The 1t.org US Community Collaborative kicked off 2025 with a briefing to amplify upcoming funding opportunities for the start of the new year. With several high-profile funding opportunities for forests and high-integrity carbon projects available now and closing soon, the timely and exciting discussion with Salesforce, the Symbiosis Coalition, and the US Endowment for Forests and Communities allowed our community to come together to hear from experts on prognoses for 2025 forest funding, hear directly from funders about their opportunities, gain insights into the RFP process and ask questions directly to the funders themselves.
Webinar Partners
Salesforce: Salesforce is committed to combating climate change and nature loss by integrating sustainability into its business. As a founding partner of 1t.org, Salesforce aims to fund the growth, restoration, and conservation of 100 million trees by 2030, emphasizing socially and ecologically responsible efforts that benefit local communities and ecosystems.
Symbiosis Coalition: Symbiosis is an up to 20M ton advance market commitment to invest in the next generation of nature-based carbon removals projects by 2030, driving positive outcomes for people and planet. Coalition members commit to addressing these challenges by signing long-term offtake agreements for projects that incorporate conservative assumptions on climate impact, draw on the best available science and practice, and equitably involve and compensate Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities: The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities promotes sustainable forestry by funding programs that enhance forest health and support forest-reliant communities. As a catalyst for change, the Endowment fosters innovative, market-driven solutions that balance economic, environmental, and social benefits to ensure the long-term vitality of forests and their communities.
Sustainable Forestry Initiative: As a leader in sustainability, SFI advances its mission through standards, conservation, community engagement, and education. An independent, non-profit organization, SFI collaborates with a diverse network—including the forest sector, brand owners, conservation groups, resource professionals, landowners, educators, Indigenous Peoples, governments, and universities—to address local and global sustainability challenges.
Funding Opportunities
2025 Impact Investing Request for Proposals (RFP) (Pre-screen submittal due by February 5, 2025)
The US Endowment for Forestry and Communities requests proposals for its Impact Investing Program. The Endowment seeks to deploy $6.5 million through impact investments in companies, funds, or projects that advance systemic, transformative and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities.
- > RFP FAQ – Gordon Knot Strategies
- > U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities – Impact Investing Program
Reforestation and Agroforestry RFP (Due by January 31, 2025)
The first Symbiosis Coalition RFP has launched with a focus on reforestation and agroforestry projects. This is an opportunity for projects that meet the criteria listed by Symbiosis. They are looking for projects that are ready to secure commercial offtake that can help bring in upfront financing to the project. Projects should have a potential offtake of at least 500,000 tonnes of carbon removal over 10 years at their full-scale expansion potential.
- > Reforestation and Agroforestry RFP, Additional Resources, and Application
- > Blog: Symbiosis Coalition Launches First Joint RFP, Focusing on Reforestation and Agroforestry Projects
- > Quality criteria for reforestation and agroforestry projects
US Urban Forest Improvement Grant Program (Due by January 30, 2025)
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative has launched grants to help organizations benchmark their urban or community forests against the SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard. These grants range from $15,000 to $75,000, and eligible organizations include municipalities, universities, non-profit organizations, or Indigenous communities and Tribes actively managing urban or community forests within the United States.
- > Grant Program Resources
- > View the instructions and learn more about the selection criteria
- > Apply for an SFI Urban Forest Improvement Grant
Thank you to the experts who joined us for the webinar.
Megan Morikawa, PhD | Salesforce
Natalie Urban | Symbiosis Coalition
Sean Penrith | Gordian Knot Strategies
Paul Johnson | Sustainable Forestry Initiative
Kevin O’Hara, Lead of 1t.org US, 1t.org US