Partnerships
Partnership Guide
As the Forest Service increasingly works to manage forest resources through on-the-ground, community-based projects, partnerships – and the resources necessary to design and implement those partnerships – are crucial. The Forest Service Partnership Guide serves as one of those resources.
The Partnership Guide is a tool to help Forest Service employees, experienced partners, and first-time or potential partners work together more effectively and efficiently. The guide answers common questions about the agency’s policies and procedures, helps partners and agency employees anticipate potential hurdles, and provides contacts and other resources to help stakeholders find more specific guidance.
The guide was recently updated to include up-to-date information on a comprehensive suite of partnership topics. This revised guide has been designed as an online, paperless resource that will continually be updated electronically as policy, best practices, and laws evolve.
Partnering with the USDA Forest Service
Field Guide to the Forest Service
Field Guide to Partners
The Forest Service Volunteer Program
Formalizing Partnerships through Grants & Agreements
Contracting with Partners
Contracting with Partners
Partnership Popular Topics: Questions and Answers
Penny Pines Program
The Penny Pines Program was initiated in California in 1941. It started small, under the sponsorship of the San Francisco Sportswomen's Association in 1941. The minimum donation is $68.00. To date, 59 years later, those pennies have amounted to well over 1 million dollars, and the program is a statewide conservation project supported by numerous individuals and organizations. Over the years, individuals, community organizations, and groups of all sizes have participating in the Penny Pines Program. Garden clubs, women's clubs, men's service organizations, youth groups, and schools have all cooperated to help keep California's forests green and growing.
Other states have cooperative planting programs, but the Penny Pines Program is unique to California. Almost every National Forest in the State has a Penny Pines program and plantation area. A sign at each plantation lists the organizations which have donated to that particular site. Since funds are sent to the closest National Forest, contributors are able to visit the plantation sites and enjoy the results of their cooperation.
During the past 59 years, the Penny Pines donations have helped maintain the National Forests in California. Participation in the program has also helped many people understand important things about conservation of natural resources and wise management of the public forestlands that belong to them.
For more information on the Penny Pines program contact your nearest Forest Service Office or follow this link to the Penny Pines Brochure (PDF).
Penny Pines Donation Letter
A minimum donation of $68.00 may be made to a specific National Forest. The funds are deposited into a Penny Pines Reforestation account, drawn upon as improvement projects are determined by resource managers. A certificate of appreciation and thank you note is sent to each donor. Your donation to the Penny Pines Project will help bring new life into our National Forest! Please support the Angeles National Forest by printing this form and mailing it in with your tax-deductible contribution to:
Angeles National Forest
701 N. Santa Anita Ave.
Arcadia, CA 91006
Attn: Penny Pines Coordinator
For more information contact the Forest Supervisor’s Office (626) 574-5200.
The Plant-A-Tree program, established in 1983, provides a way for individuals and groups to have trees planted on specific national forests to memorialize loved ones or commemorate births, weddings, anniversaries, or other special events while helping to improve the environment.
For a suggested minimum donation of $10, donors receive acknowledgment of their gift and the name of the person in whose honor the donation is made is placed on the certificate.
Trees will be of a size and species suitable for the location. The number of trees planted with a given donation will vary because of varying costs at different locations. Trees will not be individually identified on the ground but will be part of a plantation planted for reforestation purposes. Business groups may participate in the program as long as their participation is noncommercial.
Donated funds are used to plant trees on National Forest throughout the United States. By making a donation directly to any one of the 156 national forests located in 43 States, donors can ensure that their gift is used in the national forest of their choice.
Donations may be made in person or by mail. Checks submitted to the program should be made payable to "USDA Forest Service."
Please write "Plant-A-Tree, Angeles National Forest" on the memo portion of the check, if you wish to have trees planted in the Angeles National Forest. Checks can be mailed to the Angeles National Forest, 701 N Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia, CA 91006 Attn: Plant-A-Tree Coordinator.
Contributions submitted to the Washington Office will be deposited into a special fund and distributed as needed throughout the National Forest System.
All donations to the Plant-A-Tree Program qualify as charitable deductions under section 170(c) (1) of the Internal Revenue Service code.
What is the purpose of the Plant-A-Tree Program?
To allow individuals or groups to contribute funds directly to the Forest Service for tree planting on National Forests as a positive and personal step toward improving the environment.
Who can participate?
Any individual, group or business (when for non-commercial purposes)
How big a donation must be made?
Generally, donations should be at least $10.00 or more. However, if appropriate, any amount may be accepted depending on the circumstances. Fore example, small individual donations may be accepted from school children on a field trip.
Can I make a Plant-A-Tree Donation directly to the Angeles National Forest?
Yes! Please write "Plant-A-Tree, Angeles National Forest" on the memo portion of the check, if you wish to have trees planted on the Angeles National Forest. Checks can be mailed to the Angeles National Forest, 701 N Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia, CA 91006 Attn: Plant-A-Tree Coordinator.
Where can donations be made?
All Forest Service offices may accept donations unless otherwise instructed by the next higher office.
How will donations be acknowledged?
When possible, a Plant-A-Tree Certificate (Forest Service Form 1600-15) will be given to the donor or to the person designated by the donor. It may not be possible to deliver a certificate for a donation received anonymously or without a return address. The certificate will serve as a receipt. However, if a donor requests another receipt, a temporary receipt (Form FS 6500-103) may be issued.
By what method should the certificate be filled out?
By any appropriate method such as computer printing, typewriter, or calligraphy.
What wording is appropriate to fill the "made for" and "made by" spaces of the certificate?
Made for: (as requested by the donor)
Made by: (the name of the individual, organization, company, etc., making the donation)
Who can sign the certificate?
Any Forest Service officer authorized under FSM 1580.4 and 1231.
Are donations tax deductible?
Yes. According to the IRS, contributions to this program qualify as charitable deductions under section 170(1) of the Internal Revenue Service code.
Who should checks be made payable to?
All checks should be made payable to USDA Forest Service
Will contributions be refunded?
No, contributions will not be refunded.
If an organization contributes may the resulting tree plantation be named for the group or individual of the group's choice?
Not normally under the Plant-A-Tree Program.
Where will the tree(s) resulting from a contribution be planted?
Contributions will be deposited into special tree planting funds arranged by the Region or National Forest receiving them. Trees from this program will be planted in the Region or on the National Forest receiving the donations. Contributions submitted to the Washington Office will be deposited into a special fund and distributed to Regions at appropriate intervals.
Who will look after the trees?
The Forest Service.
Will individual plaques or signs be placed by the tree(s)?
No. Trees will not be individually identified.
Who chooses the size, species, and planting locations?
The Forest Service will choose species and sizes appropriate to the site. Trees will be planted in locations where the need is greatest.