$60,000
The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFY2024$58,676
See all 340 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$35.6M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$35.3M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$261K
Investment incomeLn 3$46K
Money outPt IX
$32.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$28.5M
Managementcol C$1.2M
Fundraisingcol D$2.7M
Owns and owesPt X
$13.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$9.6M
Total assetsLn 16$17.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.4M
PeoplePt VI, VII
24
listed · VII A
PaidVII A11
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b13
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$35.3M
Government grantsLn 1e$14.2M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$74K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$261K
Investment incomeLn 3$46K
Other incomeLn 4–11$7K
Total revenueLn 12$35.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$8.8M
SavingsLn 2$753K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$9.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$5K
Other assetsLn 15$57K
Total assetsLn 16$17.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.4M
Net assetsLn 32$13.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5199
VolunteersI 66,850
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.2M$9.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.1M$1.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$12K$5K
Total assetsLn 16$15.4M$17.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.2M$3.4M
Net assetsLn 32$10.2M$13.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$7.3M$7.3M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.2M$929K$172K$87K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$8.9M$7.0M$1.3M$654K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$375K$293K$54K$27K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$1.0M$805K$149K$75K
Payroll taxesLn 10$785K$614K$113K$57K
Legal feesLn 11b$175K$175K
Accounting feesLn 11c$403K$403K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$1.3M$1.3M
Investment management feesLn 11f$22K$22K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$6.6M$5.2M$1.3M$84K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$141K$141K
Office expensesLn 13$617K$503K$94K$20K
Information technologyLn 14$967K$967K
OccupancyLn 16$342K$3K$340K
TravelLn 17$525K$505K$16K$4K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$702K$676K$21K$5K
InterestLn 20$24K$11K$12K$882
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$7K$7K
InsuranceLn 23$47K$47K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$825K$3.4M−$2.9M$335K
Total functional expensesLn 25$32.3M$28.5M$1.2M$2.7M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $35.6M$32.3M$3.3M$13.6M 990 PDF
FY2024 $26.3M$29.5M−$3.2M$10.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $24.3M$25.8M−$1.5M$13.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $21.9M$18.5M$3.4M$14.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $16.0M$12.9M$3.1M$11.8M 990 PDF
FY2020 $11.2M$11.4M−$206K$8.4M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $35,611,433 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $26,104,729$35,297,600
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $8,546$260,663
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $172,420$46,080
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $12,163$7,090
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $26,297,858$35,611,433
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $6,674,454$7,305,070
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $11,864,861$12,312,868
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $1,040,502$1,312,345
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $9,896,643$11,406,272
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $29,476,460$32,336,555
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$3,178,602$3,274,878
Part VI · Governance 13 of 13 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members13
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $35,611,433 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$25,724
VIII-1b Membership dues$69,990
VIII-1e Government grants$14,162,487
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$21,039,399
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$74,214
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$35,297,600
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $165,649 · Unrelated business $661 · Excluded from tax $94,353$260,663
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $46,080$46,080
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $7,090$7,090
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $165,649 · Unrelated business $661 · Excluded from tax $147,523$35,611,433
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $32,336,555 across 21 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $7,305,070$7,305,070
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $928,868 · Management $171,636 · Fundraising $86,834$1,187,338
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $6,991,665 · Management $1,291,932 · Fundraising $653,598$8,937,195
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $293,417 · Management $54,219 · Fundraising $27,429$375,065
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $804,578 · Management $148,672 · Fundraising $75,212$1,028,462
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $613,964 · Management $113,449 · Fundraising $57,395$784,808
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $174,561$174,561
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $403,475$403,475
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $1,312,345$1,312,345
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $22,500$22,500
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $5,215,400 · Management $1,310,629 · Fundraising $83,707$6,609,736
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $140,688$140,688
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $502,701 · Management $93,801 · Fundraising $20,442$616,944
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $966,753$966,753
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $2,628 · Management $339,852$342,480
IX-17 TravelPrograms $505,256 · Management $15,879 · Fundraising $3,654$524,789
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $675,778 · Management $21,239 · Fundraising $4,887$701,904
IX-20 InterestPrograms $11,060 · Management $12,115 · Fundraising $882$24,057
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $6,841$6,841
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $46,642$46,642
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $3,379,369 · Management −$2,889,653 · Fundraising $335,186$824,902
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $28,511,756 · Management $1,163,228 · Fundraising $2,661,571$32,336,555
Part X · Balance sheet $16,963,330 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $3,352,669$8,819,346
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $890,166$753,220
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $9,612,311$6,061,846
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $398,650$147,229
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $11,775$4,934
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,059,621$1,119,380
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $57,375$57,375
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $15,382,567$16,963,330
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $4,117,777$3,380,363
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $450,305$24,036
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $603,135$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $5,171,217$3,404,399
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year −$2,442,864−$452,900
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $12,654,214$14,011,831
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $10,211,350$13,558,931
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $15,382,567$16,963,330
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $13,558,931 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$35,611,433
XI-2 Total expenses$32,336,555
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$3,274,878
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$10,211,350
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$72,703
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$13,558,931

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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