In The News
The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) honors outstanding volunteer community builders and pillars across its network of 16 state chapters, as well as the vital partners who support and participate in the Foundation’s restoration efforts. Each year, TACF’s staff Awards Committee reviews nominations and selects one volunteer from each of its four regions, along with four partner recipients: individuals and organizations that...
Exciting new Membership feature You asked and we listened! Several members have inquired about automatic annual membership renewals. We are excited to announce that we have added this feature and you can now set your membership donation to automatically renew each year with your credit card. This convenient option provides ongoing support for the TACF mission and helps ensure that your...
The American Chestnut Foundation’s (TACF) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Michael Goergen has been appointed as the organization’s new President & CEO and will begin in mid-September 2025. He will succeed interim President & CEO Bruce Levine. A strategic executive with more...
After more than two decades with The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF), Chief Conservation Officer Sara Fern Fitzsimmons has accepted a new role as Technologies for Agriculture and Living Systems (TALiS) Coordinator with the Office of Research and Graduate Education...
The Executive Committee of The American Chestnut Foundation’s (TACF) Board of Directors voted in May 2025 to establish a newly restructured, unincorporated New York (NY) Chapter. We warmly welcome a dynamic new leadership team: President Dazzle Ekblad, Treasurer Kurt Dirr, and Outreach Coordinator Lia...
The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) is excited to announce the official rollout of newly designed logos for all state chapters. This initiative is part of a larger strategy to create a cohesive and professional visual identity across the entire organization, supporting our shared mission to return the iconic American chestnut to its native range. Each chapter now has access to a set of three...
The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) works proudly alongside its 16 state chapters throughout the eastern US to fulfill our collective mission to return the American chestnut to its native range. Each chapter is crucial to this work, and their diverse contributions are invaluable. The NY Chapter has been a strong partner in these scientific pursuits for more than 30 years, promoting American restoration based...
Capture the Beauty of the American Chestnut and Reap the Rewards! Now Through December 31, 2025 Grab your camera and hit the trails—the American Chestnut Photo Contest is back! We’re looking for striking, creative, and unique images of American chestnut trees and hybrids. Whether it’s a blue jay caught mid-theft with a spiky bur in its beak, the golden glow...
The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) has released its 2023-2024 Annual Report, and it’s packed with exciting updates about our work to restore the American chestnut. From scientific breakthroughs to shifts in strategy, this past year has been one of adaptation and progress. In her opening letter, Board Chair Liz Kramer draws a...
Asheville, NC – The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) is proud to announce a new partnership with Stella-Jones, a leading manufacturer of products focused on supporting infrastructure that are essential to the delivery of electrical distribution and transmission, and the operation and maintenance of railway transportation systems. This collaboration brings together TACF’s decades-long mission...
Bruce Levine, member of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) since 1995, has graciously stepped into the interim position of president & CEO while the search begins for TACF’s next leader. Bruce was unanimously voted in by the Board to fill this important role. “I am deeply honored by the confidence the TACF Board of Directors has placed...
Dear Members and Friends of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF), On behalf of the Board of Directors, I write to inform you that Dr. Will Pitt, President & CEO of our organization, will resign his position effective...