The National Forest Foundation (NFF), the congressionally chartered nonprofit working to improve and restore the health of the nation’s 193-acre National Forest System, announced its $500,000 investment to bolster salaries for existing staff.
Along with the new salary structure, the NFF is investing in three new executive roles leading conservation, marketing and people to drive its mission amid record growth.
Americans are more aware of the essential role national forests and grasslands play in providing clean air and water, habitat for wildlife and affordable recreational areas. This increased awareness has led to significant growth for the NFF, highlighting the importance of the organization’s mission to make public lands more resilient and building connections with more diverse users.
The changes to salary structure reflect the economic need for higher pay and set the NFF up for successful future growth, investing in the people who have helped make the nonprofit what it is.
“We have a big job ahead with an almost unmatched reward – stewarding, protecting, and advancing the future of national forests and grasslands while inviting and welcoming a broader and more diverse public,” said Mary Mitsos, president and CEO of the NFF. “The work we are doing on our organizational structure and compensation today will prepare us to meet our rigorous conservation and DEI goals both internally and externally. The NFF is determined to help ensure all Americans feel a connection to national forests and all they provide.”
The salary structure includes grade levels and locality adjustments based on a rigorous, external compensation analysis. Adjusted salaries will be affected immediately, and the NFF will monitor compensation and benefits at a minimum every three years. Additionally, the work it is doing to rearrange the organizational structure and compensation will prepare it to meet the growing desires of its employees, the American public and extended partners and stakeholders.
As part of these organizational structure changes, the NFF is bolstering the management and executive teams, led by the hiring of Chief Financial Officer, Corey Whitely, who joins the NFF from Florida and will help fulfill its strategic and DEI plans. The NFF also has plans to develop and hire for three new executive roles: Chief Conservation Officer (CCO), People and Culture Officer with DEI experience and responsibilities, and a Chief Marketing and Brand Officer.
Learn more at www.nationalforests.org
