National Arbor Day Foundation
Also known as Arbor Day Foundation
National Arbor Day Foundation reported $111.9 million in revenue and $104.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $68.43 went to program services, $11.63 to management and general costs and $19.94 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 76.6% of the total. Government grants made up 9.4%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $517,147 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 55 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 33% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $105MFor context, the median across 371 covered environment charities: $85.82 programs, $10.80 management, $3.38 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $112MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 68.4% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 11.6% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 19.9% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.24 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 76.6% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 9.4% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 14.8% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $517,147 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.49% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 55 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 12.5 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 12 of 12 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseTrees for america - the foundation's signature program distributes millions of trees each year across america, helps replant forests, and teaches the importance of trees
Arbor Day farm - this national historic landmark is home to lied lodge, innovative conservation demonstrations, and the Arbor Day farm tree adventure
Tree city USA - the tree city USA program, since 1976, has strengthened and encouraged communities to develop and maintain successful community forestry programs. The strong partnership between the usda forest service's urban and community forestry (usfs) program, the national association of state foresters (nasf), and the Arbor Day Foundation allows the organizations to leverage resources and expertise for the betterment of community forests throughout the country
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $484,641 | $0 | $32,506 | $517,147 |
| PRESIDENT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $284,550 | $0 | $61,502 | $346,052 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CATALYTIC INVESTMENTS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $261,011 | $0 | $37,697 | $298,708 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $225,822 | $0 | $53,640 | $279,462 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $221,870 | $0 | $51,291 | $273,161 |
| VP PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $203,193 | $0 | $49,120 | $252,313 |
| VP HUMAN RESOURCES Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $211,619 | $0 | $39,567 | $251,186 |
| VP MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $201,153 | $0 | $46,003 | $247,156 |
55 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from National Arbor Day Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.1M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b12 · 12 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5657
- Volunteers Part I, line 61
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| RR DONNELLEY Lettershop | $3,942,472 |
| PLANIT GEO INC Tree canopy data | $3,520,000 |
| FEDEX Shipping services | $1,541,603 |
| MICHIGAN DEPT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Tree planting, reforestation | $1,064,463 |
| STONEBROOK EXTERIOR Construction | $1,037,956 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 70 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
109 private foundations reported grants to National Arbor Day Foundation totaling $4.9M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from National Arbor Day Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for National Arbor Day Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 National Arbor Day Foundation spent in FY2025, $68.43 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Sierra Club FoundationOakland, CA · revenue $108M · programs 85.7% · 2024
- Marshall Area Economic DevelopmentMarshall, MI · revenue $119M · programs 99.9% · FY2025
- Thanksgiving Point InstituteLehi, UT · revenue $100M · programs 86.3% · FY2025
- New York Botanical GardenBronx, NY · revenue $125M · programs 78.8% · FY2025
- Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (See)Calabasas, CA · revenue $95M · programs 90.9% · 2024
Questions people ask
How much of National Arbor Day Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, National Arbor Day Foundation reported that 68.4% of its $104.5 million in expenses went to program services, 11.6% to management and general and 19.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does National Arbor Day Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation National Arbor Day Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $517,147, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does National Arbor Day Foundation get its money?
Of $111.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 76.6% came from contributions and grants (including 9.4% from government grants) and 14.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is National Arbor Day Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-7169265 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202533499349300938 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202433199349306168 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202323199349313462 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202233279349300208 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202113239349300226 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202003159349300640 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-7169265: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.