About
Rainforest Trust is a conservation nonprofit that permanently protects the habitats most critical for species, ecosystems, and the planet's climate. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Warrenton, Virginia, with a UK office in London, the organization works with local partners across the tropics to establish and safeguard protected areas in the world's most threatened rainforests.
Mission
Rainforest Trust permanently protects the habitats most critical for species, ecosystems, and the planet's climate.
What they do
- Protects tropical and subtropical landscapes through land purchase, government designation of protected areas, and support for Indigenous land tenure rights
- Prioritizes areas with high endemism, significant threat levels, and large intact habitats such as the Amazon and Congo basins
- Works across tropical regions including the Amazon Basin, Congo Basin, Indonesia, and Madagascar
- Partners locally through multiple regional offices, with headquarters in Warrenton, Virginia
History
Rainforest Trust was founded in 1988 on the premise that safeguarding critical habitat is the most effective way to protect species. It has been operating continuously since then, expanding its work across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Scale and impact
Figures published on the organization's website:
- 68.8 million acres protected across the globe, with an additional 80 million acres in progress
- 3,402 threatened species safeguarded
- 98 percent of the rainforest it has protected remains intact
- A goal of 220 million acres targeted for protection by 2030, safeguarding an estimated 35 billion metric tons of vulnerable carbon, which the organization equates to six years of U.S. CO2 emissions
Its strategic plan commits to more than doubling funding levels between now and 2030 to expand protected and conserved areas in tropical forests.
Financials
Rainforest Trust states that board members and supporters cover its operating costs, allowing 100 percent of donations to fund conservation action. According to IRS Form 990 data published by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, for the fiscal year ending June 2025 the organization reported total revenue of $42,467,687, total expenses of $44,468,923, and net assets of $121,607,864. Rainforest Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 13-3500609) whose tax exemption was issued in May 1989.