Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS.

Totals

Total revenue
$6,352,482
Total expenses
$6,512,396
Contributions and grants received
$2,489,777
Grants paid
$117,037
Program service revenue
$2,812,832
Investment income
$1,019,708
Other revenue
$30,165
Total assets, end of year
$27,280,718
Total liabilities, end of year
$2,739,547
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$24,541,171
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$5,100,670
Management and general expenses
$1,298,517
Fundraising expenses
$113,209
Program service expenses (Part III)
$5,100,670

Program services were 78.3% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $2,053,109

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $436,668

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $37,200

  • 2a · Program service revenue: CONVENTIONS AND MEETINGS

    total $948,049 · related or exempt $948,049

  • 2b · Program service revenue: MEMBERSHIP DUES

    total $904,629 · related or exempt $904,629

  • 2c · Program service revenue: PUBLICATIONS

    total $442,813 · related or exempt $442,813

  • 2d · Program service revenue: SCIENCE AND EDUCATION

    total $269,279 · related or exempt $269,279

  • 2e · Program service revenue: ADVERTISING

    total $165,312 · related or exempt $130,438 · unrelated business $34,874

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $82,750 · related or exempt $82,750

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $672,926 · excluded $672,926

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $1,586,801

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $1,240,019

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $346,782

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $346,782 · excluded $346,782

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $17,667

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $15,605

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $2,062 · related or exempt $2,062

  • 11a · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $28,103 · excluded $28,103

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $28,103

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $61,987 · program services $61,987

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $55,050 · program services $55,050

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $484,184 · program services $407,373 · management and general $61,572 · fundraising $15,239

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,744,515 · program services $1,467,764 · management and general $221,842 · fundraising $54,909

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $52,317 · program services $44,017 · management and general $6,653 · fundraising $1,647

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $311,214 · program services $261,842 · management and general $39,576 · fundraising $9,796

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $167,972 · program services $141,326 · management and general $21,360 · fundraising $5,286

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $70,227 · program services $57,988 · management and general $12,229 · fundraising $10

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $111,806 · program services $92,321 · management and general $19,470 · fundraising $15

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $86,867 · management and general $86,867

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $811,467 · program services $670,046 · management and general $141,309 · fundraising $112

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $86,668 · program services $71,564 · management and general $15,092 · fundraising $12

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $318,728 · program services $235,334 · management and general $76,988 · fundraising $6,406

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $291,994 · program services $233,058 · management and general $57,057 · fundraising $1,879

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $198,720 · program services $69,446 · management and general $126,323 · fundraising $2,951

  • 17 · Travel

    total $407,117 · program services $206,796 · management and general $187,530 · fundraising $12,791

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $1,067,914 · program services $881,800 · management and general $185,967 · fundraising $147

  • 20 · Interest

    total $12,570 · program services $9,281 · management and general $3,036 · fundraising $253

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $20,884 · program services $15,420 · management and general $5,044 · fundraising $420

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $69,524 · program services $57,407 · management and general $12,107 · fundraising $10

  • 24a · Other expenses: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $42,164 · program services $31,132 · management and general $10,187 · fundraising $845

  • 24b · Other expenses: PAYROLL ADMIN

    total $14,714 · program services $12,150 · management and general $2,562 · fundraising $2

  • 24c · Other expenses: BAD DEBTS

    total $10,128 · program services $7,478 · management and general $2,446 · fundraising $204

  • 24d · Other expenses: TAXES & FEES

    total $7,694 · program services $5,681 · management and general $1,858 · fundraising $155

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $5,971 · program services $4,409 · management and general $1,442 · fundraising $120

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $303,546 · end of year $344,839

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $593,789 · end of year $290,926

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $353,895 · end of year $808,083

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $143,515 · end of year $91,581

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $646,409

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $434,051

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $252,454 · end of year $212,358

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $22,973,341 · end of year $24,450,869

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $1,205,557 · end of year $1,082,062

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $404,751 · end of year $300,388

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $695,228 · end of year $619,949

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $302,378 · end of year $503,081

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $1,294,627 · end of year $1,316,129

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $22,471,514 · end of year $23,801,477

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $657,599 · end of year $739,694

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE MISSION OF THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS IS TO ADVANCE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF FOREST RESOURCES THROUGH SCIENCE, EDUCATION, AND TECHNOLOGY, PROMOTING PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE WHILE ENSURING THE CONTINUED HEALTH, INTEGRITY, AND USE OF FORESTS TO BENEFIT SOCIETY IN PERPETUITY.

  • GOVERNMENT GRANT AND OTHER PROGRAMS: THE SOCIETY OFFERS OTHER PROGRAMS IN SERVICE OF ITS MEMBERSHIP AND OF THE PROFESSION. THE SOCIETY AWARDS GRANTS TO AFFILIATED STATE SOCIETIES FOR INNOVATIVE PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT BENEFIT THE PROFESSION. SOCIETY ALSO AWARDS GRANTS IN THE AREAS OF INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, COMMUNICATIONS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND STUDENT LEADERSHIP.

    Expenses $2,412,032 · Grants $87,374

  • MEMBERSHIP SERVICES: THE SOCIETY'S MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM SERVES SOCIETY MEMBERS BY ENSURING THAT THEY RECEIVE TIMELY, HIGH QUALITY, AND HIGHLY VALUED SERVICES. THE PROGRAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RECRUITING, ENGAGING, RETAINING MEMBERS, PROVIDING CUSTOMER SERVICE, MANAGING PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION, AND STATE SOCIETY COMPLIANCE. MARKETING AND OUTREACH: THE SOCIETY'S MARKETING AND OUTREACH EFFORTS CONSTITUTE A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM THAT SPANS THE ORGANIZATION'S PORTFOLIO OF WORK AND AMPLIFIES THE VALUE OF THE FORESTRY PROFESSION ACROSS THE FOREST SECTOR AND BEYOND. THIS PROGRAM ENHANCES THE SOCIETY'S ONLINE PRESENCE AND BRAND RECOGNITION, WHILE RECRUITING FOR OUR CAUSE AND MAKING THE CASE FOR FOREST CLIMATE SOLUTIONS.STATE SOCIETIES: THROUGH ITS STATE SOCIETIES, DIVISIONS, AND CHAPTERS, THE SOCIETY SUPPORTS THE WORK OF 30 STATE SOCIETIES AND 141 CHAPTERS ACROSS THE US THAT PROVIDE VALUE, EDUCATION, NETWORKING, AND OTHER BENEFITS TO MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. POLICY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS: THE SOCIETY'S POLICY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM WORKS WITH POLICYMAKERS, PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, AND COALITIONS TO BUILD AWARENESS AND PROMOTE SCIENCE-BASED, SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT AND GIVE FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES PROFESSIONALS THE POLICY TOOLS, FUNDING, AND OTHER AUTHORITIES THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THROUGH THE POLICY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM, THE SOCIETY ALSO ORGANIZES STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS FUNDED BY GOVERNMENT GRANTS TO CONVENE THE SECTOR AND BENEFIT THE BROADER FORESTRY COMMUNITY. #FORESTPROUD: THE SOCIETY'S #FORESTPROUD PROGRAM IS THE FOREST SECTOR'S GREATEST COMMUNICATIONS ASSET. WHEN #FORESTPROUD WAS LAUNCHED, ITS GOAL WAS TO BRING THE FOREST SECTOR TOGETHER TO BETTER TELL THE STORY OF WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE DO, AND WHY WE ARE PROUD OF WHAT WE CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND ECOSYSTEMS. TOGETHER, WE BUILT THE #FORESTPROUD COMMUNITY. AND TODAY, WE ARE BETTER POSITIONED TO ELEVATE TRUSTED VOICES WITHIN THE SECTOR, PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY PRACTICES, AND INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SECTOR AT SCALE.

    Expenses $853,426 · Grants $11,663

  • CONVENTIONS AND MEETINGS: THE SOCIETY'S CONVENTIONS AND MEETINGS PROGRAM IS THE PROGRAM THROUGH WHICH THE SOCIETY PLANS AND HOSTS ITS ANNUAL CONVENTION AND OTHER EVENTS PROMOTING THE PROFESSION. THE SOCIETY'S ANNUAL CONVENTION BRINGS TOGETHER FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES STUDENTS, PRACTITIONERS, ACADEMICS, AND VENDORS EACH YEAR TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FORESTRY FIELD, AND TO OFFER NETWORKING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

    Expenses $788,660 · Grants $18,000

  • SCIENCE, EDUCATION, AND CREDENTIALING: THE SOCIETY'S SCIENCE AND EDUCATION PROGRAM WORKS TO PROTECT AND TO PROMOTE THE FIELD OF FORESTRY BY CREATING AND MAINTAINING EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS AND PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS, AND BY PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE MEANS FOR IDENTIFYING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY NEEDS AND ENGAGING IN ISSUES RELATED TO FOREST SCIENCE AND FOREST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: THROUGH THE SCIENCE AND EDUCATION PROGRAM, THE SOCIETY DELIVERS ITS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WHICH OFFERS AND ACCREDITS INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, THROUGH IN-PERSON AND ONLINE LEARNING CONTENT, TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE. IN ADDITION, THIS PROGRAM WORKS WITH THE USDA FOREST SERVICE TO PROVIDE GRANT-FUNDED CONSERVATION EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES TO JOB CORPS SITES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.CERTIFICATION: THE SOCIETY CURRENTLY HAS THREE SEPARATE PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS TO ASSIST PROFESSIONALS IN THEIR CAREER GROWTH NO MATTER WHICH SECTOR OF FORESTRY THEY WORK IN. ALL CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS ALSO HAVE A CANDIDACY LEVEL TO ALLOW CERTIFIED INDIVIDUALS TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF THEIR CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT AS THEY WORK TOWARD THE REQUIREMENTS TO EARN THE FULL DESIGNATION. THE PROGRAM CREATES AND ADMINISTERS COMPETENCY EXAMS FOR PROFESSIONALS WISHING TO BECOME CERTIFIED THROUGH THE SOCIETY, OR LICENSED THROUGH STATE PROGRAMS, AND EVALUATES CANDIDATE ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS. IN ADDITION, THIS PROGRAM OVERSEES AND ASSIGNS CONTINUING FORESTRY EDUCATION CREDITS PROVIDED BY EXTERNAL PARTNERS.ACCREDITATION: THE SOCIETY ACCREDITS FORESTRY, URBAN FORESTRY, NATURAL RESOURCE AND ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT, AND FOREST TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS AT INSTITUTIONS OF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION.

    Expenses $652,730

  • PUBLICATIONS: THE SOCIETY'S PUBLICATIONS PROGRAM SERVES THE FORESTRY PROFESSION BY PUBLISHING SCIENTIFIC, SCHOLARLY, AND EDITORIAL CONTENT IN PRINT AND DIGITAL PERIODICALS THAT COMMUNICATE SCIENCE, RESEARCH, POLICY, INDUSTRY NEWS, AND DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIELD. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROGRAM WORKS WITH AUTHORS TO PUBLISH WORKS OF INTEREST TO OUR MEMBERS AND THE PROFESSION AT LARGE.

    Expenses $393,822

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Rebecca Barnard

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Bettina Ring

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Sam Cook

    IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Ed Morgan

    BOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 1

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Ron Boldenow Cf

    BOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 2

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • John Todd

    BOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 3

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Greg Josten Cf

    BOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 4

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Amber Marchel

    BOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 5

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Karen Bennett PhD Cf

    BOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 6

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Aaron Cook

    BOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 7

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Tony Doster Cf

    BOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 8

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Victor Ford PhD Cf

    BOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 9

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Scott Sager Cf

    BOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 10

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Jason Holland

    BOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 11

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Terry Baker

    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $293,519
    From this org
    $275,100
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,419
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $250,100
    Bonus
    $25,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $15,750
    Nontaxable benefits
    $2,669
    Filer's total
    $293,519

  • Susanne Metz

    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $162,747
    From this org
    $129,953
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $32,794
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $129,953
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $3,948
    Nontaxable benefits
    $28,846
    Filer's total
    $162,747

  • Pamela Green

    CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $27,918
    From this org
    $21,041
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,877
    Hours/week
    40

  • Patricia Fincham

    DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS

    Total calculated
    $124,442
    From this org
    $111,131
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,311
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
13 November 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202543179349308704

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.