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Trees Foundation

EIN 68-0259810 · Redway, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TREES FOUNDATION MISSION IS TO RESTORE THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF CALIFORNIA'S NORTH COAST BY EMPOWERING & ASSISTING REGIONAL COMMUNITY BASED EFFORTS THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY LAND STEWARDSHIP.

Income
$488,822
Spending
$437,693
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
24.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
13

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: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 53% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 91 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (12)
  1. $140,571 spent. FIRE PROGRAMS: OUR FIRE PROGRAM IS ENGAGED IN ORGANIZING WITH OTHER NON PROFITS AND STATE AGENCIES TO IMPLEMENT THE BEST FOREST HEALTH PRACTICES FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS. WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN BOTH GRANT WRITING AND IMPLEMENTATION. OUR TEAM HAS ALSO BEEN CONTRACTED TO DO OUTREACH, EDUCATION AND PLAN COMMUNITY EVENTS TO HILIGHT THIS WORKI.
  2. $94,795 spent. RESOURCE CENTER FOR CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED ON BEHALF OF OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
  3. $52,920 spent. RELEAF PETALUMA IS A GROUP DEDICATED TO THE VISION OF PLANTING NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE, AND ENHANCE BIODIVERSITY IN THE GREATER PETALUMA AREA. THEY ARE DOING THIS BY PARTNERING WITH CITY SCHOOLS, PARKS, AND PRIVATE LAND OWNERS. THEY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PLANTED 758 TREES.
  4. $11,770 spent. KS CONNECT
  5. $11,659 spent. The Grow Together Project supports school based programming that utilizes a stewardship-based approach to garden learning, putting into practice place- based and social-emotional learning strategies. Grow Together gardens cultivates gardens for healing, education, community empowerment and ecological stewardship.
  6. $6,831 spent. HUMBOLDT PERMACULTURE GUILD
  7. $3,816 spent. RISE GRANT
  8. $3,044 spent. SoHum Fire Safe Council is a dedicated group of local volunteers that are passionate about fire resilience for the whole community. Their purpose is to create and support events that educate about fire resiliency throughout Southern Humboldt.
  9. $2,263 spent. POP
  10. $1,344 spent. RESTORATION
  11. $288 spent. MENDO TRAIL STEWARDS PROGRAM: MENODICNO TRAILS STEWARDS IS WORKING TO GIVE A VOICE, THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, TO THOSE IN THE MENDOCINO COASTAL COMMUNITY WHO WISH TO SEE JACKSON DEMONSTRATION STATE FOREST MANAGED IN A TRULY SUSTAINABLE WAY. THE END GOAL IS TO SEE THE END OF LOGGING WITHIN JDSF AND CO-MANAGEMENT WITH THE POMO INDIANS WHOSE ANCESTRAL LAND JDSF IS WITHIN.
  12. $82 spent. FRIENDS OF ELK RIVER

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 September 1996.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Tides Foundation (San Francisco, CA), EIN 51-0198509. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.