All ShadeFund Partners
As an inaugural sponsor, Mercedes-Benz USA will invest in 10-12 Mercedes-Benz Signature ShadeFund Entrepreneurs over the next two years.
Partn-02~US Endowment for Forestry and Communities
Lead funder for ShadeFund, and dedicated to protecting the nation's working forests and assisting rural communities rich in natural resources.
Partn-03~Natural Capital Investment Fund
Affiliated with The Conservation Fund, NCIF provides debt and equity financing to small businesses in Appalachia and the Southeast.
Partn-04~Dovetail Partners, Inc.
Providing authoritative information about the impacts and trade-offs of environmental decisions.
Partn-05~Vermont Council on Rural Development
Helping rural Vermonters create a sustainable future through effective use of public and private resources.
Partn-06~Green Chamber of Commerce
Growing and diverse national business network dedicated to promoting the success of our members, supporting the development of sustainable business practices, and advocating for green public policy.
An international law firm committed to sustainability and environmental leadership in all facets of business
Partn-08~Biomass Energy Resource Center
An independent, national nonprofit working with communities to help them make the most of their local biomass energy resources.
Partn-09~Forest Business Network
One of the nation's leading experts on small-diameter and underutilized timber and woody biomass, and business creation and growth strategies within the forest products industry.
Partn-10~VSJF Flexible Capital Fund, L3C
Providing near-equity or mezzanine financing and access to our peer mentoring services to targeted Vermont growth companies in sustainable agriculture and food systems, forest products, renewable energy, waste management and other green economy sectors.
Partn-11~Resourceful Communites
Building capacity in North Carolina’s most distressed communities through triple bottom line solutions.
Connecting travelers with hundreds of working family farms and ranches all over the U.S. that offer lodging, a variety of vacation activities, and the chance to experience farm life.
Partn-13~Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project
Helping local farms thrive by linking them to markets and supporters, and building healthy communities through connections to local food.
Partn-14~Conservation Trust for North Carolina
Protecting land and water through direct efforts with willing landowners and in partnership with our state's local and regional land trusts.
Supporting sustainable local agriculture and natural resource-based entrepreneurship in the Northern California counties of Lake, Marin, Mendocino, and Sonoma.
Managing legacy and conservation land purchases for families, individuals and businesses who wish to leave the world a legacy through land ownership.
Partn-17~Pennsylvania Wilds Initiative
Helping revitalize rural PA through sustainable nature and heritage tourism development.
A professional organization of forest stewards, natural resource professionals, and supporters who are passionate about restoring and sustaining the integrity of our forests.
Partn-19~Michigan Farmers Market Association
Working to create a thriving marketplace for local food and farm products in Michigan.
Helping Michigan entrepreneurs and businesses develop and launch new product and service ideas into food, agriculture and bio-economy markets.
Offering independent and comprehensive consulting to forest landowners interested in generating and trading carbon credits.
Partn-22~ACE Charitable Foundation
Assisting less fortunate individuals and communities around the world in achieving and sustaining healthy lives.
Partn-23~Oregon Wood Innovation Center
Improving the competitiveness of Oregon’s wood products industry by fostering innovation in products, processes, and business systems.
Partn-24~Colorado State Forest Service
The mission of the Colorado State Forest Service is to achieve stewardship of Colorado's diverse forest environments for the benefit of present and future generations.
Partn-25~Farmer Veteran Coalition
The mission of the Farmer Veteran Coalition is to mobilize veterans to feed America.
Partn-26~Southwest Badger RC&D
Serving nine counties in the southwest corner of Wisconsin with a mission to support natural resource conservation, managed growth, and sustainable economic development.
Partn-27~Delaware Highlands Conservancy
An accredited land trust dedicated to conserving our natural heritage and quality of life in partnership with landowners and communities.
Partn-28~GreenWoodGlobal Consulting, Ltd
Providing solutions for forest certification, certified forest product procurement, fiber capture and fiber tracking for today’s dynamic markets.
Partn-29~Northern Forest Center
Creating a new generation of conservation tools that can provide economic incentives for good long-term forest stewardship while reinvigorating the economy.
Partn-31~W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.
Partn-32~Institute of Forest Biotechnology
The Institute of Forest Biotechnology works for societal, environmental, and economic benefits from appropriate uses of biotechnology in forests worldwide through science, dialogue, and stewardship.
