Trees Forever Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TREES FOREVER MISSION IS TO PLANT AND CARE FOR TREES AND THE ENVIRONMENT BY EMPOWERING PEOPLE, BUILDING COMMUNITY AND PROMOTING STEWARDSHIP. OUR PHILOSOPHY HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO INVOLVE PEOPLE IN PROJECTS THAT EDUCATE THEM IN WAYS THAT ENSURE LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY. FOR EXAMPLE, TREES PLANTED IN PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES HAVE A SURVIVAL RATE OF 91%. TREES FOREVER ACHIEVES THIS THROUGH CUTTING-EDGE PROGRAMS AND INNOVATIVE PRACTICES. OUR TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED STAFF ASSISTS AND ENGAGES AN AVERAGE OF 7,000 VOLUNTEERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND LANDOWNERS ACROSS IOWA AND ILLINOIS WITH THOUSANDS OF PLANTING PROJECTS EACH YEAR. WE DO THIS BY ENGAGING VOLUNTEERS IN THOROUGH PLANNING PROCESSES THAT RESULT IN PROJECTS WITH THE BEST CHANCE FOR SUCCESS, BY PROVIDING FRIENDLY AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS AND LEADERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PLANTING AND CARING FOR TREES AND NATURAL AREAS, AND BY WORKING WITH RURAL LANDOWNERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO PLANTING STRIPS OF LAND WITH NATIVE
- Income
- $3.7 million
- Spending
- $3.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- -0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 58%
- Employees
- 89
- Volunteers
- 6,700
- Highest pay
- $170,120, ceo
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
Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 2514 of 14 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 (5)
- $2.7 million spent. GROWING COMMUNITY FORESTS: TREES FOREVER HELPS COMMUNITIES GROW AND CARE FOR THEIR COMMUNITY FORESTS BY PROVIDING GRANT FUNDING WITH FRIENDLY AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ASSISTANCE TO VOLUNTEERS AND LEADERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PLANTING AND CARING FOR TREES AND NATURAL AREAS. TREES FOREVER PROVIDES ASSISTANCE WITH DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLANNING AND RECOVERY AND CONTINUES TO LEAD THE REPLANTING EFFORT. IN 2025, TREES FOREVER PARTNERED WITH 91 COMMUNITIES TO COMPLETE 170 PROJECTS IN IOWA, ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN. THREE LARGE-SCALE TREE DISTRIBUTIONS WERE HELD IN 2,508 AFFORDABLE, LANDSCAPE SIZED TREES PLANTED ON PRIVATE LANDS IN THE CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES MOINES METROPOLITAN AREAAS. EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEER OUTREACH PROGRAMS ARE ALSO PROCESSING. TREES FOREVER IS HELPING PREPARE TEENAGERS IUN IOWA FOR THE FUTURE WORKFORCE THROUGH GROWING FUTURES. THROUGH THIS YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN DES MOINES AND CEDAR RAPIDS ARE HIRED TO PLANT AND CARE FOR PUBLIC TREES IN 2025, A TOTAL OF 77 STUDENTS WERE HIRED WITH 53 STUDENTS RETURNING FOR CONSECUTIVE SEASONS. THEY PLANTED 859 TREES, WATERED 92,836 TIMES AND PROVIDED MAINTENANCE TO NUMEROUS TREES AS NEEDED WHILE ALSO RECEIVING VALUABLE TRAINING AND ENHANCING THEIR WORKPLACE READINESS. GROWING COMMUNITY FORESTS: TREES FOREVER HELPS COMMUNITIES GROW AND CARE FOR THEIR COMMUNITY FORESTS BY PROVIDING GRANT FUNDING WITH FRIENDLY AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ASSISTANCE TO VOLUNTEERS AND LEADERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PLANTING AND CARING FOR TREES AND NATURAL AREAS. TREES FOREVER PROVIDES ASSISTANCE WITH DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLANNING AND RECOVERY AND CONTINUES TO LEAD THE REPLANTING EFFORT. IN 2025, TREES FOREVER PARTNERED WITH 91 COMMUNITIES TO COMPLETE 170 PROJECTS IN IOWA, ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN. THREE LARGE-SCALE TREE DISTRIBUTIONS WERE HELD IN 2,508 AFFORDABLE, LANDSCAPE SIZED TREES PLANTED ON PRIVATE LANDS IN THE CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES MOINES METROPOLITAN AREAAS. EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEER OUTREACH PROGRAMS ARE ALSO PROCESSING. TREES FOREVER IS HELPING PREPARE TEENAGERS IUN IOWA FOR THE FUTURE WORKFORCE THROUGH GROWING FUTURES. THROUGH THIS YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN DES MOINES AND CEDAR RAPIDS ARE HIRED TO PLANT AND CARE FOR PUBLIC TREES IN 2025, A TOTAL OF 77 STUDENTS WERE HIRED WITH 53 STUDENTS RETURNING FOR CONSECUTIVE SEASONS. THEY PLANTED 859 TREES, WATERED 92,836 TIMES AND PROVIDED MAINTENANCE TO NUMEROUS TREES AS NEEDED WHILE ALSO RECEIVING VALUABLE TRAINING AND ENHANCING THEIR WORKPLACE READINESS.
- $113,797 spent. IN 2025 TREES FOREVER EDUCATED INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES TO CARE FOR TREES: TREES FOREVER PROVIDES INFORMATIVE PROGRAMS AND HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT BUILD PARTICIPANTS' KNOWLEDGE OF TREE CARE, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, AND CONSERVATION. IN 2025 THROUGH THE STEWARDS OF THE BEAUTIFUL LAND PROGRAM WITH THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S LIVING ROADWAY TRUST FUND, TREES FOREVER HOSTED TWLEVE WEBINARS THAT ENGAGED PARTICIPANTS ON TOPICS RELATED TO CONSERVATION AND TREE PLANTING AND CARE. ALSO, THROUGH THE STEWARDS OF THE BEAUTIFUL LAND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, VARIOUS HANDS-ON FIELD DAYS INCLUDED PLANT AND TREE ID, SEED HARVEST, PRAIRIE WALKS AND PLANTING EVENTS THAT ENGAGED 844 PARTICIPANTS. THE TREES FOREVER TREEKEEPERS PROGRAM REACHES VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE NATION TO TRAIN AND EDUCATE THEM IN SUPPORTING URBAN FORESTRY IN THEIR HOMETOWNS. IN 2025, 499 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THE ONLINE SERIES OF TRAININGS. THROUGH ALL OF TREES FOREVERS WORK, THE GROUP PROMOTES THE PLANTING OF DIVERSE, NATIVE TREES AND PRAIRIE TO BUILD A MORE RESILIENT AND BENEFICIAL LOCAL ECOSYSTEM. TREES FOREVER PROVIDES EDUCATION TO THE PUBLIC ON A VARIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS WITH IN-PERSON FIELD DAYS, WEBINAR SERIES, AND VOLUNTEER TRAININGS. IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION HAD MORE THAN 6,700 ENGAGEMENTS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH, VOLUNTEER EVENTS, AND SUPPORTER INTERACTIONS. IN 2025 TREES FOREVER EDUCATED INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES TO CARE FOR TREES: TREES FOREVER PROVIDES INFORMATIVE PROGRAMS AND HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT BUILD PARTICIPANTS' KNOWLEDGE OF TREE CARE, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, AND CONSERVATION. IN 2025 THROUGH THE STEWARDS OF THE BEAUTIFUL LAND PROGRAM WITH THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S LIVING ROADWAY TRUST FUND, TREES FOREVER HOSTED TWLEVE WEBINARS THAT ENGAGED PARTICIPANTS ON TOPICS RELATED TO CONSERVATION AND TREE PLANTING AND CARE. ALSO, THROUGH THE STEWARDS OF THE BEAUTIFUL LAND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, VARIOUS HANDS-ON FIELD DAYS INCLUDED PLANT AND TREE ID, SEED HARVEST, PRAIRIE WALKS AND PLANTING EVENTS THAT ENGAGED 844 PARTICIPANTS. THE TREES FOREVER TREEKEEPERS PROGRAM REACHES VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE NATION TO TRAIN AND EDUCATE THEM IN SUPPORTING URBAN FORESTRY IN THEIR HOMETOWNS. IN 2025, 499 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THE ONLINE SERIES OF TRAININGS. THROUGH ALL OF TREES FOREVERS WORK, THE GROUP PROMOTES THE PLANTING OF DIVERSE, NATIVE TREES AND PRAIRIE TO BUILD A MORE RESILIENT AND BENEFICIAL LOCAL ECOSYSTEM. TREES FOREVER PROVIDES EDUCATION TO THE PUBLIC ON A VARIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS WITH IN-PERSON FIELD DAYS, WEBINAR SERIES, AND VOLUNTEER TRAININGS. IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION HAD MORE THAN 6,700 ENGAGEMENTS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH, VOLUNTEER EVENTS, AND SUPPORTER INTERACTIONS.
- $2,282 spent. COLLABORATED WITH ILLINOIS COMMUNITIES TO PLANT NEW TREES, MAINTAIN EXISTING ONES, AND SAFELY REMOVE THOSE THAT POSE RISKS. THE PROJECT FOCUSES ON ALIGNING TREE?CARE ACTIVITIES WITH NEIGHBORHOOD PRIORITIES, ENSURING THAT DECISIONS REFLECT LOCAL NEEDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS. BY BUILDING COMMUNITY CAPACITY AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL SUPPORT, THE INITIATIVE STRENGTHENS LONG?TERM STEWARDSHIP OF THE URBAN TREE CANOPY. IN 2025, WE AWARDED 555,431 IN FUNDING TO 32 COMMUNITIES IN ILLINOIS UNDER THE ILLINOIS DNR PROGRAM.
- $440,926 spent. LANDSCAPING ROADS & TRAILS: TREES FOREVER WORKS WITH VOLUNTEERS AND LEADERS TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES BETTER PLACES FOR CURRENT AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE DO THIS BY LEADING PLANNING EFFORTS THAT RESULT IN SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS. IN 2025, SEVEN COMMUNITIES PARTICIPATED IN THE IOWA'S LIVING ROADWAYS COMMUNITY VISIONING PROCESS WITH 1,481 VOLUNTEERS LOGGING 2,316 HOURS VALUED AT 69,380.
- LANDSCAPING ROADS & TRAILS: TREES FOREVER WORKS WITH VOLUNTEERS AND LEADERS TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES BETTER PLACES FOR CURRENT AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE DO THIS BY LEADING PLANNING EFFORTS THAT RESULT IN SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS. IN 2025, SEVEN COMMUNITIES PARTICIPATED IN THE IOWA'S LIVING ROADWAYS COMMUNITY VISIONING PROCESS WITH 1,481 VOLUNTEERS LOGGING 2,316 HOURS VALUED AT 69,380.
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 1995.
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.
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