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Treepeople Inc

EIN 23-7314838 · Beverly Hills, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TREEPEOPLE UNITES THE POWER OF TREES, PEOPLE, AND NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO GROW MORE CLIMATE-RESILIENT AND WATER-SECURE COMMUNITIES AS THE REGION FACES EXTREME WEATHER, HISTORIC DROUGHT AND A HOTTER, DRIER FUTURE. THE ORGANIZATION INSPIRES, ENGAGES AND SUPPORTS PEOPLE TO TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT MAKING IT SAFE, HEALTHY, FUN AND SUSTAINABLE AND TO SHARE THE PROCESS AS A MODEL FOR THE WORLD. TREEPEOPLE FACILITATES COLLABORATION AMONG PUBLIC AGENCIES AND LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS, AND PROMOTES LEADERSHIP IN GRASSROOTS VOLUNTEERS, YOUTH AND COMMUNITIES. IN THIS WAY, TREEPEOPLE SEEKS TO BUILD A POWERFUL AND DIVERSE COALITION TO GROW A GREENER, HEALTHIER AND MORE WATER-SECURE LOS ANGELES FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Income
$18.0 million
Spending
$16.3 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
179
Volunteers
6,800
Highest pay
$193,045, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $8.1 million spent. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND OUTDOOR ACCESS: PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUTH IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND OUTDOOR LEARNING TO HELP STUDENTS EXPLORE LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS AND ISSUES SUCH AS WASTE, WATER AND FORESTRY IN A FUN AND ENGAGING WAY. THIS INCLUDES ENGAGING YOUTH AT EVERY AGE LEVEL, OFFERING AGE-APPROPRIATE PROJECTS, FIELD TRIPS, AND HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO EMPOWER FUTURE GENERATIONS. THIS PROGRAM EXPANDS ACROSS LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND PRIORITIZES COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE NOT HISTORICALLY BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS NATURE. THIS PROGRAM WAS ABLE TO SERVE APPROXIMATELY 23,500 STUDENTS ACROSS 230 SCHOOLS THROUGH 370 FIELD TRIPS AND 350 IN-CLASSROOM PROJECTS. THIS PROGRAM UPLIFTS YOUTH TO BUILD A CONNECTION WITH NATURE AND UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN IMPROVING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND ENVIRONMENT.
  2. $4.1 million spent. URBAN AND MOUNTAIN FORESTRY: THE FORESTRY PROGRAMS EXPANDED TREE CANOPY, CARED FOR YOUNG TREES, REFORESTED MOUNTAINOUS AREAS, AND RESTORED NATIVE HABITAT WHILE ENGAGING AND ACTIVATING THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS TO PARTICIPATE AND LEARN IN THE PROCESS. TREEPEOPLE'S URBAN FORESTRY TEAMS PLANTED TREES IN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ACROSS LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND INTO THE INLAND EMPIRE. TREEPEOPLE'S MOUNTAIN FORESTRY TEAM RESTORED NUMEROUS PROJECT SITES ACROSS THE LOCAL MOUNTAINS THAT HAVE BURNED IN RECENT FIRES. TREEPEOPLE ENGAGED MORE THAN 6,800 VOLUNTEERS, PLANTED MORE THAN 14,600 TREES AND PLANTS IN MOUNTAIN FORESTS, PLANTED MORE THAN 3,300 TREES IN URBAN PARKWAYS, AND DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 3,200 FRUIT TREES TO RESIDENTS. IN ADDITION, TREEPEOPLE ENGAGED AND SUPPORTED VOLUNTEERS TO ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF THOUSANDS OF PLANTS AND TREES ACROSS THE REGION, INCLUDING OVER 400 ACRES IN THE MOUNTAINS. THIS PROGRAM HAS DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE, PROVIDING MUCH-NEEDED SHADE AND ECO-SYSTEM BENEFITS IN OUR WARMING ENVIRONMENT.
  3. $671,940 spent. POLICY & RESEARCH: DEVELOP CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH TO ADVANCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS AND ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES THAT ARE GUIDED BY RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY FEEDBACK. THE RESEARCH CONDUCTED APPLIES TO ALL RELATED ISSUES IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT, SUCH AS WATER, SOIL AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE. THE RESEARCH TEAM ADVANCED THE REGION'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE USE OF URBAN SOILS FOR WATER CAPTURE, THE FEASIBILITY FOR SCHOOLS TO CAPTURE STORMWATER AND SYNTHESIS DATA RELATED TO THE LOCALIZED BENEFITS OF URBAN FORESTS. POLICIES AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS WERE ADVANCED AND IMPROVED BY TREEPEOPLE'S PARTICIPATION. THIS INCLUDED HISTORIC FUNDING FOR SCHOOL GREENING AND OTHER POLICIES THAT ENSURED THE PRIORITIZATION OF HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THIS PROGRAM HAS ADVANCED THE USE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1973.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

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