Green Cities Accord
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Green Cities Accord is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering climate resilient communities through investments in tree canopy infrastructure to improve environmental health, climate resilience, and equity in communities. We focus on securing funding for urban forestry, building public-private partnerships, and supporting municipalities in planting and maintaining trees. Green Cities Accord continues to grow both the Urban Forest Fund and the Urban Tree Carbon Offset Program as new funding mechanisms to address the chronic lack of funding for urban forestry initiatives. The Urban Forest Fund serves as a flexible funding mechanism that channels private and philanthropic investments into tree planting and maintenance efforts,. The Urban Tree Carbon Offset Program allows organizations to reduce their carbon footprint by purchasing verified offsets tied to local tree projects, with revenue reinvested into expanding and preserving the urban forest.
- Income
- $450,966
- Spending
- $537,012
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 10 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 52%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $113,389, director of programs and operations
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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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)
- $253,375 spent. Green Cities Accord educates Twin Cities residents, businesses, and government entities about the vital role urban trees play in creating climate-resilient communities. Through outreach, partnerships, and public engagement, we raise awareness of the many co-benefits trees provide-including heat reduction, air and water quality improvement, and enhanced public health-particularly in under-canopied and historically underserved neighborhoods.
- $9,900 spent. We raise and distribute funding to support public-sector urban forestry across the Twin Cities metro area. Through private donations, grants, and philanthropic partnerships, we provide direct financial support to municipal forestry departments to plant and maintain new trees-expanding the urban tree canopy in communities that need it most
- $193,551 spent. As part of our urban tree carbon offset program, Green Cities Accord partners with municipal forestry departments to protect and maintain trees for at least 25 years. This long-term stewardship ensures that newly planted trees survive to maturity and provide maximum climate, environmental, and public health benefits. Verified carbon offsets are sold to companies working toward decarbonization, and the revenue is reinvested in additional tree planting and care.
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 February 2015.
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.