About Us

Photo of the Lochsa RiverBackground

The Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation (SBFC) was originally formed as the Selway-Bitterroot Foundation in 2005.  In 2011, we expanded the geographic area that we work in to include the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness.  We are a non-profit that serves as the primary partner of the Forest Service in stewarding the 1.3-million acre Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, the 2.3-million acre Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, and the surrounding wildlands. Why? Like many wilderness areas, the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness and Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness are victims of declining federal dollars. Smaller budgets often mean less work accomplished on the ground, fewer wilderness rangers and trail crews, and reduced stewardship of wilderness and trails in these areas.

Our Mission

The mission of the SBFC is to connect citizens and communities to assist in the stewardship of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, and surrounding wildlands. Our purpose is not to replace Forest Service programs but to build a Selway-Bitterroot and Frank Church-River of No Return constituency among communities, businesses, individuals, universities, tribes, the Forest Service and other groups in the stewardship of the natural and cultural resources across these wilderness areas and the surrounding wildlands.

Our Goals

In order to accomplish our mission, our broad goals are to:

  • Promote stewardship of the Selway-Bitterroot and Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Areas and surrounding wildlands.
  • Build citizen and community support for wilderness and wildland programs and projects.
  • Create opportunities for volunteer participation in wilderness and wildland programs and projects.
  • Foster awareness of wilderness and wildland values and promote understanding of wilderness and wildlands ethics, history and ecology.
  • Mentor future leaders in the field of wilderness and wildland leadership.
  • Form long-term relationships with individuals, communities, tribes, organizations, businesses, universities and other agencies to achieve these goals.

We are accomplishing these goals, and stewarding these wilderness areas and the surrounding wildlands through a variety of projects and programs.

Where We Work

The geographic extent of our work includes the following areas:

  • The entire Selway River watershed
  • The Bitterroot River watershed west of US Highway 93
  • The Lochsa River watershed south of US Highway 12
  • The entire Salmon River watershed, including all major forks, between North Fork, Idaho, and Riggins, Idaho

Who We Are

The SBF Staff
The SBF Board
Our Partners

The Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our Tax Identification Number is 27-2868220.