The Endowment works collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities.
The United States Endowment for Forestry uses grants, RFPs, and a dedicated impact investing program to back working forests and forest-reliant communities. Its recent awards show a pattern of funding market development alongside forest stewardship, with large commitments to organizations such as Working Forest Initiative for Traditional Markets and Oregon State University for P3 Nano research to commercialization. The Endowment also funds conservation and finance work, including support for The Nature Conservancy and Blue Forest Conservation. Its portfolio connects forest health to economic use of wood and forest products, and it repeatedly supports projects that move research, infrastructure, and market ideas toward implementation. Recent grants also point to interest in carbon, ecosystem markets, biochar, mass timber, and wood products infrastructure. The Endowment’s stated program areas include working forests, forest-reliant communities, forest health, ecosystem markets, carbon, market development for wood and wood products, and forestland outreach and retention. The mix of grants and investment tools indicates a funder that works across public, private, and research settings rather than through a single grant format.
In market development, the Endowment backed Rath Industries with $569,144 for Wood Products Infrastructure and Parma Post and Pole with $334,000 for Wood Products Infrastructure. It also funded Northern Forest Center with $411,961 for Economic Development Administration, linking forestry to regional economic activity. In research-to-market work, Oregon State University received $584,308 for P3 Nano Research to Commercialization, while Clemson University received $455,667 for P3 Nano Research to Commercialization; Mass Timber. Auburn University also received $271,354 for Mass Timber. The Endowment supports carbon and ecosystem finance through grants such as $440,365 to Blue Forest Conservation for Innovative Finance, Ecosystem Markets and $387,965 to World Resources Institute for Conservation Finance. It also gave $290,000 to North American Biochar Council for Biochar, showing interest in lower-carbon forest products and market design.
Typical awards cluster around mid-six figures, with a p25 of $31,935, a median of $67,304, and a p75 of $133,475. The recent list also shows several larger project grants above $300,000, suggesting layered support across smaller and major awards. Grantmaking is recurring rather than one-off: Working Forest Initiative appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025 with repeated support for Traditional Markets. The Endowment is a regular funder and also operates an impact investing program that includes PRIs, MRIs, equity investments, and loan-style instruments. Applicants can access open Requests for Proposals through its grantee portal when rounds are posted.
$9.1M
$292.5M
$10.2M
$29.6M
Most grants fall between $32K and $133K, with a median of $67K.
25th Percentile
$32K
Median
$67K
75th Percentile
$133K
About 5% of grants go to recipients in DC.
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The Endowment’s grantmaking is national, and every recent grant in the dataset went to U.S. recipients. Washington, DC appears as the top state by grant count, with grants to groups such as American Forests and Environmental Policy Innovations. Other visible hubs include Sacramento, California; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Corvallis and Portland, Oregon. The foundation also gives in its headquarters state of South Carolina, but that accounts for just 5% of grants.
The Endowment supports working forests, forest-reliant communities, forest health, ecosystem markets, carbon, market development for wood and wood products, and forestland outreach and retention. Recent grants show activity in wood products infrastructure, mass timber, biochar, conservation finance, and research-to-commercialization.
It primarily uses Requests for Proposals and directs applicants to its Grantee Portal when rounds are open. The organization also runs named programs such as the Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant Program, the Future Forest Economy Initiative, and the Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Program.
No. Alongside grants, it has an Impact Investing Program that deploys PRIs, MRIs, equity investments, and loan-style instruments. That program is aimed at market-driven solutions for working forests and forest-reliant communities.
Recipients in South Carolina account for 5% of grants, while the foundation gives most often in Washington, DC. The recent grant record is U.S.-only and shows recipients spread across multiple states.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from United States Endowment for Forestry that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Applicants are expected to come through the Endowment's RFP or invited process; unsolicited proposals are not accepted.
Who can apply: Applicants are expected to come through the Endowment's RFP or invited process; unsolicited proposals are not accepted.
Who can apply: Applicants are expected to come through the Endowment's RFP or invited process; unsolicited proposals are not accepted.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rath Industries | Redding, CA | $569,144 | 2025 | Wood Products Infrastructure |
| Working Forest Initiative | Savannah, GA | $500,000 | 2025 | Traditional Markets |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | $402,106 | 2025 | Downed Timber |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Lincoln, NE | $357,529 | 2025 | Mass Timber |
| Franklin Logging | Bella Vista, CA | $341,691 | 2025 | Wood Products Infrastructure |
| Parma Post and Pole | Parma, ID | $334,000 | 2025 | Wood Products Infrastructure |
| North American Biochar Council | Portland, OR | $290,000 | 2025 | Biochar |
| Bosland Growth LLC | Washington, DC | $277,599 | 2025 | Scarred Mine Land |
| Environmental Policy Innovations | College Park, MD | $256,599 | 2025 | Innovative Finance; Carbon |
| New Leaf Climate Partners | Lincoln Park, NJ | $237,400 | 2025 | Carbon |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | Milwaukee, WI | $207,047 | 2025 | P3 Nano Research to Commercialization |
| Blue Forest Conservation | Sacramento, CA | $198,888 | 2025 | Innovative Finance |
| Kodama Systems Inc | Sonora, CA | $194,000 | 2025 | Innovative Finance |
| Oregon State University | Corvallis, OR | $186,870 | 2025 | P3 Nano Research to Commercialization |
| Georgia Tech Research Corporation | Atlanta, GA | $181,860 | 2025 | P3 Nano Research to Commercialization; Carbon |
| The Sierra Fund | Nevada City, CA | $181,011 | 2025 | Carbon |
| Black Family Land Trust Inc | Durham, NC | $157,857 | 2025 | Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention |
| Center for Heirs Property Preservation | Charleston, SC | $157,835 | 2025 | Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention |
| McIntosh SEED | Darien, GA | $156,357 | 2025 | Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention |
| 2030 Inc | Sante Fe, NM | $153,148 | 2025 | Mass Timber |
| University of Arkansas Pine Bluff | Pine Bluff, AR | $143,308 | 2025 | Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention |
| Winston County Self Help | Jackson, MS | $142,857 | 2025 | Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention |
| Coalitions & Collaboratives Inc | Lake George, CO | $133,589 | 2025 | Innovative Finance |
| Help for Landowners | Conway, SC | $132,674 | 2025 | Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention |
| Softwood Lumber Board | Oregon City, OR | $128,000 | 2025 | Mass Timber |
| American Forests | Washington, DC | $127,847 | 2025 | Carbon |
| The Nature Conservancy | Arlington, VA | $125,000 | 2025 | Innovative Finance |
| LRLEAN Inc | Fayette, AL | $123,897 | 2025 | Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention |
| Council of Great Lakes Governors Inc | Arlington Heights, IL | $122,816 | 2025 | Innovative Finance |
| Salt River Project | Phoenix, AZ | $122,286 | 2025 | Innovative Finance |
| The University of Vermont | Burlington, VT | $116,857 | 2025 | Mass Timber |
| Impact Finance Center | Washington, DC | $107,999 | 2025 | Innovative Finance |
| Stephen F Austin State University | Nacogdoches, TX | $101,614 | 2025 | Mass Timber |
| National Woodland Owners Association | Vienna, VA | $100,140 | 2025 | Diversity Equity Inclusion |
| Keweenaw Community Foundation | Hancock, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | Community Preparedness |
| Roanoke Economic Development Inc | Rich Square, NC | $99,999 | 2025 | Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention |
| Mississippi State University | Mississippi State, MS | $99,697 | 2025 | Mass Timber |
| Maine Mountain Collaborative | Portland, ME | $98,513 | 2025 | Innovative Finance |
| University of Maine | Orono, ME | $98,362 | 2025 | P3 Nano Research to Commericalization; Economic Development Administration |
| Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI | $97,409 | 2025 | P3 Nano Research to Commercialization; Timber Harvesting |
| Pennsylvania State University | University Park, PA | $97,335 | 2025 | Carbon |
| Iowa State University of Science and Technology | Ames, IA | $92,512 | 2025 | Mass Timber |
| Khuba International | Ithaca, NY | $86,526 | 2025 | Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention |
| Dovetail Partners | Minneapolis, MN | $85,089 | 2025 | Carbon |
| Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN | $82,089 | 2025 | P3 Nano Research to Commercialization |
| Save The Redwoods League | San Francisco, CA | $80,000 | 2025 | Innovative Finance |
| The Freshwater Trust | Portland, OR | $78,711 | 2025 | Innovative Finance |
| Multiplier | San Francisco, CA | $77,769 | 2025 | Innovative Finance |
| mano-Y-ola | Raleigh, NC | $76,273 | 2025 | Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention |
| United States Biochar Initiative | Portland, OR | $69,729 | 2025 | Biochar |
Rath Industries
$569,144Wood Products Infrastructure
Working Forest Initiative
$500,000Traditional Markets
Auburn University
$402,106Downed Timber
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
$357,529Mass Timber
Franklin Logging
$341,691Wood Products Infrastructure
Parma Post and Pole
$334,000Wood Products Infrastructure
North American Biochar Council
Biochar
Bosland Growth LLC
$277,599Scarred Mine Land
Environmental Policy Innovations
$256,599Innovative Finance; Carbon
New Leaf Climate Partners
$237,400Carbon
University of Wisconsin-Madison
$207,047P3 Nano Research to Commercialization
Blue Forest Conservation
$198,888Innovative Finance
Kodama Systems Inc
$194,000Innovative Finance
Oregon State University
$186,870P3 Nano Research to Commercialization
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
$181,860P3 Nano Research to Commercialization; Carbon
The Sierra Fund
$181,011Carbon
Black Family Land Trust Inc
$157,857Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention
Center for Heirs Property Preservation
$157,835Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention
McIntosh SEED
$156,357Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention
2030 Inc
$153,148Mass Timber
University of Arkansas Pine Bluff
$143,308Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention
Winston County Self Help
$142,857Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention
Coalitions & Collaboratives Inc
$133,589Innovative Finance
Help for Landowners
$132,674Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention
Softwood Lumber Board
$128,000Mass Timber
American Forests
$127,847Carbon
The Nature Conservancy
$125,000Innovative Finance
LRLEAN Inc
$123,897Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention
Council of Great Lakes Governors Inc
$122,816Innovative Finance
Salt River Project
$122,286Innovative Finance
The University of Vermont
$116,857Mass Timber
Impact Finance Center
$107,999Innovative Finance
Stephen F Austin State University
$101,614Mass Timber
National Woodland Owners Association
$100,140Diversity Equity Inclusion
Keweenaw Community Foundation
$100,000Community Preparedness
Roanoke Economic Development Inc
$99,999Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention
Mississippi State University
$99,697Mass Timber
Maine Mountain Collaborative
$98,513Innovative Finance
University of Maine
$98,362P3 Nano Research to Commericalization; Economic Development Administration
Michigan State University
$97,409P3 Nano Research to Commercialization; Timber Harvesting
Pennsylvania State University
$97,335Carbon
Iowa State University of Science and Technology
$92,512Mass Timber
Khuba International
$86,526Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention
Dovetail Partners
$85,089Carbon
Purdue University
$82,089P3 Nano Research to Commercialization
Save The Redwoods League
$80,000Innovative Finance
The Freshwater Trust
$78,711Innovative Finance
Multiplier
$77,769Innovative Finance
mano-Y-ola
$76,273Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention
United States Biochar Initiative
$69,729Biochar
