irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $15.65MMARKETS TRANSFORMATION (SEE SCHEDULE 0)
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Corporate Advisory Services
Consulting services to help companies implement sustainability strategies, responsible sourcing, and ESG goals.
Project Center
End-to-end support for corporate and NGO sustainability projects, from design to on-the-ground implementation.
Rainforest Alliance Certification Program
Global certification program for sustainable agriculture, including Sustainable Agriculture Certification and Regenerative Agriculture Certification, based on rigorous environmental and social standards.
Sourcing Risk Assessment
Service for companies to assess and mitigate sustainability risks in agricultural supply chains for coffee, cocoa, tea, and palm oil.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Smallholder Agricultural Development 2 activities
- Market transformation and sustainable land use advocacyConducts market transformation initiatives and policy advocacy to improve land use, agricultural production, and consumer behavior. Advances policies and investments that reduce emissions, build climate resilience, and strengthen human rights in agricultural and forest landscapes globally.
- Supporting farmer livelihoods and supply chain sustainabilityPartners with rural communities and local partners to improve farmer livelihoods and worker well-being through certification, technical assistance, and market access. Supports 10.8 million farmers and workers on certified farms, generating $2.3 billion in additional income and improving yields by 28% compared to national averages.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Ambassador Program for outreach and advocacyOperates an Ambassador Program that engages individuals to expand supporter networks, advise on policy and science, participate in awareness campaigns, host events, and fulfill a $5,000 annual contribution through donation or fundraising.
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Nonprofit Capacity Building Services 1 activity
- Capacity building for businesses and supply chainsProvides technical assistance, training, supply chain risk management, certification, and assurance services to help businesses adopt sustainable practices and meet sustainability standards.
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Tree Planting and Reforestation Initiatives 1 activity
- Field-based ecosystem protection and restoration projectsImplements field projects in over 60 countries that protect, restore, or sustainably manage ecosystems, including forests and biodiversity-rich areas. These projects have contributed to the protection or restoration of 11.9 million hectares of land and avoided or sequestered 5.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
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Agricultural Grantmaking and Funding Programs 1 activity
- Grantmaking to support farming and forest communitiesFunds partner organizations and critical programs that advance market transformation and sustainability in agriculture and forestry sectors, supporting farming and forest communities globally.
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Climate Change Public Awareness & Advocacy 1 activity
- Public engagement and individual action guidanceProvides guidance to individuals on sustainable living practices and enables personal fundraising campaigns to support conservation and community programs.
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Academic Research Dissemination 1 activity
- Research and knowledge disseminationProduces and publishes white papers, case studies, project profiles, and research on sustainable agriculture, forestry, and community well-being to inform practice and policy.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Sustainable agriculture and forestry certification programsOperates two certification programs—Sustainable Agriculture Certification and Regenerative Agriculture Certification—based on comprehensive environmental, social, and economic standards. Requires independent auditing of farms and companies before allowing use of the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal, with over 66,000 certified products globally.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$100.22M
Contributions & grants$27.50M27%
Program service revenue$70.83M71%
Investment income$1.87M2%
Other revenue$16K
expenses
Total expenses$107.21M
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$31.90M
Grants paid out$52.69M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$78.47M
Cash$15.94M
Investments$34.46M
Liabilities$22.81M
Net assets$55.66M
Liquid reserves5.6 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +17.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 11
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santiago Gowland | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 40 | $543K |
| ADAM COX | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 40 | $345K |
| Gina Wood | Chief Development Officer | 40 | $318K |
| Heleen S | CPO | 40 | $279K |
| Molly Stark | GENERAL COUNSEL | 40 | $269K |
| RUTH NEWSOME | CHIEF DATA & TECHNOLOGY OFFICE | 40 | $203K |
| nagla abdelhalim | Director of global accounting | 40 | $185K |
| Jeffrey Roy Cruz | Controller | 40 | $172K |
| Jeffrey Milder | DIRECTOR, AFI | 40 | $169K |
| Russell Eckenrod | Deputy General Counsel | 40 | $164K |
| virginia foster | Dir.-Frameworks/landscapes Pro | 40 | $159K |
board members · 14
- Anisha Pushpika Rajapakse — DIRECTOR
- Annemieke Wijn — DIRECTOR
- Anurag Priyadarshi — DIRECTOR
- BERRY MARTTIN — DIRECTOR
- Daniel Houser — DIRECTOR
- Daniel Roger Katz — DIRECTOR, BOARD CHAIR
- Eric B Rothenberg — DIRECTOR
- JON MCCORMACK — DIRECTOR
- Juan Esteban Orduz Trujillo — DIRECTOR
- Kerri Anne Smith — DIRECTOR
- Marilu Hernandez de Bosoms — DIRECTOR
- Nalin Kumar Miglani — DIRECTOR
- Nina Haase — DIRECTOR
- Paul Douglas Rubacha — DIRECTOR
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- ABC News Partner — Featured in an ABC News story recommending Rainforest Alliance certification as a way to reduce environmental harm from chocolate consumption.
- Companies with certified products Partner — Collaborates with thousands of companies globally to help them meet ESG goals through certification and advisory services.
- DAFpay Partner — Payment processing partner enabling donor-advised fund disbursements.
- Daniel Katz Partner — Co-founder of the Rainforest Alliance, instrumental in launching the organization's early rainforest protection efforts.
- Farming and forest communities Partner — Collaborates with farming and forest communities in its conservation and sustainability programs.
- Independent auditors Partner — Third-party auditors assess farms and companies for compliance with Rainforest Alliance certification standards.
- Maya Biosphere Reserve Partner — Collaborates to protect forested areas in Guatemala.
- Rainforest Alliance board Partner — Ambassadors collaborate with the Rainforest Alliance board, executive, and program teams on various initiatives.
- frontline communities Partner — Collaborates with frontline communities to promote responsible business practices and improve livelihoods.
- local communities Partner — Partners with local communities to protect forests and improve farming practices
- local partners Partner — Collaborates with local partners to protect nature and support farming and forest communities.
- our experts and partners Partner — Collaborates with experts and partner organizations to deliver sustainability services to businesses.
strategies · 4
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.
- Community-Partnered Conservation and Livelihood Improvementmethodology: community-partnered conservationBy partnering with local and frontline communities, we achieve conservation and human well-being outcomes because collaborative models ensure that sustainability initiatives improve livelihoods, respect human rights, and are more likely to be adopted and sustained.
- Integrated Systems Approach Across Supply Chainsmethodology: connected-solutionsBy aligning farm-level sustainability practices with corporate supply chains and consumer demand, we create systemic change because integrated solutions across production, business, and markets amplify environmental and social outcomes beyond isolated interventions.
- Market-Based Conservation with Certificationmethodology: market-based conservationBy leveraging market incentives and a certification system, we drive adoption of sustainable practices in agriculture and forestry because consumer demand and business engagement create scalable, systemic change that benefits both ecosystems and livelihoods.
- Nature-Based Climate and Ecosystem Restorationmethodology: regenerative-agriculture-carbon-sequestrationBy transforming agricultural and land-use practices, we restore ecosystems and reduce emissions because regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, and forest conservation sequester carbon and rebuild ecological resilience at scale.