irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $1.75MRAINFOREST PROTECTIONDEFORESTATION IS A MAJOR DRIVER OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS. IN FACT, IT'S THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF CARBON EMISSIONS, AND IT'S A KEY FACTOR PUSHING THE PLANET TOWARDS AN ECOLOGICAL TIPPING POINT. THROUGH TERRITORIAL MONITORING AND LAND USE PLANNING, WE PROVIDE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES WITH THE TOOLS, TRAINING, TECHNOLOGY, AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO CURB DEFORESTATION. THIS INCLUDES SUPPORT THROUGH OUR RAINFOREST ALERT PROGRAM. IN 2024 RFUS:- SUPPORTED SRDC (SOUTH RUPUNUNI DISTRICT COUNCIL) IN DEVELOPING THE WAPICHAN HEADWATERS MANAGEMENT PLAN TO PROTECT THE LANDS OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN THESE HEADWATERS.- IN 2024, RAINFOREST FOUNDATION US (RFUS) ACTIVELY SUPPORTED THE PROTECTION OF OVER 20 MILLION ACRES OF TROPICAL FOREST--AN AREA NEARLY THE SIZE OF SOUTH CAROLINA--BY APPLYING NEW TOOLS, TRAINING, AND TECHNOLOGY. THIS EFFORT INCLUDED TRAINING AND EQUIPPING 307 COMMUNITY-BASED FOREST PATROLLERS ACROSS 129 COMMUNITIES IN PERU, BRAZIL, GUYANA, AND PANAMA.-RFUS PROUDLY PARTNERED WITH THE ASSOCIAO WANASSEDUUME YE'KWANA (SEDUUME) TO ADVANCE INDIGENOUS-LED PROTECTION OF YE'KWANA LANDS WITHIN THE YANOMAMI TERRITORY OF BRAZIL.-RFUS HOSTED TWO TECH CAMPS IN THE AMAZON, WHICH UNITED INDIGENOUS LEADERS, SCIENTIFIC EXPERTS, AND CIVIL SOCIETY TO MEET AS EQUALS AND TO CO-CREATE CUTTING-EDGE SOLUTIONS FOR RAINFOREST PROTECTION.
- #2 $4.84MSTRENGTHENING INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS WITH STRONG GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION ARE BETTER ABLE TO MANAGE AND PROTECT THEIR FORESTS. THEY'RE ALSO BETTER ABLE TO RECEIVE AND MANAGE DIRECT GLOBAL FUNDING TO CONTINUE THE ESSENTIAL WORK THEY HAVE ALWAYS DONE TO SAFEGUARD FORESTS. THROUGH OUR INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING PROGRAM, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD TRUE PARTNERSHIPS, ENSURING THAT INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND THEIR ORGANIZATIONS ARE RESILIENT, SUSTAINABLE, AND BETTER ABLE TO MANAGE AND DEFEND THEIR FORESTS--AND THEIR RIGHTS.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC)
Political platform co-supported by RFUS that unites Indigenous organizations from Latin America, Africa, and Asia to advocate for direct financing and rights-based forest protection at global forums
Institutional Strengthening Program
Supports Indigenous organizations in building administrative, financial, and governance capacities to manage territories and access climate funding directly
Land Tenure Security Initiative
Provides legal, technical, and strategic support to Indigenous communities securing legal recognition and protection of ancestral lands
Rainforest Alert
Tech-enabled monitoring program that trains and equips community-based patrollers to monitor and protect over 19 million acres of Indigenous lands using satellite data, GPS, and mobile technology
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Indigenous-Led Ecosystem Stewardship 3 activities
- Advocating for Indigenous rights as climate strategyAdvocates globally for the recognition of Indigenous peoples' rights to ancestral lands in Latin America as both a human rights imperative and a proven strategy to mitigate climate change through forest conservation and carbon sequestration.
- Implementing rainforest protection through community monitoringImplements the Rainforest Alert program and other monitoring initiatives by training and equipping community-based patrollers to protect over 19 million acres of tropical forests, resulting in measurable reductions in deforestation—such as 52% less deforestation in the first year in participating communities.
- Supporting Indigenous land use planning and territorial managementPartners with Indigenous councils and associations to develop land use plans and management strategies, such as supporting the South Rupununi District Council in Guyana with the Wapichan Headwaters Management Plan and assisting communities in mapping ancestral lands and addressing mining threats.
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Nonprofit Capacity Building Services 1 activity
- Building institutional capacity of Indigenous organizationsProvides institutional strengthening support—including governance, financial management, and leadership development—to over 200 Indigenous communities and 30 partner organizations, enhancing their resilience and effectiveness in managing and defending forests and rights.
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Global Sustainability Convenings & Forums 1 activity
- Facilitating technology and knowledge exchange for rainforest protectionHosts Tech Camps and other collaborative forums that bring together Indigenous leaders, scientists, and civil society to co-create technological and strategic solutions for rainforest protection.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Providing educational resources on rainforest conservationDevelops and distributes educational games, activities, and learning materials for children focused on rainforest conservation and Indigenous stewardship.
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Environmental Conservation Grantmaking 1 activity
- Securing global funding for Indigenous forest protectionSecures and channels global funding—such as a $2 million USAID grant and over $10.5 million in total funding—to support Indigenous communities’ forest protection, land rights, and institutional strengthening initiatives.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Funding and supporting legal recognition of Indigenous landsFunds and provides legal support to secure land rights for Indigenous peoples across Latin America, contributing to the recognition and protection of over 43 million acres of Indigenous territory since 1988, including specific achievements such as the 12 million-acre Menkragnoti Territory in Brazil.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$7.80M
Contributions & grants$7.64M98%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$158K2%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$9.82M
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising11%
Salaries & benefits$3.77M
Grants paid out$2.21M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$6.78M
Cash$4.19M
Investments$193K
Liabilities$1.42M
Net assets$5.36M
Liquid reserves5.4 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -17.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 6
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTINE HALVORSON | PROGRAM DIRECTOR | 40 | $266K |
| SUZANNE PELLETIER | PRESIDENT | 40 | $229K |
| JULIE HUDSON | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $181K |
| KIM CHAIX | DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS | 40 | $170K |
| JOSHUA LICHTENSTEIN | POLICY DIRECTOR | 40 | $168K |
| JAMES CAMERON ELLIS | FIELD SCIENCES DIRECTOR | 40 | $152K |
board members · 8
- BECKY YANG — BOARD MEMBER
- BRETT ODOM — CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
- CHRISTINA COC — BOARD MEMBER
- JENNY SPRINGER — SECRETARY
- JOHN COPELAND — CHAIRMAN
- S JAMES ANAYA — BOARD MEMBER
- STEVEN KEMLER — BOARD MEMBER
- TODD CRIDER — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 31
Who they work with
- AIDESEP Partner — Collaborated with COICA on joint initiatives in Peru
- AMAN Partner — Supports emergency fundraising efforts related to COVID-19 and forest fires
- AMPB Partner — Collaborates on training community monitors and mappers and supporting regional and international advocacy
- APIB Partner — Partnership on global advocacy and representation of Indigenous peoples in Brazil
- Amerindian Peoples Association Partner — Collaborates on land rights advocacy, titling, policy change, and governance institution strengthening in Guyana
- Amerindian Peoples Association Partner — Partner organization supported by RFUS to conduct a nationwide assessment of Indigenous lands in Guyana.
- Associação WanasSeduume Ye'kwana (SEDUUME) Partner — Partnered to advance Indigenous-led protection of Ye'kwana lands within the Yanomami Territory of Brazil.
- CIR Partner — Two-decade partnership providing legal, financial, and strategic support for land demarcation and human rights advocacy
- COICA Partner — Longstanding collaboration on regional initiatives including the Amazon Emergency Fund and work with national federations
- Congreso General de Tierras Colectivas Embera y Wounaan de Panamá Partner — Supports land rights advocacy for Embera and Wounaan communities in Panama
- Congreso Nacional del Pueblo Wounaan Partner — Represents Wounaan people at the national level in Panama
- Coordinadora Nacional de Pueblos Indígenas de Panamá Partner — National coordinating body for Indigenous peoples in Panama
- Global Alliance of Territorial Communities Partner — Collaborates with the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC), the world's largest indigenous peoples' coalition, to advance territorial rights.
- Global Alliance of Territorial Communities Partner — Collaborative partnership to represent Indigenous and local communities in global rainforest protection efforts
- Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC) Partner — Collaborates with GATC to advocate for direct financing of Indigenous peoples and local communities in forest protection initiatives.
- Hutukara Associação Yanomami Partner — Supported organizational capacity strengthening and leadership development for the Yanomami people
- Indigenous communities Partner — Works in partnership with Indigenous communities to secure land rights and monitor forests.
- Indigenous peoples Partner — Works in partnership with Indigenous peoples to secure land rights, protect rainforests, and strengthen organizational capacity.
- Kayapo people Partner — Collaborated with the Kayapo people to secure legal recognition of their ancestral lands, including the Menkragnoti Territory.
- Mesoamerican Territorial Fund Partner — Collaborates with the Mesoamerican Territorial Fund, a regional financial mechanism launched by Indigenous peoples and local communities, to address inequity in climate finance.
- Moruca District Council Partner — Supports institutional strengthening and implementation of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent with APA
- North Pakaraimas District Council Partner — Supports mapping and conservation planning for ancestral lands facing mining expansion
- ORAU Partner — Engages with regional Indigenous organization in Ucayali, Peru
- ORPIO Partner — Works with Indigenous peoples’ representative organization in Loreto, Peru
- REPALEAC Partner — Collaborates as part of the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities to support sustainable forest management in Central Africa
- Regional Organization of Indigenous Peoples of the East Partner — Co-organized an event in Iquitos, Peru, focused on Amazonian wildlife protection.
- Sarayaku Partner — Partner in Ecuador working to defend Indigenous territorial rights
- South Rupununi District Council Partner — Collaborated on the development of the Wapichan Headwaters Management Plan to protect Indigenous lands.
- South Rupununi District Council Partner — Supports efforts to acquire collective title to Wapichan territory and address mining threats
- US Agency for International Development Funder — Provided a $2 million grant to fund the B’atz project.
+ 1 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Indigenous-Led Conservation for Climate and Forest Protectionmethodology: indigenous-led_conservationBy supporting Indigenous leadership and self-determination in land stewardship, we achieve more effective and sustainable rainforest protection and climate change mitigation, because Indigenous communities have a proven track record of conserving forests and maintaining carbon storage when they hold secure land rights.
- Institutional Strengthening for Long-Term Stewardshipmethodology: institution_strengtheningBy building the administrative, technical, and governance capacity of Indigenous organizations, we enable sustained land rights advocacy and forest protection, because strong local institutions are essential for securing tenure and implementing effective, community-led conservation over time.
- Integrated Technology and Community-Based Monitoringmethodology: tech-enabled_community_monitoringBy combining traditional ecological knowledge with modern technology, Indigenous communities can more effectively monitor and respond to deforestation threats, because tech-enabled monitoring strengthens territorial governance and increases the speed and accuracy of environmental protection efforts.