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The Treeline Conservancy

EIN 43-2091401 · Ann Arbor, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 45% of its spending went to programs.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 85 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO FOSTER THE CREATION AND SUSTAINABLE MAINTENANCE OF A 2.75-MILE URBAN TRAIL THAT BECOMES AN INTEGRAL CONNECTOR OF PEOPLE AND PLACES IN ANN ARBOR. THE TRAIL WILL BRING ACCESS TO ANN ARBOR'S RIVER AND PARK SYSTEM THROUGH THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN ALONG THE ALIGNMENT OF HISTORIC ALLEN CREEK; PROVIDE SAFE PASSAGE AND RECREATION FROM THE BORDER-TO-BORDER TRAIL AT ARGO DAM TO THE UM STADIUM AREA; INVITE COMMUNITY GATHERING AND ENGAGEMENT WITH NATURAL AND CULTURAL FEATURES; BENEFIT CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS BY PROVIDING POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT, IMPROVED AESTHETICS, ENRICHED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND IMPROVED STORMWATER QUALITY.

Income
$156,979
Spending
$389,831
Spent on programs
45%
Reserves
-3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
3
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$79,262, ed of develo

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: 25 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 148% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    45% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 85 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 89% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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.

  • 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, 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)
  1. $174,272 spent. TO FOSTER THE CREATION AND SUSTAINABLE MAINTENANCE OF A 2.50-MILE URBAN TRAIL THAT BECOMES AN INTEGRAL CONNECTOR OF PEOPLE AND PLACES IN ANN ARBOR. THE TRAIL WILL BRING ACCESS TO ANN ARBOR'S RIVER AND PARK SYSTEM THROUGH THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN ALONG THE ALIGNMENT OF HISTORIC ALLEN CREEK; PROVIDE SAFE PASSAGE AND RECREATION FROM THE BORDER-TO-BORDER TRAIL AT ARGO DAM TO THE UM STADIUM AREA; INVITE COMMUNITY GATHERING AND ENGAGEMENT WITH NATURAL AND CULTURAL FEATURES; BENEFIT CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS BY PROVIDING POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT, IMPROVED AESTHETICS, ENRICHED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND IMPROVED STORMWATER QUALITY.

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

  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 2025.

    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 September 2007.

    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.

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.