About
IDAHO FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION
EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Our Mission
IFOA-EF educates the general public, forest landowners, and forestry professionals about the importance of Idaho's forest lands by promoting sound forest management's environmental, economic, and social benefits.
We think about how we care for forest land and how it cares for us. We reflect on the recreational use of our beautiful forests, lakes, rivers, hiking trails, and camping areas in our forest parks and private forest lands. We appreciate and strive to understand each tree that creates the forest. All of the trees are important to us. This includes the new seedlings planted each year for forest health and potential harvest years from now, the mature trees that need our protection from fire, beetles, or water resource issues, and the old-growth stands protected for scientific research and enjoyment.
When IFOA-EF thinks about the forest resources of Idaho, we think about our forest's broad environmental, economic, and social uses and how we can sustain those uses into the future. When IFOA-EF looks at the forest lands of Idaho, we think about our involvement with these landscapes. Many of us have worked in natural resource management as a career; others are landowners who learned to care for forests we bought or inherited.
Our Story
Becoming IFOA-EF
Our parent organization, the Idaho Forest Owners Association (IFOA), was looking for a way to further one of their many policy objectives, to "educate the public and forest landowners about the economic and environmental benefits of sound forest management."
IFOA-EF was born out of a need to financially support programs that educate private forest landowners and the people of Idaho that live, work, and play in Idaho forests. We also want to inspire future generations to consider working in forest management through programs that expose children and young adults to our forests and forest industries.
We are a separate, non-profit, charitable
donation entity that provides monetary support for programs that teach the value of our forests and how to sustain them. Our funds come through donations from individuals, businesses, and other organizations. The Board of Directors is comprised of individuals who volunteer their time and money because they believe in IFOA-EF mission.
Our Structure
The Idaho Forest Owners Association - Education Foundation (IFOA-EF) is the non-profit - 501(c)3 affiliate of IFOA. The Education Foundation is responsible for finding and supporting external, educational outreaches to the larger public and youth of Idaho.
The Idaho Forest Owners Association (IFOA) is a member organization that reaches out to Idaho's forest landowners through the Family Forest Landowners, Managers Conference, the Forest Owners Field Day, and multiple forestry newsletters.
The Education Foundation (IFOA-EF) Provides grants and donations to organizations like the Idaho State (youth) Forestry Contest, the Sustainable Forestry Teachers Tour, "Ties to the Land" succession planning workshops for families, and other special projects like interpretive signage at the Enchanted Forest with the 9B Trails Programs.
As a 501(c)3, our Education Foundation is authorized to receive income tax-deductible charitable donations from IFOA members or the community via its website (www.ifoa-ef.org/donate) or by check mailed to IFOA-EF, P.O. Box 1257 Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816-1257 (check made payable to IFOA-EF).
Thank You to Our Donors and Supporters
The IFOA Education Foundation Board thanks and sincerely appreciates the support of Donors, Supporters, Stakeholders, and Volunteers within IFOA, IFOA-EF, and the communities in which we live.
If you own forested land and would like help with your trees, please consider
joining our parent organization.
Idaho Forest Owners Association (IFOA) www.idahoforestowners.org
A special thank you also goes out to the families of Al Farnsworth and Sonny Poirier for trusting IFOA-EF with the stewardship of Memorial Funds for their loved ones.
Generous financial support from our many supporters allows IFOA-EF to extend the educational mission of IFOA beyond its membership. The Education Foundation’s mission to support the public’s education and understanding of all aspects of forest stewardship and private timberland ownership is vital to the economic well-being of Idaho, preserving the beauty, enjoying the lifestyle, and managing our precious forest resources for future generations.
Developing and implementing IFOA-EF programs is impossible without the passion, devotion, and valuable donation of “volunteer hours.” We acknowledge all the generous financial or equally important volunteer support. In closing, we would like to say Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!
We look forward to your continued support in the future!