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Trees for the Future Inc

EIN 52-1644869 · Silver Spring, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE LIVELIHOODS OF IMPOVERISHED FARMERS BY REVITALIZING DEGRADED LANDS.

Income
$15.6 million
Spending
$13.3 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
7.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
21
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$274,579, ceo

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $10.2 million spent. TREES FOR THE FUTURE (TREES) WORKS WITH SMALL HOLDER FARMERS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA THROUGH THEIR FOREST GARDEN APPROACH (FGA). THE APPROACH IS FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING FARMERS TO DESIGN THEIR OWN AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE THEIR FOOD SECURITY, DIETARY DIVERSITY, ECONOMIC LIVELIHOODS, AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE. OVER FOUR YEARS, TREES TRAINS FARMERS THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE SIXTEEN-PART CURRICULUM THAT BUILDS THEIR KNOWLEDGE IN AGROFORESTRY, PERM GARDENING, SOIL HEALTH, COMPOSTING, AND LIVELIHOODS. TRAINING IS UNDERTAKEN BY TREES OFFICERS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE GROWN UP IN THE SAME LOCAL COMMUNITY AND AFTER TERTIARY EDUCATION, RETURN TO THEIR COMMUNITIES TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE. TREES TEAM WORK TO DESIGN TAILORED FOREST GARDENS THAT MEET THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF THE FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND ECOSYSTEM IN WHICH THEY LIVE. TREES FURTHER ENSURES THAT ALL FOREST GARDENS DESIGNED ARE LOCALLY APPROPRIATE TO THE ECOSYSTEM AND NEEDS OF THE FARMER. CROP AND TREE VARIETIES ARE SELECTED BY THE FARMERS, WITH TREES' TECHNICIANS GUIDING FARMER GROUPS THROUGH A METHODOLOGY THAT MAXIMIZES YIELDS WHILE ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE LAND BEING FARMED. THE FOREST GARDEN ENGAGES THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AND SKILL OF LOCAL FARMERS, ALLOWING THEM TO DRAMATICALLY AND PERMANENTLY INCREASE THEIR INCOME, REVITALIZE THEIR DEGRADED LANDS, AND BENEFIT GENERATIONS TO COME. ALL FOREST GARDEN PROJECTS ARE DEVELOPED WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SUSTAINABILITY AT BOTH THE FARM AND LANDSCAPE LEVELS. AT THE FARM LEVEL, THE FOREST GARDEN IS ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE BECAUSE IT CONTAINS MANY TREES SOLELY DEDICATED TOWARD SERVING ECOSYSTEM PURPOSES: FAST-GROWING, NITROGEN-FIXING TREES BUILD SOILS BY ADDING ORGANIC MATTER TO THE TOPSOIL AND BY FIXING NITROGEN INTO THE SOIL VIA THEIR ROOTS. THESE "GREEN FERTILIZER" TREES ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR FARMERS TO PURCHASE ENVIRONMENTALLY HARMFUL CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS. THE FOREST GARDEN DESIGN ALSO CONSIDERS INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT, USING TREES AND VEGETATION TO SERVE AS BARRIERS FOR PESTS AND SOURCES OF NATURAL PESTICIDES (SUCH AS NEEM TREES), REDUCING THE NEED FOR FARMERS TO PURCHASE HARMFUL CHEMICAL PESTICIDES. AT THE LANDSCAPE LEVEL, FOREST GARDENS ARE ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR REDUCING PRESSURE ON FORESTS, HELPING TO END THE BATTLE BETWEEN FARMS AND FORESTS.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1989.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.