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Tennessee Urban Forest Council

EIN 62-1497165 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TENNESSEE URBAN FOREST COUNCIL CATALYZES AND SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTHY SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY FORESTS.

Income
$133,704
Spending
$153,993
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 55%
Employees
1
Volunteers
20

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 46% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $37,666 spent. ADVANCED URBAN FORESTRY EDUCATION AND FOSTERED CONNECTIONS IN TN THROUGH EVENT-BASED PROGRAMS, INCLUDING VIRTUAL WEBINAR SERIES, WORKSHOPS, AND ANNUAL CONFERENCE. DOUBLED ATTENDANCE OF THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE TO 170 ATTENDEES REPRESENTING 40 COMMUNITIES. HOSTED TREES AND LAW WORKSHOP WITH 75 ATTENDEES. HOSTED 10 WEBINARS WITH 110 AVG ATTENDANCE AND 250 CEUS FOR ISA CERTIFIED ARBORISTS. HOSTED MONTHLY MEETINGS FOR WEST TN MEMBERS. MEMBERSHIP GREW TO 200.
  2. $37,116 spent. ADVANCED URBAN FORESTRY EDUCATION IN TN THROUGH STATEWIDE PLACE-BASED INITIATIVES, INCLUDING ARBORETUM CERTIFICATION AND TREE SANCTUARY RECOGNITION. 115 ACTIVELY CERTIFIED ARBORETA, INCLUDING 8 NEW AND 21 RECERTIFIED IN 2024. CONTRIBUTIONS FROM 10 VOLUNTEER ARBORETUM INSPECTORS ACROSS THE STATE. 11 NEW TREE SANCTUARIES RECOGNIZED.
  3. $3,572 spent. INSPIRED TREE ADVOCATES BY CELEBRATING AND PROMOTING COMPELLING STORIES, PEOPLE, AND ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH DIGITALCOMMUNICATIONS. PUBLISHED 52 WEEKLY RESEARCH POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. GREW SOCIAL MEDIA REACH TO 35,000 AND EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS TO 1,700. HIRED A DEDICATED SOCIAL MEDIA VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTING 5 HOURS PER WEEK.
  4. $52,784 spent. OTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE PROGRAM EXPENSES THAT SUPPORT TUFC'S MISSION, INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE AND FISCAL COORDINATION FOR THE GREEN COMMUNITIES LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, WHICH TRAINED 30 GREEN INDUSTRY EMERGING LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE US. LED BY A CORE LEADERSHIP TEAM OF 10 VOLUNTEERS. SUPPORTED HOSTING OF THE IN-PERSON PORTION IN TENNESSEE.
  5. OTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE PROGRAM EXPENSES THAT SUPPORT TUFC'S MISSION, INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE AND FISCAL COORDINATION FOR THE GREEN COMMUNITIES LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, WHICH TRAINED 30 GREEN INDUSTRY EMERGING LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE US. LED BY A CORE LEADERSHIP TEAM OF 10 VOLUNTEERS. SUPPORTED HOSTING OF THE IN-PERSON PORTION IN TENNESSEE.

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 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 November 6, 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 2024.

    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 August 1995.

    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 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.