The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) was founded by a group of Montana pilots who realized the threat of recreational airstrip closure was of national concern. They also recognized that there was the need for a unified effort by pilots everywhere to protect public recreational opportunities. The RAF is dedicated to preserving existing airstrips and actually creating new public-use recreational airstrips throughout the United States. Recognized by the IRS as a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, the RAF is using tax-deductible donations to: - Identify private and public land for the development of new airstrips, Assist in funding the building of new airstrips on public land, - Develop educational materials to assist pilots in being knowledgeable advocates, - Fund efforts to gain national recognition of backcountry recreational aviation and airstrips as a legitimate use of public lands. - Provide educational information regarding recreational airstrips to members of Congress and their staff. The RAF strives to build strong working relationships with other aviation groups, both on the state and national level. Many of the issues that involve the RAF transcend state boundaries. The RAF encourages various state pilots' organizations to form active committees that work on recreational airstrip issues. To facilitate this, the RAF is forming a cadre of state liaisons to assist the states in becoming effective leaders in the efforts to protect recreational airstrips. The RAF facilitates the enactment of state recreational-use statutes amendments to specifically include aviation. These laws considerably reduce a private airstrip landowner's liability when allowing public, non-commercial use of the airstrip.