Rainforest Trust
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Each day acres of rainforest are lost forever, threatened species lose their habitat and communities lose their livelihoods. The threats to tropical forests, endangered species and indigenous groups are severe and growing. Deforestation, fires, poaching, climate change—Rainforest Trust acts now to eliminate these threats and preserve land and wildlife in perpetuity. Protected areas are one of the most cost-effective ways to safeguard nature, vulnerable human populations and climate. Rainforests are essential to mitigate climate change. Tropical forests not only store carbon, they remove it from the air. Without their critical function, we will never halt climate change. We cannot stop climate change without saving tropical forests. Protecting diverse habitats is essential to our global ecological health–and thus Rainforest Trust’s pledge to contribute to saving half of the world's threatened birds and mammals, and permanently locking up 15 billion tons of carbon.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Protect threatened tropical forests and endangered wildlife
Rainforest Trust establishes partnerships with the world’s most experienced and committed conservationists. Our partners’ knowledge of their regions’ ecosystems and local communities is key to achieving long-term land and species protection. Together, we identify critical sites that provide a permanent refuge for endangered species. These biodiverse areas face immediate and direct threats. We work with our partners to develop scientifically-based conservation plans that are timely, resilient, and sustainable. Our partners work with their governments and local communities to formally establish reserves protecting the land. These protected areas are established through direct land purchase and acquisition, the designation of national parks and other government protected areas, land titling or the creation of community conservation areas. We are also committed to providing lasting, on-the-ground protection, which requires the ongoing support and participation of local communities.
Where we work
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of acres of land protected
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Protect threatened tropical forests and endangered wildlife
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Total number of acres protected by year, either as land purchase or government designation.
Number of IUCN Red List species with habitats in areas affected by operations
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Protect threatened tropical forests and endangered wildlife
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
By using IUCN's designations we have protected the habitat of approximately 41% of all threatened bird species, 35% of all mammals and 14% of all amphibians.
Number of countries in which our organization works.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Protect threatened tropical forests and endangered wildlife
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2021 - 138 active projects, 86 partners, 45 countries 2020 - 111 active projects, 72 partners, 42 countries 2019 - 69 active projects, 49 partners, 34 countries
Number of carbon emissions prevented (estimated by CO2 equivalent)
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Protect threatened tropical forests and endangered wildlife
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Metrics reflect carbon protected in active projects each calendar year, noting that some projects are active consecutive years.
Acres of land that gain formal protection status
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Protect threatened tropical forests and endangered wildlife
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Total number of acres that gain formal protection status by year, either as land purchase or government designation.
Number of critically endangered species for which conservation measures have been launched or supported
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Protect threatened tropical forests and endangered wildlife
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Through its efforts to establish protected areas, Rainforest Trust has supported the protection of 170 Key Biodiversity Areas since the late 1980s, across Latin America, Africa and the Asia-Pacific.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
GOAL 1 - Save Endangered Species
By 2025, Rainforest Trust will have provided a lasting home for half of all known threatened bird and mammal species on Earth – and a fifth of all known threatened terrestrial and freshwater species.
2022 Priorities:
-Extend the SAVES Challenge, raising and allocating a total of $200 million to save species and habitat in 2021-2025
-Contribute to the projected down listing of 50 IUCN Red Listed species
-Raise $25M in Bequest pledges for protection in perpetuity
-Create reserves for 160 threatened species not found in any protected area
-Protect at least 10% of the global population of 150 Endangered or Critically Endangered Species
-Ensure long term species protection by developing sustainable financing mechanisms for 70% of new reserves
-Engage 80M people with species stories promoting our mission
-$200M allocated to save species and habitat
GOAL 2 - Protect our Planet
By 2025, Rainforest Trust will have protected or be in the process of protecting 125 million acres including seven percent of all currently unprotected high integrity tropical and subtropical forests, permanently locking up 15 billion tons of carbon.
2022 Priorities:
-Create large scale protected areas (1 million+ acres) in the world’s last great intact tropical forests
-Save at least 25 million acres of the highest priority forest for carbon storage, carbon sequestration, or avoided emissions, including peat forests and mangroves
-Reduce Rainforest Trust’s own carbon footprint by 50%
-Raise $100M over 5 years towards projects with a planetary impact including a Planet Fund
-Support partners to develop carbon offsets and other payments for ecosystem services in at least three major projects
-Provide real time satellite forest monitoring for partners and report annually on deforestation in all reserves ever created with Rainforest Trust assistance, ensuring that at least 90% remain no less than 95% intact
-Engage 80M people with planet-focused stories promoting our mission
-90% of our protected areas will remain at least 95% intact
GOAL 3 - Engage People in Our Conservation Mission
By 2025, Rainforest Trust will have reached half a billion people with our brand and mission and will have respected, engaged and empowered people in all aspects of our work.
2022 Priorities:
-Develop partnerships to co-develop projects and provide technical assistance, and support implementers to build their capacity
-Raise awareness of our mission and enhance our reputation through public relations and policy engagement with IUCN and the Convention on Biological Diversity
-50M acres to our Indigenous peoples or communities
-Maintain our reputation for integrity and fiscal responsibility
-Attract and retain extraordinary people with diverse backgrounds and points of view for our staff, board and council
-Engage, develop and fairly compensate our staff, reaching the top quarter of NGOs surveyed for staff engagement
-$25M raised in general operating support
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
At Rainforest Trust, our strategy is to work directly with the most effective locally-based conservation partners to help them purchase, protect, and manage the most threatened tropical forests and habitat for endangered species and for overall biodiversity conservation. To this end, we carefully select our partners to ensure they are: legally constituted nonprofits, highly respected by local communities, with good governance, an experienced staff familiar with the local situation, and have the highest legal and ethical insight.
To ensure these lands are protected in perpetuity, we build the capacity of local groups by providing expertise and education on management plans, sustainable development, and organizational infrastructure.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Celebrating more than 30 years of conservation success, Rainforest Trust has already protected over 39 million acres of tropical habitat by coupling highly effective programs with low overhead costs. Through great efficiency and the support of our board members who fund the majority of our operating costs, we are able to allocate 100% of project donations to conservation action.
Our long-term record of success has been achieved through dedicated and highly experienced staff, local partners, and supporters. To minimize costs, we maintain a small staff of conservation experts, development professionals, and a communications team that ensure we maximize our ability to raise funds worldwide.
Every potential project that is presented to Rainforest Trust is thoroughly evaluated, based on a set of select project criteria, which includes the nature site's biodiversity value, level of threat, and possible risks. This evaluation ensures the land being protected is of the highest conservation value and that it is appropriate for Rainforest Trust to become involved.
To power our work, we depend on the generosity of supporters who care deeply about conserving biodiversity. The vast majority of donations go directly to the field, where our relationships with local partners ensure the land is adequately protected.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Since it was established in 1988, Rainforest Trust has saved over 39 million acres of critical habitat - and is in the process of protecting an additional 27 million acres. We currently have 124 active projects with 75 local partners in 44 countries across Latin America, Africa and Asia/Pacific. This is progress toward an aggressive goal to protect 125 million acres by 2025.
Five years ago, with extinctions and climate change accelerating in spite of our efforts, an Anonymous Donor challenged us to multiply our impact by raising and disbursing $100 million to save 50 million acres of critical habitat. We met the challenge. This year as countries commit to protecting 30% of their lands and seas by 2030, we chart a course to triple our impact over the next five years and race to save forests, species, and our planet before it is too late.
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Rainforest Trust
Board of directorsas of 07/20/2022
Dr. Eric Veach
John Mitchell
Wayt Thomas
Sally Davidson
Edith McBean
Eric Veach
Patricia Koval
Geoffrey Chen
Eric Goode
Ann Kaup
Kimberly Stewart
Cullen Geiselman
Sarah Gilman
Robert S. Ridgley
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data