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Trees Atlanta Inc

EIN 58-1584758 · Atlanta, GA

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

TREES ATLANTA PROTECTS AND IMPROVES ATLANTA'S URBAN FOREST BY PLANTING, CONSERVING, AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF TREES AND THEIR IMPORTANCE FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE EMPOWER COMMUNITY-BASED FORESTRY AND DEPEND ON VOLUNTEERS AND THE ENGAGEMENT OF RESIDENTS AND MUNICIPALITIES FROM ACROSS THE REGION. SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 1985, TREES ATLANTA HAS PLANTED OVER 180,000 TREES THROUGHOUT METRO ATLANTA. OUR AIM IS TO BUILD A COMMUNITY WHERE RESIDENTS AND THE NATURAL WORLD COEXIST IN A THRIVING URBAN ECOSYSTEM THAT ADDRESSES ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS, INCREASES AIR QUALITY, FOSTERS BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES, FACILITATES MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES, INVITES MORE SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT AND CREATES SAFER AND HEALTHIER NEIGHBORHOODS.

Income
$10.6 million
Spending
$10.8 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
23.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 56%
Employees
181
Volunteers
11,621
Highest pay
$186,717, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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

    25 of 25 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 June 30, 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. $9.6 million spent. TREES ATLANTA HELPS COMMUNITY MEMBERS PROTECT AND CARE FOR TREES AND EDUCATES YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS ABOUT THE VALUE OF OUR URBAN FOREST. IN THE 2024/2025 PLANTING SEASON, TREES ATLANTA PLANTED AND DISTRIBUTED 9,355 TREES IN METRO ATLANTA WITH THE HELP OF VOLUNTEERS AND CONTRACTORS. DURING FY25, TREES ATLANTA VOLUNTEERS PLANTED 6,184 TREES (6-8 FT. TALL) AS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAM. TREES ATLANTA'S URBAN TREES PROGRAM PLANTED 447 15-FOOT TALL TREES IN METRO ATLANTA SIDEWALKS, PUBLIC SPACES AND ON PRIVATE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. AN ADDITIONAL 2,724 TREES WERE PLANTED BY OUR FOREST RESTORATION AND BELTLINE ARBORETUM TEAMS. THESE TREES ARE MAINTAINED, CARED FOR, AND/OR MANAGED BY TREES ATLANTA STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, OR CONTRACTORS. FINALLY, 1,033 TREES WERE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH TREE SALES AND GIVEAWAYS. TREES ATLANTA'S FOREST RESTORATION PROGRAM TRANSFORMS OVERGROWN GREENSPACES INTO HEALTHY FORESTS THROUGH INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL. IN FY25, TREES ATLANTA TREATED AND MANAGED 683 ACRES OF INVASIVE SPECIES THROUGHOUT THE METRO ATLANTA AREA. TREES ATLANTA EDUCATES THE PUBLIC, BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS, ABOUT THE EXTRAORDINARY BENEFITS OF TREES AND THE NEED TO PROTECT AND EXPAND THE CITY'S TREE CANOPY. YOUTH EDUCATION INITIATIVES INCLUDE AN IN-SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAM (URBAN TREETRACKERS) AND DAY CAMPS (JUNIOR TREEKEEPERS). IN ADDITION, 70 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS PARTICIPATED IN YOUTH TREE TEAM, A 7-WEEK JOB AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM. JOB TRAINING IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR YOUNG ADULTS THROUGH URBAN FORESTRY CAREER PATHWAYS (UFOR), A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DELIVERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GREENING YOUTH FOUNDATION, ON THE RISE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER, AND ATLANTA BELTLINE, INC. ADULT EDUCATION OFFERINGS INCLUDE TREEKEEPERS, TREE WALKS, ATLANTA BELTLINE ARBORETUM WALKING TOURS, SPEAKER SERIES AND OUR ANNUAL NATIVE PLANT AND TREE SALES. AN EDUCATED PUBLIC WILL LEAD TO IMPROVED ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES ACROSS METRO ATLANTA. IN FY25, THROUGH A MIX OF IN-PERSON EVENTS AND SYNCHRONOUS AND ASYNCHRONOUS ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, TREES ATLANTA DELIVERED 21,710 EDUCATIONAL INTERACTIONS REACHING AUDIENCES FROM YOUTH TO ADULTS AND NOVICES TO EXPERTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 November 1984.

    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.