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Trees for the Future

Silver Spring, MD · EIN 52-1644869 · 501(c)(3) · Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Latest filing: Form 990 for calendar year 2025 (tax year 2025) · View the filing · Correct or respond

Trees for the Future reported $9.9 million in revenue and $14.3 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $73.80 went to program services, $16.91 to management and general costs and $9.29 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 98.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $300,552 (CEO). 9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 88% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.

Where $100 of spending went

Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $14M

For 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

Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $9.9M

The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades

2025 filing. Median across 371 covered charities in this category, from their latest filings.
Measure2025Median
Program services
Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A)
73.8%83.6%
Management & general
Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A)
16.9%10.5%
Fundraising
Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A)
9.3%3.3%
Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions
Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h
$0.14$0.03
Contributions & grants share of revenue
Part VIII 1h ÷ 12
98.2%87.6%
Government grants share of revenue
Part VIII 1e ÷ 12
0.0%4.8%
Program service revenue share
Part VIII 2g ÷ 12
0.0%3.2%
Highest reported compensation
Part VII-A, columns D–F
$300,552$293,532
Highest compensation as share of expenses
Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A)
2.09%1.74%
People paid over $100,000
Part VII, line 2
97
Net assets, in months of expenses
Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses
4.118.8
Independent voting board members
Part VI 1a–1b
14 of 14100.0%

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

2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expense
$11M expenses · 100.0% of program spending · grants $23,698

Trees for the future (trees) partners with small holder farmers in sub-saharan africa to restore land and unlock prosperity. Our approach aims to transform farming for the next generation of africa's farming families. This farmer-led agroforestry approach is focused on supporting farmers to design their own farms and improve food security, dietary diversity, economic livelihoods, and climate resilience. Over four years, we partner with farmers to build their knowledge in agroforestry, perma-gardening, soil health, composting, and livelihoods. Support is provided by trees officers, many of…

Highest reported compensation

2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here
RoleFrom this orgFrom related orgsOtherTotal
CEO
Officer, 40.00 hrs/week
$251,237$0$49,315$300,552
VP CLIMATE & CARBON
Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$158,192$0$30,643$188,835
VP DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$166,175$0$8,790$174,965
VP PEOPLE & CULTURE
Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$160,369$0$9,619$169,988
CFO
Officer, 40.00 hrs/week
$145,605$0$3,747$149,352
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$113,205$0$12,911$126,116
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$117,887$0$6,794$124,681

9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Trees for the Future (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $450K (Part IX, line 5).

7 years of filings

Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linked
RevenueExpenses
$0$5.0M$10M$15M$20M2019202020212022202320242025$9.9M$14M
FilingRevenueExpensesProgramsNet assetsTop pay
2025 ⓘ$9.9M$14M73.8%$4.9M$300,552
2024 ⓘ$16M$13M76.9%$9.3M$274,579
2023 ⓘ$13M$11M74.9%$7.0M$239,932
2022 ⓘ$14M$12M77.8%$5.1M$178,076
2021 ⓘ$8.6M$12M79.2%$3.0M$189,513
2020 ⓘ$11M$7.6M76.7%$6.1M$187,138
2019 ⓘ$5.3M$5.1M75.5%$2.3M$157,650

Governance answers, as filed

2025 · 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–1b14 · 14 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 523
  • Volunteers Part I, line 6300

Largest outside contractors

2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only
CALLOOO CONSULTING
Financial consulting services
$153,600

Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 1 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.

Private foundation grants it received

18 private foundations reported grants to Trees for the Future totaling $1.0M 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 Trees for the Future's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Trees for the Future, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.

Similar-sized charities in this cause

All environment charities · Largest charities in Maryland

Questions people ask

How much of Trees for the Future's spending goes to programs?

In calendar year 2025, Trees for the Future reported that 73.8% of its $14.3 million in expenses went to program services, 16.9% to management and general and 9.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).

How much does Trees for the Future pay its top executive?

The largest total compensation Trees for the Future reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $300,552, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).

Where does Trees for the Future get its money?

Of $9.9 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 98.2% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).

Is Trees for the Future a registered charity?

The IRS lists EIN 52-1644869 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, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.

Sources

  • 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202642539349300414 · read the filing
  • 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202503159349304510 · read the filing
  • 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202403199349301125 · read the filing
  • 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202303199349317925 · read the filing
  • 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202222839349301682 · read the filing
  • 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202103189349301050 · read the filing
  • 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202022469349301627 · read the filing

All filings for EIN 52-1644869: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.