Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Network transitions to nonprofit, expanding its impact across the rural South

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities and the Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention (SFLR) Network, a pioneering initiative launched in 2012 through support from the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, today announced its official transition to an independent nonprofit organization. The move marks a new chapter in SFLR Network’s evolution—from initiative to institution—solidifying its place as a national leader in advancing land retention, economic resilience and responsible forestry among rural landowners in the South.

For more than a decade, SFLR Network has served as a vital bridge between small-acreage landowners and the forestry and conservation sectors. What began as a pilot program connecting families to resources, legal support and forestry expertise has grown into a national network spanning seven member sites across the Southeast, with plans for continued expansion. Together, they have supported more than 5,000 landowners and helped families retain and responsibly manage more than 200,000 acres of land.

“This transition reflects not only our growth, but our commitment to generational impact,” said Bethaney Wilkinson, executive director of SFLR Network. “By becoming a nonprofit, SFLR Network is strengthening its foundation to continue to expand and deepen our investment in the people and communities who define our work.”

“The Endowment is proud to have partnered with SFLR Network from its inception and to witness its evolution into a stand-alone institution,” said Alicia Cramer, chief operating officer at the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities. “SFLR Network’s leadership, rooted in a deep understanding of rural landowners and their needs, shows how long-term commitment can open new possibilities and reshape the future of forest-dependent communities.”

As a nonprofit, SFLR Network will continue to advance its mission of empowering landowners through education, access to resources and support for land and forestry policies that help landowners build generational wealth. The transition also positions SFLR Network to attract new philanthropic partnerships, expand its Forestry Fund to support landowner access to capital and elevate its national visibility through collaborative initiatives and public engagement.

The announcement follows a live conversation hosted on LinkedIn between Wilkinson and Delie Wilkens, director, communities at U.S. Endowment for Forestry, which reflected on SFLR Network’s history, celebrated this milestone and shared a glimpse of what’s ahead for the organization and its partners. For more information about SFLR Network please visit: www.sflrnetwork.org.