deforestationfreefunds.org

What It Is

Deforestation Free Funds is one of As You Sow’s Invest Your Values websites. It is not a conventional marketing or SEO tool; rather, it is an ESG/sustainable investing transparency platform for investors. It helps users check whether mutual funds, ETFs, or 401(k) plans invest in companies linked to tropical deforestation, including agricultural commodity producers and traders, financing banks and lenders, and major consumer brands that use those commodities.

Core Features and Data

The platform supports searches by fund name, ticker, or asset manager, and shows the number of flagged holdings in a fund, their value, and their percentage of the portfolio. It also assigns deforestation grades such as A, B, C, D, and F. If a fund manager has a track record of pushing for environmental improvements through shareholder resolutions or similar actions, the fund may also be labeled as a known sustainability engager. Its financial data comes from Morningstar and covers thousands of common U.S. open-end mutual funds and ETFs. The deforestation-risk company list includes 380 publicly listed companies and draws on resources such as Forests & Finance, Forest500, CDP Forests, Supply Change.org, and ZSL SPOTT.

Pricing and Usage Limits

No commercial subscription pricing is shown in the main content; the site appears to be primarily offered as a free lookup tool supported by donations. However, data table downloads and ongoing updates will move to the As You Know data platform starting in early 2026, with access available by contacting the listed email address. The limitations are also clearly stated: it only analyzes U.S.-registered open-end funds and ETFs, and funds must have at least 50% invested in equities. Fixed-income funds, non-U.S. funds, cash, bonds, short positions, and similar assets are not included in the ratings.

Pros and Cons

Its strengths are a transparent methodology and clearly cited data sources, making it useful for non-professional investors who want to quickly understand the deforestation risk in retirement accounts or ETFs. Its action toolkit can also help users communicate with financial advisors and employer 401(k) plan administrators. The downsides are that coverage is heavily focused on the U.S. market, and the number of portfolio holdings displayed is limited by data licensing. For marketing or SEO use cases, it does not provide keyword, traffic, ranking, content optimization, or ad campaign capabilities.

Who It’s For and Access from China

It is better suited to individual investors, ESG researchers, fund managers, financial advisors, and advocacy organizations than to SEO teams. The main content does not state whether it is accessible from China, so access is assessed as unknown. As for payment methods, only a Donate prompt is visible, with no clear listing of bank cards or other payment channels. For similar values-based investment screening, users can refer to other Invest Your Values sites such as Fossil Free Funds and Social Justice Funds. For China-focused ESG data, a local data provider or fund platform would be needed.