NAFSR-
NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION PARTNERSHIP
In 2003, the National Forest Foundation (NFF)
signed
a Partnership Agreement with the National Association of Forest Service
Retirees (NAFSR) establishing a
“matching funds” program for
FS Retirees to do small conservation projects on the National Forests. The Agreement provides for up to $1,000 of
matching funds
from NFF for individual projects.
PROCESS FOR GETTING NFF MATCHING FUNDS FOR CONSERVATION PROJECTS
1 – Identify
an on-the-ground conservation project working with local District
Ranger.
Work with District Ranger or other responsible forest
officer to identify high priority conservation projects that are not
financed
within the FS budget.
Projects must
involve specific on-the-ground actions that will be of direct benefit
to NFs
and would have strong community support.
Examples to date are wildlife, fire,
wilderness, invasive weeds, and erosion control projects on the
Coconino and
Shasta-Trinity NFs.
2 – Raise money in local
community to finance 50% of project.
Usually, the best approach is to identify local partners
that would have an interest in the project and be willing to put up 50%
of the
cost of the project.
The NFF will only
match non-Federal cash contributions, up to $1,000, and does not count
in-kind
contributions such as volunteer labor.
The other approach is for the retiree to conduct a fund
raising campaign to raise the money.
3 – Apply for matching
funds from NFF.
After the details of the project are worked out with the
FS and partners, the retiree submits an application for matching funds
from
NFF.
The application is a 2-3 page
letter addressed to both NFF and NAFSR showing (a) contact and sponsors
of
project, (b) location, (c) description and major objectives, (d)
community
benefits, and (e) a budget detailing how the matching funds will be
used.
If approved by NFF, they
will send the retiree an “Award Recipient Agreement” committing
matching funds
from NFF.
After the local funds are
raised by the retiree, a check for 50% of cost of project is sent to
NFF. Then, NFF matches the local funds and
send
money to the Treasurer of NAFSR. Those
funds, less a $50 processing fee by NAFSR, are then available to the
retiree
and/or local sponsors to complete the project.
All funds must be spent on
direct project cost such as supplies, material, and contracts. No NFF funds may be directed back to the FS
for any purpose.
4 – Accomplishment Report.
The retiree has 1 year
to
complete project. The retiree is
fiscally responsible for the project and to see that the funds are
spent for
the intended purposes.
Upon completion, the retiree submits an accomplishment
report to both NFF and NAFSR along with any publicity of the project. The report should show in
detail how the
money was spent and outline the benefits in measurable results to the
NF and
local community.
5 – Contacts for Further
Information.
NAFSR: Dick
Pfilf, 703-922-3854, dpfilf @wap.org
Dale Robertson, 928-282-1835, dmjrobertson@msn.com
NFF: Alexandra Kenny,
202-298-6740 ext 3, akenny@natlforests.org
Friends of Forest in Sedona:
Helen Campbell, 928-284-0527, HHCampbell@earthlink.net