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Nonprofit · EIN 53-0204630

SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS

Tax-exempt · WASHINGTON, DC 20037

Financials

$4.6M$5.5M2023$6.4M$6.5M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2024990$6,352,482$6,512,396-$159,914$27,280,718$2,739,547$24,541,171
December 31, 2023990$4,607,286$5,493,146-$885,860$25,826,097$2,696,984$23,129,113
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$2,489,777
of which government grants
$2,053,109
Program service revenue
$2,812,832
Investment income
$1,019,708
Net gain from sales of assets
$346,782
Net income from sales of inventory
$2,062
Other revenue
$30,165

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$117,037
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$484,184
Other salaries and wages
$1,744,515
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$2,760,202
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$70,227
Accounting fees
$111,806
Occupancy
$198,720
Travel
$407,117
Depreciation
$20,884
Program services (functional)
$5,100,670
Management and general (functional)
$1,298,517
Fundraising (functional)
$113,209

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$25,826,097
Total assets, end of year
$27,280,718
Total liabilities, end of year
$2,739,547
Net assets, end of year
$24,541,171
Land, buildings and equipment
$212,358
Publicly traded securities
$24,450,869
Net assets without donor restrictions
$23,801,477
Net assets with donor restrictions
$739,694
Gross unrelated business income
$34,874
Gross receipts
$7,608,106
Employees
41
Volunteers
537
Year formed
1926
State of legal domicile
DC

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
TERRY BAKERCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Officer
40$275,100$18,419
SUSANNE METZCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Officer
40$129,953$32,794
PATRICIA FINCHAMDIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS
Highest-paid employee
40$111,131$13,311
PAMELA GREENCHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER
Officer
40$21,041$6,877
REBECCA BARNARDPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
BETTINA RINGVICE PRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
SAM COOKIMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
ED MORGANBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 1
Trustee or director
2$0$0
RON BOLDENOW CFBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 2
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JOHN TODDBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 3
Trustee or director
2$0$0
GREG JOSTEN CFBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 4
Trustee or director
2$0$0
AMBER MARCHELBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 5
Trustee or director
2$0$0
KAREN BENNETT PHD CFBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 6
Trustee or director
2$0$0
AARON COOKBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 7
Trustee or director
2$0$0
TONY DOSTER CFBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 8
Trustee or director
2$0$0
3 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
VICTOR FORD PHD CFBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 9
Trustee or director
2$0
SCOTT SAGER CFBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 10
Trustee or director
2$0
JASON HOLLANDBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 11
Trustee or director
2$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 18 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
TERRY BAKERCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Officer
40$229,000$16,608
SUSANNE METZCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Officer
40$122,385$28,816
WHITNEY FORMAN-COOKCHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER
Officer
40$111,599$13,198
PATRICIA FINCHAMDIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS
Highest-paid employee
40$107,348$12,719
SAM COOKPRESIDENT; CHAIR, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
REBECCA BARNARDVICE PRESIDENT; CHAIR, GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
JOHN MAISCH CFIMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
CHRIS SCHNEPFBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 1
Trustee or director
2$0$0
DR RONALD BOLDENOW CFBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 2
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JOHN TODDBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 3
Trustee or director
2$0$0
KELLY NORRIS CFBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 4
Trustee or director
2$0$0
AMBER MARCHELBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 5
Trustee or director
2$0$0
KAREN BENNETT CFBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 6
Trustee or director
2$0$0
SARAH WURZBACHERBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 7; CHAIR, AUDIT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
DAVID DOSTER CFBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 8
Trustee or director
2$0$0
DR VICTOR FORD CFBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 9
Trustee or director
2$0$0
DR THOMAS FOX CFBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 10; CHAIR, FINANCE COMMITTE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JASON HOLLANDBOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 11
Trustee or director
2$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
2121 K STREET NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20037-1801
Mailing address (990-N for 2020)
2704-C Exchange Drive, Wilmington NC 28405
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
TERRY BAKER, 2121 K ST NW 315, WASHINGTON, DC 20037
Principal officer (990-N for 2020)
David Anthony Doster, 2704-C Exchange Drive, Wilmington NC 28405
Signed the 990
TERRY BAKER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Phone
(202) 938-3910
Return prepared by
UHY ADVISORS MID-ATLANTIC INC

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.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Program accomplishments

  • 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

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026Not on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
53-0204630
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Group exemption
Exempt since
1972
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Employment (J40Z)
Group exemption
2223 (30 member organizations)
Assets (IRS master file)
$27,280,718
Income (IRS master file)
$7,608,106

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2024$6,352,482$6,512,396$27,280,718IRS
990-TDecember 2024–––IRS
990December 2023$4,607,286$5,493,146$25,826,097XML
990-TDecember 2023–––IRS
990December 2022$4,187,644$4,545,739$24,129,334IRS
990-TDecember 2022–––IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990-TDecember 2021–––IRS
990-N for 2020
Officer: David Anthony Doster
December 31, 2020≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard
990December 2020–––IRS
990-TDecember 2020–––IRS
990-N for 2019
Officer: Tony Doster
December 31, 2019≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard
990December 2018–––IRS
990December 2017–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 53-0204630).

Questions about SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS

What is the EIN of SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS?
The employer identification number (EIN) of SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS is 53-0204630.
Is SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1972.
Are donations to SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Group exemption).
Which annual return does SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
Who is the principal officer of SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names TERRY BAKER.
Who are the officers and directors of SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 18 people; 4 received compensation from the organization, the highest $275,100 (TERRY BAKER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER).
How much revenue does SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $6,352,482, expenses of $6,512,396 and total assets of $27,280,718 at year end.

Organizations in its group exemption (30)

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