Guidance for Partner-Led Communication Products
Information for Forest Service Partners
At the Forest Service, our success depends on the relationships we have with state forestry agencies, tribes, counties, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and other groups. We value our partnerships and work collectively to improve conditions of the nation’s forests, including those in the communities where 84 percent of Americans live, work, and play.
The guidance below is for recipients and subrecipients of Forest Service grants who wish to acknowledge the agency or use the Forest Service insignia in their communication products. Contact your grant monitor with any questions.
Referencing the Forest Service
In referring to the Forest Service in your products, write “the Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture” or “the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service” the first time used, and, thereafter, as the Forest Service. “U.S. Forest Service” may be used when necessary to make a distinction between the Forest Service and state forestry agencies.
Required Statements
To acknowledge the Forest Service for funding support, use the appropriate funding and nondiscriminaton statements.
For direct grant recipients of the Forest Service:
“Funding for this project is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.”
For subgrant recipients:
“Funding for this project is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, in partnership with [partner organization providing the grant].”
For the required nondiscrimination statement:
Any of the following versions are acceptable and may be included as a second sentence after the funding statement or on a line by itself.
If only one partner (institution): This institution [or name of grant recipient] is an equal opportunity provider.
If multiple funded partners are named: These institutions are equal opportunity providers.
If including USDA: USDA and [partner name(s)] are equal opportunity providers and employers.
Including the Forest Service Logo
You do not need to include the Forest Service insignia (logo) as part of the acknowledgment. If you want to include the insignia, you will need approval from the Forest Service in advance. This requires a mock-up of how the logo will be used.
To request use of the insignia, contact your grant monitor at the Forest Service (for direct awards) or partner organization (for subawards through state forestry agencies and other partners). For a quick approval, be sure to include the exact acknowledgment and nondiscrimination statements to be used (from above) and a draft layout within which the Forest Service insignia is:
The same size (measured by height) as partner logos,
Matches the color scheme of other logos (e.g., full color or monochrome), and
Displayed last, following partner logos (i.e., to the bottom or right of other logos).
Only use official insignia art provided by the Forest Service (below) and do not alter or distort the insignia. More guidance can be found in the Forest Service Branding Standards (PDF, 16 MB).
