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California Releaf

EIN 90-0138904 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

California Releaf's mission is to empower grassroots efforts and build strategic partnerships that preserve, protect and enhance California's urban and community forests.

Income
$764,343
Spending
$730,889
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
9.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 64%
Employees
5
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$118,166, executive dir.

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 57% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $295,114 spent. Program Grant ManagementIn fiscal year 2025, Edison International generously supported California ReLeafs California Arbor Week Program. Their sponsorship supported 9 pass-through community grants totaling $45,000 to honor, celebrate, and plant trees from Porterville, Goleta, Ventura and Moorpark northwest of LA then heading east to Monrovia , Claremont, and San Bernardino with two grantees farther south in Fullerton. The program aligns with Edisons goal to reduce the impacts of climate change and extreme heat by supporting new and smaller community groups to plant trees for shade and cooler neighborhoods.Pacific Gas & Electric continued their support of the Growing Greener Communities program which focused on reducing extreme heat in underserved communities within PG&Es seven regions. In FY2025 ReLeaf managed 13 Growing Green Communities grants totaling $65,000, which served communities from San Francisco and Sacramento to Atascadero and Bakersfield.Also in fiscal year 2025, California ReLeaf successfully closed the California Prop 68 funded Relief Through ReLeaf grant program, using the remaining funds to extend the ReLeaf Tree Inventory program to track and better maintain all trees planted by ReLeaf Network organizations so that they grow and survive in order to offset the impacts of climate change, such as flooding, wildfires, and extreme heat.The CAL FIRE funded California ReLeaf Urban Forest Leadership Training Program closed with its final December 2024 invoice, with stipend payments to participant whose time was not funded by their nonprofits.In early 2025 California ReLeaf successfully oversaw the conclusion and report development of the multi- year research project Impact of Urban & Community Forestry on Californias Economy: 10 Year Update which analyzed the economic impacts statewide as well as by region and updated earlier U&CF economic research. All of the reports and the Infographic Factsheets are available on the California ReLeaf website.List of FUNDER SOURCE Grant Programs & Grantees:Relief through ReLeaf Pass-through Grant Program (Funded by California Prop 68 via CAL FIRE) Concluded December 20241.Butte Environmental Council*2.Center for Regenerative Agriculture3.Center for Social & Environmental Stewardship (AKA Circuit Riders)4.North Coast Opportunities5.Oroville Botanical Garden6.Paradise Recreation & Parks District 7.Redding Parks and Trails Foundation8.The Climate Center9.Tree Fresno10.Watsonville Wetlands Watch*2025 Small Grants ProgramsThe California Arbor Week 2025 Grants were funded by Edison International to support urban forestry efforts by new and long-time urban forest nonprofits working in Southern California with funding for 10 grants from Edison International. Fewer but larger grants were awarded to nonprofits this year to recognize the importance of tree planting as well as tree care after planting. ReLeaf awarded $50,000 in pass-through grants to 10 community-based organizations for projects to celebrate California Arbor Week 2025 with tree plantings, tree education and care across the state. The grant awards were $5,000 to each community organization.2025 California Arbor Week Grantees:1.Arlington Gardens, Pasadena2.Associated Students Inc. Cal State, Fullerton3.Food Exploration and Discovery (Food ED), Monrovia4.Orange County Conservation Corps, Anaheim5.Ruben Castro Charities, Moorpark6.SistersWe Community Gardening Projects, San Bernardino7.Sustainable Claremont, Claremont8.Tule River Parkway Association, Porterville9.Ventura Tree Alliance, Ventura10.Your Children's Trees , Goleta2025 Growing Green Communities Grantees:1.100K Trees for Humanity, Alameda2.Alameda Green Schoolyards, Alameda3.Canopy, Palo Alto4.Central Coast Heritage Tree Foundation, Templeton5.CityTrees, Redwood City6.Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo7.Guadalupe River Park Conservancy, San Jose8.Hacienda Happy Tails, Exeter9.Invest in Me, Patterson10.Little Manila Rising, Stockton11.Meadowview Urban Tree Project, Sacramento12.Tree Foundation of Kern, Bakersfield13.United Latinos, Sacramento
  2. $140,825 spent. Education and OutreachThis program strengthens grassroots efforts by engaging the general public, community leaders, interested organizations, and urban and community forestry professionals. California ReLeafs programs are designed to educate Californians about the value and benefits of trees as well as sound tree care practices.FY2025 Education & Outreach Accomplishments:Urban Forest Leadership Training Launched in early 2022 with a CAL FIRE grant and USDA Forest Service support, the Urban Forest Leadership program met monthly via Zoom to develop talent, collegial support, and professional capacity in the next generation of urban forest leaders. Katie McCleary of Paper Wings Creative Consulting ? a nonprofit leadership expert and author of Bridge the Gap, a book about collaborative and effective communications? ? facilitated the class sessions based on a custom agenda developed by Katie and California ReLeaf. As intended from the beginning, the grant program was able to provide stipends to class participants who attended the class on their own time, which were distributed in mid FY2025. For background information on this successfully concluded program, please visit: https://californiareleaf.org/resources/uf-leadership-program/Urban and Community Forest Economic Impact Study Begun in late 2021, California ReLeaf oversaw the third UF Economic Impact study with funding from CAL FIRE, to show the fiscal effects of local urban forestry-related jobs on Californias economy. The research team included California Polytechnic State University, North Carolina State University, and Virginia Tech. The research was completed in mid FY2025 with the publication of the statewide and regional reports as well as statewide and regional Infographic Factsheets. For more info, please visit: https://californiareleaf.org/resources/ucf-economic-contribution- study/Communications Outreach: California ReLeaf does the majority of its outreach communications via online platforms: email lists, social media, webinars, and the website.E-Communications Circulation: 1,400+ Recipients. Regular Email notifications were sent covering a variety of topics such as: Urban Forest Grant Opportunities, Arbor Week Art Contests, California Arbor Week Grants, webinars on drought and trees, urban forest tree canopy tools, tree care jobs, Learn Over Lunch Zoom events.Website Educational resources are shared via the ReLeaf website. The website has improved accessibility for all audiences with the earlier adoption of the AccessiBe service which uses AI (Artificial Intelligence) to improve website accessibility with respect to languages and ADA compliance. More recently in July 2023 a more sophisticated multi-language online translation widget called G-Translate was added to the website. This feature now provides ReLeaf website information in 100+ languages.Social Media Circulation: 5,000+. ReLeaf is very active in using multiple social media platforms to share urban forest issues of interest to community groups, government employees, and green industry professionals. Social media has been very effective in helping ReLeaf reach new community audiences.Webinars To access the ever-expanding library on YouTube of on-demand education and info on grants, tree care, trees and drought, and more please visit : http://californiareleaf.org/resources/webinars/ California Arbor Week 2025 In March 2025 California ReLeaf worked with the US Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to organize the 2025 Arbor Week Press Conference in Woodland. Speakers include representatives from the local nonprofit the Woodland Tree Foundation, the City of Woodland, the Woodland Joint Unified School District, CAL FIRE, , Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric, Blue Shield of California, and California ReLeaf. The winning California Arbor Week Art Contest posters were unveiled, and a celebratory tree planting was led by Woodland Tree Foundation. Please visit the website to see updates on Arbor Week activities: https://californiareleaf.org/category/arbor-week/
  3. $104,441 spent. California ReLeaf Network:The California ReLeaf Network is a statewide forum for the informational exchange, education, and mutual support of community-based organizations. The members have common goals of community development by planting and protecting trees, promoting community engagement and volunteer involvement, and fostering an ethic of environmental stewardship.The ReLeaf Network enables individual groups to use their collective power to improve the urban and community forests in their home towns for all Californians. Through membership in the Network, groups build their organizational and technical skills, share their enthusiasm, experiences and ideas, address issues of common concern, and work together to plant trees, promote tree care and community stewardship, and grow stronger communities throughout the state.2024/25 Accomplishments of this program include: The Network includes over 80 members that vary from small groups of dedicated volunteers to larger nonprofit organizations with paid staff. Network members represent diverse demographics and a broad geographic reach throughout California. Network member organizations: - Planted 34,000+ trees - Cared for 155,000+ trees - Engaged 20,000+ volunteers giving 102,000+ hours of their time - Reached 20,000+ community members during 750+ outreach events Our Education & Communications Program Manager sent regular Network Updates to Network members throughout the year. These emails reached over 200 recipients and covered a variety of topics, including information about funding opportunities, upcoming conferences and workshops, research reports, job announcements and more. Online surveys were used to seek input from ReLeaf Network Member organizations on their accomplishments and concerns as well as their planting and volunteer activities.
  4. Legislative Monitoring and Outreach:California ReLeaf monitors State and Federal legislation for opportunities to educate and participate in public debate and policy related to urban forestry. Of particular interest is how urban forestry is being increasingly integrated into other policy and funding arenas, such as affordable housing, additional mitigation measures, and potentially climate adaptation programs. It is gratifying to see the steadily mounting recognition of the value of urban forest co-benefits combined with the need to ensure environmental justice through prioritizing state and federal funding in previously underserved communities as demonstrated by the California Climate Investments program and the Federal Justice40 Initiative.Through our website, newsletter, emails and action alerts, ReLeaf ensures that Network members and other interested community members are aware of what is happening at the state and federal level and also provides information for how local groups can make their voices heard.Strategic Partnerships:In order to advance California ReLeafs mission to empower grassroots efforts and build strategic partnerships that preserve, protect, and enhance Californias urban and community forests, ReLeaf staff participated in the following strategic partnerships, collaborations, and committees:- Alliance of Regional Collaboratives for Climate Adaptation (ARCCA)- Alliance for Community Trees Executive Director Circle- California Urban Forestry Advisory Committee (CUFAC)- Sustainable Urban Forest Coalition (SUFC)

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 July 2004.

    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.

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