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Sacramento Tree Foundation Incorporated

EIN 94-2825234 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair60 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Sacramento Tree Foundation is a community benefit organization working to grow thriving communities through stewardship of our urban forest.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
13.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 73%
Employees
35
Volunteers
2,735
Highest pay
$156,155, executive director

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 83% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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 (3)
  1. $1.4 million spent. SACRAMENTO SHADE/NEIGHBORWOODS: CONTINUING A 30-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SACRAMENTO MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT, THE SACRAMENTO TREE FOUNDATION IN FISCAL YEAR 2020 ENGAGED AND EDUCATED OVER 4,000 SACRAMENTO COUNTY RESIDENTS IN THE PLANTING AND CARE OF OVER 10,000 SHADE TREES. THE TREES WERE PLANTED TO MAXIMIZE ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS, SUCH AS: ENERGY SAVINGS, CARBON SEQUESTRATION,IMPROVING AIR QUALITY, LOWERING URBAN HEAT, AND STORMWATER REDUCTION. TO ENSURE THAT TREES ARE PLANTED AND CARED FOR IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT NEED THEM MOST, WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORWOODS PROGRAM. THESE INITIATIVES FOCUS ON BUILDING LOCAL LEADERSHIP AND DELIVERING PROGRAMMING THAT IS CUSTOMIZED TO MEET EACHCOMMUNITYS SPECIFIC NEED. THIS YEAR, OVER 2,500 VOLUNTEERS JOINED US TO PLANT, CARE FOR, AND STEWARD TREES IN SACRAMENTO'S URBAN COMMUNITIES.
  2. $339,711 spent. URBAN ECOLOGY: REPLENISHES AND SUSTAINS THENATIVE FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE REGION BY PLANTING AND PROTECTING NATIVE TREES ANDWOODLANDS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, MORE THAN 3,000 NATIVE TREES AND 2,000 NATIVE PLANTSWERE PLANTED TO MITIGATE FOR TREE REMOVAL AND OVER 7,500 TREES PLANTED IN PREVIOUSYEARS WERE MAINTAINED. TREES WERE PLANTED AND CARED FOR WITH THE HELP OF HUNDREDS OFVOLUNTEERS AND THE EXPERT STAFF AT THE SACRAMENTO TREE FOUNDATION. RELATED PROGRAMSINCLUDE THE HARVESTING OF OVER 10,000 ACORNS FROM NATIVE OAK TREES THROUGHOUT THEREGION BY VOLUNTEERS AND THE PARTICIPATION OF 1,500 STUDENTS IN THE SEED TO SEEDLINGPROGRAM. THRU AN EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM, STUDENTS LEARN THRU EXPLORATION, WONDER, AND EXCITEMENT
  3. $126,738 spent. URBAN WOOD RESCUE:HISTORICALLY THE URBAN TREES IN SACRAMENTO THAT WERE CUT DOWN WERE SENT TO THE DUMP,CHIPPED INTO MULCH, OR CUT INTO FIREWOOD. URBAN WOOD RESCUE ACTIVELY DIVERTS THESEBEAUTIFUL TREES FROM THE LANDFILL AND CONVERTS THEM INTO USABLE LUMBER SO THEY CANCONTINUE PROVIDING BEAUTY AND BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY. THIS PROGRAM EDUACATES ANDHONORS OUR FALLEN TREES CREATING A GREEN ECONOMY FOR OUR TREES. ALL PROCEEDS OF WOODSALES SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE SACRAMENTO TREE FOUNDATION - EVERY PURCHASE HELPS USACHIEVE OUR MISSION.OTHERWISE BECOME TRASH

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 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 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 1982.

    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.