American Wildfire Experience

What it reported doing in 2024

Backbone Scholarship Program: In 2024, the organization awarded 11 scholarships to support wildland firefighters and their partners in pursuing advanced training and professional development. The program reduced financial barriers for participants and strengthened workforce capacity in wildfire management. Scholarships supported tuition, travel, and course costs, with awards ranging up to $1,000 each. These scholarships are not paid directly to institutions, rather directly to the recipients, so they are treated like individual grants. Total expenses: $11,018. Fee-for-service income: $0.The Smokey Generation: The Smokey Generation oral history project preserved the stories and experiences of wildland firefighters by recording, digitizing, and sharing narratives from individuals across the U.S. and abroad. In 2024, the project did not add new interviews to its publicly accessible online archive, but rather transferred the archive to a new host. The project continues to serve as a resource for education, cultural preservation, and workforce inspiration. Total expenses: $1123.13. Fee-for-service income: $0.Thought Leadership Speaking Engagements and Convenings: The organization advanced global thought leadership in wildland fire management through keynote addresses and presentations in Bolivia and Canada. These engagements reached audiences of more than 600 practitioners, policymakers, and community leaders, promoting innovative approaches to resilience, inclusive leadership, and international collaboration. We also hosted a convening of board members and attendees from Canada in Kyburz. By sharing U.S. and international lessons learned, the organization influenced wildfire policy and practice across borders. Total expenses: $1920. Fee-for-service income: $0.Wildland Fire Digital Storytelling Micro-Grants: In 2024, we paused our micro-grants to wildland fire practitioners and creatives to support digital storytelling projects in order to reimagine the program and launch again in 2026. These micro-grants enable the production of short films, photo essays, and digital narratives highlighting the cultural and ecological dimensions of wildfire. The program expands public understanding of fires role in ecosystems while elevating diverse voices within the fire community. Total expenses: $0. Fee-for-service income: $0The Chainsaw Project: The Chainsaw Project provided women and community members with hands-on training in chainsaw use, emphasizing technical skills, empowerment, and safety. In 2024, the program trained 5 participants during a free workshop in safe operation, maintenance, and field application of chainsaws. By equipping new users with both skills and confidence, the project contributed to workforce development and community resilience in wildfire-prone regions. Total expenses: $0. Fee-for-service income: $0.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 73.9%; rating input score 74
• Program expense ratio: 100%; rating input score 100

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 26.1%; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.44; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: Limited
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 63; 63rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: Limited
• Revenue growth: Limited
• Asset growth: Limited