About the U.S. Endowment

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities made a lead investment in ShadeFund by providing its start up capital in an effort to grow the financial resources and creative energy dedicated to protecting the nation's working forests and assisting rural communities rich in natural resources.

The Endowment works to ensure America's forests are sustainably managed to meet broad societal objectives. It works to secure marketable products, preserve clean water, wildlife habitat and other ecological services, and promote healthy and vibrant forest-reliant communities. Founded in 2006, the nonprofit Endowment was established at the request of the governments of the United States and Canada in accordance with the terms of the Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) between the two countries. The Endowment is one of three entities designated to share in a one-time infusion of funds to support meritorious initiatives in the U.S. It has been endowed with $200 million under the terms of the SLA.