Greening of Detroit
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE GREENING OF DETROIT'S MISSION IS THE SUSTAINABLE GROWTH OF A HEALTHY URBAN COMMUNITY THROUGH TREES, GREEN SPACES, HEALTHY LIVING, EDUCATION, TRAINING AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
- Income
- $4.9 million
- Spending
- $4.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 10.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 54%
- Employees
- 142
- Volunteers
- 4,233
- Highest pay
- $172,125, president
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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 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
0 of 10Did not give 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, 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)
- $1.2 million spent. THE DETROIT CONSERVATION CORPS (DCC) PROVIDES CERTIFIED PRE-APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING IN URBAN FORESTRY, INTEGRATED WITH CASE MANAGEMENT, WORK-READINESS SUPPORT, AND JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PREPARE DETROIT RESIDENTSPARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE FACED BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENTFOR SUSTAINABLE, WELL-PAYING CAREERS IN THE TREE CARE AND LANDSCAPING INDUSTRIES.GRADUATES ARE PLACED IN JOBS THAT SUPPORT FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING TREE PLANTING AND MAINTENANCE ROLES. DCC SERVES AS A TALENT PIPELINE FOR LOCAL EMPLOYERS AND HELPS TO BUILD A DIVERSE, INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE, EMPOWERING DETROITERS WITH THE SKILLS TO ACHIEVE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC STABILITY.IN 2024, THE GREENING OF DETROIT CONTINUED ITS MISSION WITH THE GOAL OF TRAINING 2,400 DETROIT RESIDENTS OVER FIVE YEARS. THIS YEAR, 109 RESIDENTS GRADUATED FROM THE DCC PROGRAM, WITH 92% PLACED IN JOBS AT ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS DAVEY TREE, THE CITY OF DETROIT GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, PAYNE'S LANDSCAPING, TEDDY'S LANDSCAPING, AND THE GREENING'S OWN PLANTING CREWS.DCC ALSO OPERATES AS A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, TAKING ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDSCAPING PROJECTS THAT PROVIDE BOTH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE AND PAID EMPLOYMENT FOR GRADUATES.THE GREEN CORPS PROGRAM OFFERS MEANINGFUL SUMMER JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERSERVED YOUTH IN DETROIT, FOCUSING ON TREE MAINTENANCE, GREEN SPACE CARE, AND CONSERVATION. SINCE 1998, THE PROGRAM HAS EMPLOYED OVER 1,708 DETROIT YOUTH, PROVIDING BOTH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND REAL-WORLD JOB SKILLS.IN 2024, 112 YOUTH (AGES 1418) PARTICIPATED IN THE SIX-WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM, SUPPORTED BY 17 YOUNG ADULT CREW LEADERS. AN ADDITIONAL CREW OF 20 YOUTH AND 2 LEADERS CONTINUED WORKING INTO THE FALL TREE PLANTING SEASON. PARTICIPANTS CARE FOR TREES ACROSS MORE THAN 185 PLANTING SITES, BEAUTIFY PARKS AND NEIGHBORHOODS, AND ENGAGE IN CONSERVATION WORK THAT BUILDS ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND COMMUNITY PRIDE.THE GREEN CORPS PROGRAM COMBINES WORK EXPERIENCE WITH SERVICE LEARNING AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES THAT INTRODUCE YOUTH TO CAREERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.
- $2.1 million spent. TREE PLANTING IS CENTRAL TO THE GREENING OF DETROIT'S VISION FOR A HEALTHIER, MORE SUSTAINABLE CITY. SINCE 1989, THE ORGANIZATION HAS PLANTED OVER 170,000 TREES THROUGHOUT DETROIT.IN 2024 ALONE, THE GREENING HOSTED 56 TREE PLANTING EVENTS ACROSS DETROIT, HIGHLAND PARK, AND HAMTRAMCK, RESULTING IN 7,986 NEWLY PLANTED TREES - INCLUDING 1,000 DISTRIBUTED FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY PLANTING. THESE EFFORTS WERE MADE POSSIBLE BY 4,233 VOLUNTEERS AND 45 CITIZEN FORESTERS WHO LED TEAMS AND SUPPORTED MAINTENANCE WORK AT THE MEYERS TREE NURSERY AND LAFAYETTE GREENS.AT THE MEYERS TREE NURSERY, 400 TREES WERE HARVESTED IN 2024. OVER 3,500 TREES ARE CURRENTLY IN PRODUCTION USING SUSTAINABLE METHODS LIKE RECYCLED STORMWATER IRRIGATION AND POT-IN-POT AND GRAVEL BED SYSTEMS.COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS FOUNDATIONAL TO THE GREENING'S WORK. EACH YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERS WITH OVER 150 LOCAL GROUPSINCLUDING BLOCK CLUBS, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, AND NONPROFITSTO ASSESS NEIGHBORHOOD TREE NEEDS AND CO-CREATE GREENING STRATEGIES. IN 2024, OVER 9,081 RESIDENTS WERE DIRECTLY ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.THE GREENING ALSO SUPPORTS AND ADVOCATES FOR GRASSROOTS LEADERS WORKING TO EXPAND GREEN SPACE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
- $845,232 spent. THE GREENING OPERATES A FEE-FOR-SERVICE LANDSCAPING DIVISION OFFERING BOTH COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL SERVICES. IN 2024, THE FFS PROGRAM EMPLOYED 8 GRADUATES FROM THE DETROIT CONSERVATION CORPS AND GENERATED OVER $686,364 IN REVENUE. THESE FUNDS DIRECTLY SUPPORT WORKFORCE TRAINING AND CREATE GREEN JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR DETROITERS.
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
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1990.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.