National Forest Foundation announces the Collaborative Capacity Program 2025 Award Recipients

The National Forest Foundation’s Collaborative Capacity Program for Forests & Communities (Collaborative Capacity Program) provides direct financial support, technical assistance, and peer exchange opportunities to build capacity within and across collaborative groups, communities, and Tribes.

Collaboration for forest stewardship involves different perspectives working together to find shared solutions to complex forest management challenges and foster shared decision-making around public lands management to achieve forest stewardship goals. Successful collaboration is paramount for sustained and adaptive forest restoration, recreation improvements, wildfire resilience projects, and co-stewardship with Tribes.

The Collaborative Capacity Program was created to support the foundational elements of collaboration, such as strategic planning, relationship building, and communication amongst partners. The design and development of this program was influenced by an Advisory Committee which included individuals with experience in rural capacity building, Tribal co-stewardship practices, outdoor recreation enhancements, collaborative conservation, and more. This program will continue to evolve and learn from the communities it aims to serve.

Sarah Di Vittorio, Conservation Connect Director with the National Forest Foundation (NFF), shares “By working together, we can better achieve shared goals like healthy fire-resilient forests, high-quality recreational opportunities, safe and resilient communities, and strong local economies. This program invests in collaboration that leads to positive outcomes for people, communities, and forests.”

The Collaborative Capacity Program is administered by the NFF and supported through a USDA Forest Service agreement. “Our long-standing partnership with the National Forest Foundation reflects our shared commitment to care for the lands that sustain us,” Chief Schultz said. “Through partnership, we strengthen our ability to steward these lands in real, practical ways. I’m eager to see how these recipients will turn their dedication into lasting benefits for our forests and communities that depend on them.”

The NFF is pleased to announce the 2025 award recipients. Please see the list of recipients on our webpage here.

For more information on the Collaborative Capacity Program financial awards, please visit this webpage.  The next funding cycle will open later this winter. Sign up for the Taproot newsletter for future program announcements.

About the National Forest Foundation

The National Forest Foundation (NFF) is the official nonprofit partner of the U.S. Forest Service and transforms America’s love of nature into action for our forests. Working across 193 million acres of National Forests and Grasslands, the NFF leads collaborative efforts that restore land and water, strengthen wildfire resilience, and expand recreation access. The NFF’s work is national in scale, local in practice, and generational in impact.

Contact information

Maisie Powell (Collaborative Capacity Program Manager, [email protected], 406-361-9107) and Rebecca Brickner (Conservation Awards Coordinator, [email protected], 205-659-7822)