Washington, D.C. – The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is proud to announce the launch of its Urban Forest Improvement Grant Program, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. Designed to support programs to improve long-term tree care and foster sustainable urban forest management across the United States, grants will range from $15,000 to $29,500, in support of municipalities, universities, Indigenous communities, and nonprofit organizations working to improve the sustainability of their forestry practices.
Funds are available to benchmark forests against the SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard, the world’s first forest standard for communities. The SFI Urban Forest Improvement Grant Program will support the assessment of current management practices, offering valuable insights into how sustainably these forests are managed, as well as a roadmap of opportunities for improvement.
- Application Period: Open through May 30, 2027, or until all funds are awarded
- Funding: Awards will range from $15,000 to $29,500
- Eligibility: Cities and municipalities, universities, non-profit organizations, or Indigenous communities and Tribes actively managing urban or community forests within the United States are encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to cities or communities serving disadvantaged communities, particularly areas identified by the EPA’s Environmental Justice Screening Tool.
Apply for SFI’s new grant program to gain insight into the sustainability of your trees and forests, including areas of excellence and improvement. Grant recipients will also have access to SFI’s technical support and network of forestry experts across more than 363 million acres / 147 million hectares of SFI-certified forests, ensuring projects align with high standards of ecological and community impact.
For more information, including how to apply, visit forests.org/urban-grant.
ABOUT SFI
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) advances sustainability through forest-focused collaborations. We are an independent, nonprofit organization that leverages four interconnected pillars of work: standards, conservation, community, and education. SFI works with the forest sector, conservation groups, academics, researchers, brand owners, resource professionals, landowners, educators, local communities, Indigenous Peoples, and governments. Collaborating with our network, we leverage SFI-certified forests and products as powerful tools to help solve sustainability challenges such as climate action, conservation of biodiversity, education of future generations, and sustainable economic development.
MEDIA CONTACT
Christine Leduc
VP, Communications and Government Relations
Sustainable Forestry Initiative
613-706-1114
media@forests.org
