We Are Committed to Transparency
The GREEN FOREST FUND® (GFF) collects donations and acquires plots of land suitable for planting or preserving trees, which are not meant to generate economic benefits. Here, they may grow without being disturbed into tomorrow’s forests that provide habitats for a variety of animals and plants, improve our air quality, and fight climate change effectively.
We believe that the best way to achieve this is complete transparency: Our project is for the common good. That’s why we disclose fully who we are, what we do, where our funds come from and how we use them. On this page you can find all the information on the requirements according to Transparency Internationaland Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft.
1. Name, Location, Address, Year of Establishment
The GREEN FOREST FUND (GFF) is a young non-profit association based in Heidelberg, Germany, with the aim to make a sustainable contribution to the protection of climate and species.
GREEN FOREST FUND® e.V.
Langer Anger 7-9
69115 Heidelberg
Germany
Thorsten Walter
support@greenforestfund.de
Registered at Amtsgericht Mannheim I VR number: 701670
Year established: 2017
2. Objectives and Statutes of the Association
THIS IS WHAT WE STAND FOR:
- TOMORROW’S FORESTS
We raise funds and use them to acquire plots suitable to plant new trees and protect existing woodland areas, which are then allowed to grow into tomorrow’s forests.To make an additional contribution to biodiversity, we cultivate bee pastures and bird sanctuaries on our plots, creating precious new wildlife habitat. - PROTECTION OF LIFE & CLIMATE
We protect the natural foundations of life for all of us – humans, animals and plants – and contribute to nature conservation, biodiversity and CO2 absorption to meet the Paris Agreement. - GROWN IN GERMANY
We plant our trees exclusively in Germany, protect our plots according to German law and each tree can be easily identified thanks to our tree tracker. - IDEAL USE OF SPACE
We work in close cooperation with nature conservation to ensure that planting is suited perfectly to the site. - LIFE-LONG TREE GROWTH GURANATEED
Our trees are allowed to grow without disturbance for the rest of their lives, because our protected areas are not used for forestry. - TRANSPARENCY & NON-PROFIT STATUS
Our combination of small team and many helpers enables a high donation impact. For our common good: a future worth living in.
Read the statutes of the GREEN FOREST FUND e.V.:
Satzung
3. Information on Tax Concession
The GREEN FOREST FUND e.V. as an approved as a non-profit association is exempt from trade tax, because it promotes environmental protection and animal welfare. We are entitled to issue donation certificates for donations and membership fees.
Legal details: The GREEN FOREST FUND e.V. is registered for the promotion of environmental protection (section 52 (2) sentence 1 no. 8 Abgabenordnung (AO), German Revenue Code) and the promotion of animal welfare (section 52 (2) sentence 1 no. 14 AO) and, according to the annex to the corporate tax report at the financial department Heidelberg (tax number: 32/489/51866, registered 12 December 2022) exempt from corporate income tax according to section 5 (1) no. 9 Körperschaftsteuergesetz (German Corporate Tax Law) and from commercial tax according to section 3 no. 6 Gewerbesteuergesetz (German Commercial Tax Law) for the current assessment period 2018–2020. The GREEN FOREST FUND e.V. is entitled to issue donation certificates for donations and membership fees paid for tax-deductible purposes according to official form.
According to the Notice of Exemption issued by the financial department Heidelberg registered 12. December 2022, the GREEN FOREST FUND e.V. is approved as a non-profit association. The notice of exemption is valid for 5 years from the date of registration.
4. Board of Directors
Thorsten Walter
CEO, founder and creative mind
5. Activity Report
2019 was a year of growth – not only for our trees, but also for the Green Forest Fund.
See our current activity reports and annual financial statements:
2019 – In Brief.
2020 – In Brief.
Annual Financial Statement 2019
Annual Financial Statement 2020
Annual Financial Statement 2021
6. Our Team
The GREEN FOREST FUND e.V. currently employs 3 members of staff: two full-time and one part-time employee.
About us
CONTRACTED EMPLOYEES
Thorsten Walter (CEO), full-time
Susanna Sielicki-Walter (Director Strategy and Social-Media-Management), full-time
Martin Schoberer (Creative Director), part-time
FREELANCE EMPLOYEES
Christian Arth (IT)
Jan Munstermann (Editor, Translator)
Christine Sander (Content Creator)
Dirk Diemer (Content Creator)
VOLUNTEERS
Agathe Bauer
Edward of Black Pearl (Head of Happiness)
7. Sources of Funds
We are funded by donations, crowdfunding, sponsorship and membership fees.
See here for a detailed disclosure of the sources of our funding:
2019 – In Brief.
2020 – In Brief.
Annual Financial Statement 2019
Annual Financial Statement 2020
Annual Financial Statement 2021
8. Application of Funds
Thanks to our many supporters, our revenue in 2020 grew by around 215 % as compared to the previous year. 80.5 % of the income directly benefited nature while we consciously kept personnel (0.5%), administrative (3.9 %) and advertising costs (3.5%) low.
See here for a detailed disclosure of the application of funds:
2019 – In Brief.
2020 – In Brief.
Annual Financial Statement 2019
Annual Financial Statement 2020
Annual Financial Statement 2021
9. Corporate Relationships with Third Parties
There are no existing corporate relationships with third parties.
10. Names of legal Bodies whose annual Payments represent more than 10% of our total Annual Budget
In 2021 our nonprofit organization didn’t receive a donation from a legal entity accounting for more than 10% of our total annual income.
