Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Lemon Tree Trust

EIN 86-1966166 · Dallas, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE LEMON TREE TRUST'S (LTT) PURPOSE IS TO INSPIRE, SUPPORT AND COLLABORATE WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN FORCIBLY DISPLACED TO CREATE COMMUNITY AND OPPORTUNITY THROUGH GARDENING.

Income
$322,455
Spending
$346,924
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
6

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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% 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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 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 (2)
  1. $146,994 spent. THE ORGANIZATION'S ACTIVITIES ARE FOCUSED ON FOUR MAIN IMPACT AREAS: 1) IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, 2) COMMUNITY BUILDING AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT, 3) IMPROVING LOCAL ENVIRONMENTS, 4) INDEPENDENT ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD. THE LEMON TREE TRUST DOES THIS BY SUPPORTING PEOPLE TO BUILD HOME GARDENS, SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES TO BUILD COMMUNITY GARDENS (BOTH ORNAMENTAL AND PRODUCTIVE) AND SUPPORTING WOMEN-LED AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE INITIATIVES AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
  2. $161,340 spent. THE LEMON TREE TRUST ALSO FUNDS EDUCATION/TRAINING FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN REFUGEE CAMPS. THIS TRAINING IS DELIVERED BY LEMON TREE TRUST CONTRACTORS AND COVERS, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, SEED SAVING, SEED SOWING, SUSTAINABLE WATER USE AND STORAGE AND OTHER PROPAGATION TECHNIQUES. THE LEMON TREE TRUST ALSO PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, WHICH ARE USED BY OUR TEAMS IN CAMPS AND CAN BE DOWNLOADED BY ANYONE FROM THE LEMON TREE TRUST WEBSITE. THE ORGANIZATION PRODUCES EDUCATION SHEETS IN ENGLISH, ARABIC AND FARSI.

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 December 2022.

    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.