Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TREE PITTSBURGH IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING AND BUILDING COMMUNITY VITALITY BY RESTORING AND PROTECTING THE URBAN FOREST THROUGH TREE PLANTING AND CARE, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND LAND CONSERVATION.
- Income
- $4.5 million
- Spending
- $3.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 50%
- Employees
- 29
- Volunteers
- 2,798
- Highest pay
- $122,560, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 59% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 million spent. TREE PLANTING AND CARE - TREE PITTSBURGH WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH PARTNERS TO FACILITATE THE PLANTING AND CARE OF BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TREES ACROSS ALL CITY OF PITTSBURGH NEIGHBORHOODS AND THROUGHOUT ALLEGHENY COUNTY. IN 2024, TREE PITTSBURGH EXPANDED ITS IMPACT BY BECOMING AN AFFILIATE OF THE GIVING GROVE, A NATIONAL NONPROFIT THAT SUPPORTS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY FRUIT ORCHARDS, INCREASING ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP. TREE PITTSBURGH ENGAGES LOCAL RESIDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS FROM UNIVERSITIES, CORPORATIONS, AND CIVIC GROUPS IN HANDS-ON TREE CARE ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING MULCHING, WEEDING, WATERING, AND PRUNING. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO RAISES FUNDS AND MANAGES CONTRACTS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL CARE OF LARGE, MATURE PUBLIC TREES AND EMPLOYS SEASONAL CREWS TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE REGION'S URBAN FOREST.
- $392,653 spent. TREE NURSERY - THE TREE PITTSBURGH HERITAGE NURSERY WAS ESTABLISHED TO GROW TREE SPECIES THAT ENHANCE VARIETY AND RESILIENCY IN THE REGION'S URBAN FOREST. THE MAJORITY OF SEEDS USED IN PROPAGATION ARE COLLECTED FROM LOCAL SPECIMEN TREES AND CULTIVATED ON-SITE. THE NURSERY PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN ENSURING A SUSTAINABLE, LOCALLY ADAPTED TREE SUPPLY FOR PLANTING INITIATIVES ACROSS THE REGION.
- $240,597 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS - TREE PITTSBURGH MANAGES THE TREE TENDER PROGRAM, THROUGH WHICH VOLUNTEERS RECEIVE TRAINING IN TREE CARE AND PLANTING TECHNIQUES, TREE IDENTIFICATION, AND URBAN FOREST HISTORY. TREE TENDERS CONTINUE THEIR ENGAGEMENT THROUGH VOLUNTEER SERVICE AND ONGOING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. IN ADDITION, TREE PITTSBURGH OFFERS A RANGE OF TREE-RELATED CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1996.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.