Trellis for Tomorrow
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING EXPERIENTIAL PROGRAMS THAT TEACH LIFE SKILLS AND PROMOTE FOOD SECURITY AND SUSTAINABILITY.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 6.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 50%
- Employees
- 30
- Volunteers
- 2,784
- Highest pay
- $98,838, 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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 30% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $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 (1)
- $973,999 spent. TRELLIS FOR TOMORROW (THE ORGANIZATION") IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN PHOENIXVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA. TRELLIS FOR TOMORROW WORKS TO BUILD RESILIENT COMMUNITIES FROM THE GROUND UP. TRELLIS OFFERS THREE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AND IMPACTFUL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THAT INTERSECT IN MYRIAD WAYS.SEE DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAMS ON SCHEDULE O OF RETURN.FOOD FOR ALL (FFA) IS A COLLABORATIVE GARDENING PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES LIFE-GIVING, HIGH-IMPACT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING CORPORATIONS, UNIVERSITIES, FAITH-BASED INSTITUTIONS, NON-PROFITS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS. STAFF DESIGN AND INSTALL ATTRACTIVE RAISED-BED GARDENS AT EACH PARTNER SITE AND PROVIDE ALL NECESSARY RESOURCES AND EDUCATION FOR PARTICIPANTS TO MANAGE THE GARDEN. GROWING PARTNERS COMMIT TO DONATING AT LEAST HALF OF THEIR HARVEST TO LOCAL PANTRIES AND OTHER FOOD ASSISTANCE AGENCIES, WHICH HAS AN IMMEDIATE AND SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON ACCESS TO NUTRIENT-DENSE PRODUCE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY LIMITED ACCESS TO FRESH FOODS. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2013, FFA HAS ENGAGED VOLUNTEERS TO GROW HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF PRODUCE THAT GENERATED OVER A MILLION SERVINGS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR NEIGHBORS IN NEED.SEED SKILLS (SEED) IS A YEAR-ROUND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM BUILT AROUND STUDENT-LED ENTERPRISES AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISCOVERY. ADOLESCENTS, AGED 12-18, ENGAGE IN CLASSROOM AND GARDEN-BASED ACTIVITIES AND RECEIVE MENTORSHIP THAT BUILDS WORKFORCE PREPAREDNESS AND LIFE SKILLS WHILE FOSTERING LEADERSHIP AND PERSONAL AGENCY. PROGRAMMING HAS THE ADDED BENEFIT OF IMPROVING ACCESS TO FRESH, ORGANIC PRODUCE FOR PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. AN "EARN WHILE YOU LEARN" PROGRAM, SEED SIMULATES A TRUE WORK ENVIRONMENT IN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SPACE. UNDER GUIDANCE FROM EXPERT STAFF, PARTICIPANTS COME TOGETHER TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT AN EQUITABLE, COMMUNITY-BUILDING BUSINESS MODEL THAT HAS THEM COLLABORATING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING WITH REAL-LIFE SCENARIOS.A NATURAL PROGRESSION FROM SEED IS OUR GROW CAREERS (GROW) PROGRAM. GROW IS A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE INTERNSHIP TRAINING AND PLACEMENT PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AGES 16-24, GIVING PARTICIPANTS MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES AS THEY GET REAL OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WORKPLACE. TRELLIS RECRUITS INTERNS AND PROVIDES VALUABLE TRAINING THROUGH ACTIVE AND ONGOING MENTORSHIP, 1X1 AND GROUP COACHING, WORKSHOPS, AND WORKPLACE SIMULATIONS. TRELLIS MATCHES INTERNS WITH AREA NON-PROFITS AND SOCIAL IMPACT BUSINESSES FOR PAID INTERNSHIPS, PROVIDING ONGOING SUPPORT TO BOTH THE INTERNS AND THE HOST SITES. POST-INTERNSHIP, TRELLIS CONTINUES TO BE AVAILABLE AS A MENTOR AND RESOURCE TO HELP INTERNS PROCESS THEIR EXPERIENCE AND ADVANCE THEIR EDUCATION AND/OR CAREER GOALS.BEYOND THIS, THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED AGRICULTURAL LEARNING CENTER AT LUNDALE FARM IS A PLACE OF INSPIRATION AND EDUCATION AS A CATALYST FOR PEOPLE TO GROW FOOD WHERE THEY LIVE, WORK, LEARN, AND PLAY. THE ALC SERVES AS A REGIONAL HUB, PROVIDING SEEDLINGS, PRODUCE, AND EDUCATION THAT CREATES A WIDE RANGE OF POSITIVE IMPACTS ACROSS FOUR COUNTIES. THE GOAL OF THE ALC IS TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO LEARN ABOUT INNOVATIVE, SUSTAINABLE, URBAN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS AND METHODS THAT THEY CAN EMPLOY IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES, ALONG WITH BASIC TECHNIQUES FOR MANAGING THOSE SYSTEMS AND METHODS. THE ALC IS A RESOURCE HUB, PROVIDING INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS AND VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR FIELD TRIPS AND LARGER GROUPS, AS WELL AS MORE SPECIFIC EDUCATION AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALLER GROUPS. THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A LEARNING CENTER FULFILLED LUNDALE'S GOAL TO PROVIDE EDUCATION INTO THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDED THE LAND AND A GREENHOUSE SPACE THAT TRELLIS NEEDED TO SUPPORT BOTH THE PROPAGATION OF SEEDLINGS (80,000-100,000 PER YEAR) AND A SPACE TO DEVELOP URBAN AGRICULTURE LEARNING EXHIBITS AND WORKSHOPS.
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 October 13, 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 July 2009.
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 October 21, 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.