5 Ways to Partner with Keeping Forests and Tap Into Our Coalition
Southern Forests are one of the most important natural resources in the United States, and their conservation requires collaboration from diverse stakeholders. Keeping Forests is a partnership-driven organization that recognizes no single entity can ensure the conservation of these ecosystems alone. Our work encompasses a broad coalition of environmental experts, private landowners, corporations, and government agencies who share a common goal of conserving the South’s 245 million acres of working forests. Whether you’re a corporation, nonprofit, landowner, or individual, there are several meaningful ways to join our network and support efforts to secure the future of Southern Forests. Below are five key ways to partner with Keeping Forests and tap into our coalition.
1. Supporting Partner: Engaging and Spreading the Word
One of the simplest ways to get involved with Keeping Forests is to become a Supporting Partner by helping spread awareness about our mission. Supporting partners engage with us by following our social media platforms, subscribing to our newsletter, and sharing our message. These small actions can go a long way in expanding our reach and connecting us with new audiences.
Additionally, supporting partners can contribute through one-time or recurring donations. Every donation, no matter the size, helps us continue our work in conserving Southern Forests. Merchandise sales (set to launch in 2025) will also provide an opportunity for individuals to support the cause while showing their commitment to forest conservation. Whether you’re sharing a post, signing up for our newsletter, or contributing financially, becoming a Supporting Partner brings you closer to the heart of our network and helps amplify our collective impact.
2. Community Partner: Sharing Knowledge and Building Networks
At Keeping Forests, we believe that knowledge-sharing and community engagement are critical to achieving our mission. Our Community Partners are organizations, nonprofits, or individuals who actively participate in our webinars, in-person events, and other opportunities for knowledge-sharing. These monthly webinars and community events provide a platform for our partners to learn about the latest trends in forest management, policy changes, and market innovations related to Southern Forests.
By joining our community, partners can also help identify new avenues of support, whether through in-kind contributions or financial resources. Additionally, our newsletter offers another way for community partners to stay informed and connected with the broader Keeping Forests network. Through collaboration, we aim to build a stronger community committed to the sustainable management of Southern Forests. Whether you’re a conservation group, academic institution, or landowner, community partnership provides a direct line to knowledge-sharing that benefits all participants.
3. Implementing Partner: Developing Scalable Solutions
For organizations or businesses that are ready to innovate with us, becoming an Implementing Partner is a natural fit. Keeping Forests is developing market-driven solutions to promote and expand sustainable forestry practices, and we need partners to pilot and scale these efforts. Implementing partners work with us on-the-ground to develop replicable, scalable, and evidence-based conservation models. Whether you’re a private company looking to expand sustainable sourcing, a landowner interested in ecosystem services, or a research institution focused on forestry innovation, there’s an opportunity to make a real impact.
Implementing partners can submit project proposals to Keeping Forests through bi-annual calls, allowing us to evaluate and support initiatives that align with our strategic goals. A financial contribution or in-kind support is required for the partnership to ensure that both parties are invested in the success of the project. This hands-on collaboration allows for mutual benefit: partners gain the expertise and resources of Keeping Forests, while we gain critical insights into the practical applications of our conservation strategies. Together, we can generate innovative solutions that not only conserve forests but also provide new revenue streams for landowners and communities.
4. Amplifying Partner: Lending Expertise and Strategic Guidance
Our Amplifying Partners are critical to shaping the strategies that guide Keeping Forests’ mission. These partners include business executives, government officials, academic experts, conservationists, and landowners who lend their expertise and insights to help us address complex issues that no single organization can tackle alone. Amplifying partners provide in-kind support by participating in workshops, ad-hoc working groups, and other collaborative forums where strategic decisions are made.
This role is ideal for leaders who are passionate about sustainable forestry and who want to have a direct influence on shaping the future of Southern Forests. Amplifying partners may also be asked to contribute to solution design, bringing their professional insights to the table to co-create strategies that can drive both conservation and economic growth. With expertise that spans forestry, economics, social science, and more, amplifying partners ensure that our strategies are multi-dimensional and grounded in real-world applications.
5. Funding Partner: Driving Innovation and Long-Term Impact
The ambitious goals of Keeping Forests require significant resources, and our Funding Partners play a vital role in enabling us to push boundaries and explore new solutions. Whether through grants, corporate sponsorships, or philanthropic donations, funding partners allow us to take on the big challenges facing Southern Forests—challenges that require innovative, non-traditional approaches.
Being a funding partner means more than just providing financial support. It’s about being a part of something larger: driving systemic change across the ecological, economic, social, and political systems that influence the future of our forests. These funds are directed toward the development and implementation of scalable projects, including payment for ecosystem services (PES) models, sustainable timber markets, and educational outreach to landowners. Funders also get the opportunity to see the tangible impact of their investment, as many of our projects directly benefit rural communities, landowners, and the local economy.
By becoming a funding partner, you are not just supporting forest conservation—you’re supporting a future where Southern Forests continue to provide essential ecosystem services, sustainable timber, and recreational opportunities for generations to come.
A Collaborative Path Forward
The future of Southern Forests depends on collective action. Keeping Forests provides a platform for diverse stakeholders—from corporations and conservation groups to landowners and governments—to work together toward a shared goal: the sustainable management and conservation of 245 million acres of vital forestland.
Whether you are an individual looking to make a difference or an organization seeking to contribute to large-scale conservation efforts, there is a way for you to get involved. Our coalition is strongest when we work together, and by becoming a partner, you are helping to ensure that Southern Forests remain productive, resilient, and sustainable for generations to come.
Join us as a Supporting Partner, Community Partner, Implementing Partner, Amplifying Partner, or Funding Partner today and become part of a growing movement that is redefining how we conserve and manage one of our nation’s most valuable resources. Together, we can ensure that Southern Forests continue to thrive and provide for the communities, economies, and ecosystems that depend on them.
