EIN: 53-0233715
Mission Statement
Nature Forward inspires residents of the greater Washington, DC, region to appreciate, understand, and protect their natural environment through outdoor experiences, education, and advocacy.
Program Summary
Nature Forward is the DC region’s longest-serving environmental organization. We have pioneered environmental education, conservation and restoration since 1897. Today, our work benefits people and wildlife across the entire Capital Region. We are deeply committed to conservation and restoration of urban green spaces, with a focus on increasing community-informed programming in underserved neighborhoods; adding green infrastructure to improve climate resilience while involving DMV residents of all ages in community science to monitor and improve water quality and access to nature in the Potomac and Anacostia River watersheds.
Our Arlington presence includes field trips to natural areas such as Four Mile Run Trail and Potomac Overlook Park, as well as co-sponsoring EcoAction Arlington’s candidate forum. We also offer notifications on key environmental legislation up for consideration by the Virginia General Assembly via our Action Alert Network. Sign up here.
Impact Statement
Nature Forward is on the frontlines to protect habitats, restore streams and help the DC metro area become resilient to climate change. We engage, educate and inspire more than 35,515 people annually with GreenKids environmental education programs for 15,500 students and teachers, a nature preschool, summer camps, and natural history explorations and workshops for adults. Our Restoration Team is planting 1,000 native trees and native plant gardens in historically underserved communities throughout the DMV and expanding our popular conservation landscaping programs that help residents convert turf grass to native gardens. We train and empower people to monitor stream water quality, be effective advocates for the environment and restore degraded habitats. An accessible nature trail and nature play space welcome people of all ages and abilities at our 40-acre Woodend Nature Sanctuary. Nature Forward hosts biennial Taking Nature Black and Naturally Latinos conferences to connect and empower diverse conservation leaders in their work on behalf of the environment.
What ways can the public get involved?
The public can get involved in environmental justice or conservation advocacy or participate in any one of a number of programs that empower people of all ages and abilities to enjoy, learn about, and protect nature. You can find out more about our nature field trips, advocacy workshops, water quality monitoring program, nature classes, summer and days off camps, and school programs at www.natureforward.org.
How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?
86% of every dollar donated to Nature Forward supports our programs in environmental education, conservation and restoration in the DC metro region.
$100 helps plant trees and habitat gardens in underserved communities that lack tree canopy and green space
$500 supports training for grassroots advocates to protect low-income communities from the negative impacts of climate change
$1,000 delivers free environmental education to an entire grade level of students in Title I public schools
Information provided March 2025