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Trees for Houston

EIN 76-0046318 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Plant, protect and promote trees all over the greater Houston area.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$4.3 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
17
Volunteers
2,146
Highest pay
$219,264, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 59 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    35 of 35 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 May 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 (4)
  1. $2.9 million spent. Trees For Houston's projects include purchasing, planting, and caring for trees. The organization's role in any given project varies greatly, as the needs and abilities of our various partners in the public and private sectors are engaged in the process.The organization works with public and private sectors, encourages the involvement of corporate, foundation, and individual partners, and is responsible for planting over 970,000 trees and seedlings in the last 40 years along streets, in neighborhoods, and in parks throughout the Houston region. During the 2024-2025 planting season, Trees For Houston planted and maintained over 90,000 trees and watered an additional 12,000 under its planned maintenance program.
  2. $191,085 spent. More than 1,100 public and private schools have over 66,000 trees thanks to our Trees for Schools program. Schools are chosen based on recommendations from parents, teachers, principals, neighbors, and administrators. Trees For Houston surveys the school grounds with the school staff to determine the number and species of trees that should be planted.After the trees are planted, Trees For Houston waters, stakes, and mulches the trees for a minimum of two years to ensure their survival. This year, the Trees for Schools program planted and maintained 10,976 trees at 73 Houston area school grounds.
  3. $197,025 spent. The mission of the Trees For Houston (TFH) Education Program is to expand the awareness of the critical role that trees play in our community for residents of all ages and grade levels. In addition to planting trees at 25 schools or more per year, TFH conducts education presentations to school children and adults throughout the region. During the 2024-2025 planting season, the classroom education program provided Growing Together kits containing native tree seed, soil, a container, and a ruler to nearly 1,000 students. Continued on Schedule O The hands-on events educated more than 40,000 adults and children on proper tree planting, protection and care, and TFH presented tree planting information and materials to over 1,000 people at outreach events including civic association, garden club, and professional organization meetings. TFH also provides educational and hands-on activities to encourage the community to learn about the importance of trees in our urban environment at the Trees For Houston Kinder Campus. TFH has provided children and families with more than 50 different opportunities to engage with the organization. Activities include potting up seedlings, children's book series programs, and basic tree biology and identification.
  4. $58,033 spent. The Trees For Houston Nursery program allows the organization to further lower tree and transportation costs, gives the ability to grow more trees rather than having to purchase them on a per-project basis, and ultimately helps TFH get more trees in the ground in areas where neighborhoods cannot afford trees. Trees For Houston has expanded the nursery program to include three tree farms. We currently have about 10,000 trees of various species and sizes growing at these farms.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 May 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 July 1985.

    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.