U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities Announces Second Round of Impact Investing Program – Up to $6.5 Million Available with March 11, 2025, Proposal Deadline
U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities Announces Second Round of Impact Investing Program – Up to $6.5 Million Available with March 11, 2025, Proposal Deadline
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment) announces the second round of its Impact Investing Program, with up to $6.5 million in funding available. A Request for proposals (RFP) will be released in January 2025 and an informational webinar will be offered in December 2024. Use this link to sign up for notifications on the webinar and to receive the RFP: https://gordianknotstrategies.com/impactinvestingprogram.
The Endowment’s Impact Investing Program aims to drive positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside financial returns by supporting sustainable forestry practices, economic resilience in rural, forest reliant communities, and innovation within forest-based markets.
The program focuses on three primary areas:
- FORESTS: Support working forests and the use of sustainable forest management practices for the health and retention of U.S. forests.
- COMMUNITIES: Work with trusted partners within rural forest-reliant communities to build economic prosperity and resilience.
- MARKETS: Support forest industry processes and products, both traditional (e.g., paper mills, sawmills) and emerging (e.g., biochar, carbon).
“Our Impact Investing Program is already making strides for America’s working forests and forest-reliant communities, with $3.5 million invested in innovative forestry solutions during our first round,” said Pete Madden, the Endowment’s president and CEO. “Impact investing is an invaluable extension of our traditional grantmaking, enabling us to leverage our resources for even greater impact. We are particularly interested in engaging other investors with a shared commitment to the economic, environmental, and social benefits of our forests to continue to scale our program through co-investments or other financial partnerships.”
The first round of the Endowment’s Impact Investing Program resulted in $3.5 million invested in three companies contributing to sustainable forestry and forest products. Round two seeks to deploy up to $6.5 million in 2025 through impact investments in companies, funds, or projects that advance systemic, transformative and sustainable benefits for the health and vitality of our nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities.
Gordian Knot Strategies, a leading consulting firm specializing in strategic climate solutions, is supporting the development of the Endowment’s Impact Investing program and will host an informational webinar about the opportunity in early December 2024.
About the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities:
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities is a not-for-profit public charity collaborating with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative, and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities. To learn more about the Endowment, please visit our website at www.usendowment.org.
About Gordian Knot Strategies:
Gordian Knot Strategies (GKS) is a leading consulting firm specializing in strategic climate solutions. We provide advisory and project management services to a global clientele interested in climate finance, impact investing, carbon asset development, and go-to-market strategies. To learn more about Gordian Knot Strategies, please visit our website at gordianknotstrategies.com.
