After funding 5 million seedlings for 289 projects, in 38 states and 4 foreign countries, the Hardwood Forestry Fund (HFF) has decided to voluntarily dissolve its operations. 

The Board announced its final distribution of $190,000 to the Arbor Day Foundation and One Tree Planted to implement Hardwood Tree plantings in line with the HFF’s mission and goals.

The Hardwood Forestry Fund promoted hardwood timber growth, management, education, and environmentally sound uses of renewable forest resources by providing grant funding to partnering organizations. HFF supported sustainable forestry by funding selective tree planting, direct seeding, natural regeneration, and management in publicly owned Forests and other properties. Most of the funding came from forest products companies, foundations, and individuals.

The HFF was formed in 1990 by members of the Hardwood Plywood and Veneer Association, which eventually became the Decorative Hardwoods Association. The first planting was in 1990 on a 500 acre Boy Scout camp near Galesburg, Illinois. It was part of an Illinois Forestry Field Day for the Boy Scouts. The Fund has conducted forestry field days in conjunction with a number of our project partners.   

During its 35 years of operation, the HFF funded projects that used seedling planting, direct seeding, and forest management techniques to promote natural regeneration and create sustainable forests on suitable and quality public sites. The mission was to manage young forests for wildlife habitat, water quality, soil conservation, timber products, and natural resource education, The Hardwood Forestry Fund was a 501(c)3 foundation based in Sterling, Virginia.

The HFF has had a Volunteer Board of Directors, including Tim Fixmer, President and CEO of CCI Media, the parent company of Woodworking Network. The Board members decided to “hand the torch” over to the Arbor Day Foundation and One Tree Planted to carry on its mission. The Dissolution of the HFF was authorized by the District of Columbia (Washington, DC) on May 12, 2025.