National Arbor Day Foundation
The National Arbor Day Foundation is a public charity based in Lincoln, Nebraska. It is a global nonprofit that inspires people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees; its website reports that its network has planted more than half a billion trees, with a focus on areas where trees can benefit climate, communities, and biodiversity.
National Arbor Day Foundation at a glance
In short: National Arbor Day Foundation gave $11.6M across 181 grants in 2025 (avg $64K), top state Nebraska. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $11,559,047
- +87.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 181
- +48.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $63,862
- +26.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $37,500
- Total assets
- $136,343,254
- +13.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (18% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to National Arbor Day Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation’s filing says grant applicants are screened by a grant approval committee based on answers in the application form. After funds are disbursed, grantees must submit a performance report describing how funds were spent and what was accomplished; the committee reviews the report and may request additional information before closing out the grant.
- Contact
Mailing address: 211 N 12 St Ste 501, Lincoln, NE 68508-1411
Phone: (402) 474-5655
Website: https://arborday.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
52 open opportunities from National Arbor Day Foundation
Energy-Saving Trees Program
National Arbor Day Foundation
Amount
$14 - $50 per tree
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
Tree Campus Healthcare
National Arbor Day Foundation
Amount
Suggested minimum: $2 per full-time equivalent employee (in cash or in-kind)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Tree Campus Higher Education Program: Alabama Grant
National Arbor Day Foundation
Amount
Unspecified amount in in-kind support
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who National Arbor Day Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Arbor Day Impact Fund ($1.7M). Together the top 10 received $3.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
465 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 296 grants of 465 (64%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation describes work in forests around the world and in communities, using mapping, environmental and social data, science, and local guidance to identify areas of need. Its website reports a network spanning more than 60 countries.
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Nebraska (18%), Florida (9%), Virginia (6%), North Carolina (6%), and Texas (5%). The 2024 Community Roots announcement also described subawards to municipalities in 14 states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 181 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How National Arbor Day Foundation gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.6M (2021) to $11.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 181 grants totaling $11.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Arbor Day Impact Fund Lincolnc, NE | Invest in mission-aligned projects that address environmental challenges, promote sustainable practices, foster innovation in tree conservation and environmental stewardship, mitigate climate change, and enhance reforestation efforts. | $1,709,668 |
| City Parks Foundation New York, NY | Encourage and facilitate the adoption of leading-edge practices in municipal forests including inventory, planting, maintenance and education. | $327,300 |
| City of Cape Coral Cape Coral, FL | Encourage and facilitate the adoption of leading-edge practices in municipal forests | $267,540 |
| Texas Trees Foundation Dallas, TX | Encourage and facilitate the adoption of leading-edge practices in municipal forests including inventory, planting, maintenance and education.encourage and facilitate the adoption of leading-edge practices in municipal forests including inventory, planting, maintenance and education. | $218,752 |
| Trees Atlanta Atlanta, GA | Encourage and facilitate the adoption of leading-edge practices in municipal forests including inventory, planting, maintenance and education. | $199,662 |
| City of South Sioux City South Sioux City, NE | Encourage and facilitate the adoption of leading-edge practices in municipal forests | $198,043 |
| Sustaining Our Urban Lanscape New Orleans, LA | Encourage and facilitate the adoption of leading-edge practices in municipal forests | $197,878 |
| City of Olathe KS Olathe, KS | Encourage and facilitate the adoption of leading-edge practices in municipal forests | $195,935 |
| The Student Conservation Association Arlington, VA | Encourage and facilitate the adoption of leading-edge practices in municipal forests including inventory, planting, maintenance and education. | $193,182 |
| Fruit Tree Planting Foundation Pittsburgh, PA | Encourage and facilitate the adoption of leading-edge practices in municipal forests including inventory, planting, maintenance and education. | $182,962 |
Ready to take the next step with National Arbor Day Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $136,343,254 | $111,866,996 | $104,506,085 | $11,559,047 | 181 | $4,910,443 |
| 2024 | $120,580,411 | $99,061,954 | $91,666,382 | $6,170,032 | 122 | $5,736,781 |
| 2023 | $114,239,127 | $97,035,028 | $85,958,857 | $4,334,520 | 75 | $2,718,965 |
| 2022 | $95,545,348 | $94,760,158 | $78,863,450 | $2,626,289 | 50 | $986,136 |
| 2021 | $85,736,247 | $89,090,344 | $75,187,856 | $1,587,726 | 37 | $1,095,519 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. Its filing describes Trees for America as distributing millions of trees each year, helping replant forests, and teaching the importance of trees. Other programs described in the filing include Arbor Day Farm, Tree City USA, and Arbor Day and youth education.
The Foundation’s website describes its approach as using mapping, environmental and socioeconomic data, science, and local guidance to identify where trees are most needed. It works in forests and communities and supports partners with tree sourcing, implementation guidance, education, and connections.
Its 2025 grantees include organizations with varied community and conservation missions. City Parks Foundation says it works to make parks centers of urban life through sports, arts, community building, and education. Texas Trees Foundation says its mission is to improve the health of cities and people through trees. Trees Atlanta describes its work as protecting and improving Atlanta’s urban forest through planting, conservation, and public education. Other grantees include organizations whose stated missions concern youth conservation leadership, watershed protection, fruit-tree planting, and climate-resilient communities.
The Foundation also runs Tree Campus programs focused on student engagement, environmental education, and tree stewardship. These are described as recognition programs for schools and campuses, rather than grants to outside applicants.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 181 grants totaling $11,559,047. Awards ranged from $5,000 to $1,709,668, with a median grant of $37,500. The largest reported grant was $1,709,668 to Arbor Day Impact Fund for mission-aligned projects involving environmental challenges, sustainable practices, tree conservation, climate change mitigation, and reforestation.
Other large 2025 grants included $327,300 to City Parks Foundation, $267,540 to the City of Cape Coral, $218,752 to Texas Trees Foundation, and $199,662 to Trees Atlanta. Grant purposes commonly referenced leading-edge municipal forestry practices, including inventory, planting, maintenance, and education.
In September 2024, the Foundation announced $4.7 million in Community Roots Program subawards to 18 community-based nonprofits, in partnership with the USDA Forest Service. The grants were intended to support tree planting, green spaces, and environmental justice in disadvantaged communities. The Foundation also reported that it had subawarded $27 million of a $50 million USDA Forest Service grant to municipalities in 14 states.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Pat Covey as chair and the following trustees: Kacey KC, Danielle Crumrine, Crayton Webb, Mark Johnson, Leslie Weldon, Mak Azadi, Ernesto Herrera, Jennifer Greenfeld, and Robert Ruano.
National Arbor Day Foundation is led by Dan Lambe, Chief Executive Officer since 2023 (on filings since 2021); 17 of 29 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dan Lambe
Chief Executive Officer
President → President & Chief Executive Officer, 2022
President & Chief Executive Officer → Chief Executive Officer, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$241K (2021) → $485K (2025)
Katie Loos
President
Vice President Ventures & Partnershi → President, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$166K (2021) → $285K (2025)
Pat Covey
Chair
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pete Davis
Managing Director of Catalytic Investments
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$261K (2025)
Gary Deemer
Director & Accounting
Treasurer → Director & Accounting, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$162K (2021) → $186K (2025)
Ben Wilinsky
Director & Partnerships
Director, Partnerships & Innovation → Director & Partnerships, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$147K (2023) → $175K (2025)
Lauren Marshall
Director & Landscape Restoration
Senior Manager & Program Innovation → Director & Landscape Restoration, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$164K (2024) → $171K (2025)
Crayton Webb
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Danielle Crumrine
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ernesto Herrera
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth R. Munson
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leslie Weldon
Trustee
Vice Chair → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Johnson
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Ruano
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mak Azadi
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Greenfeld
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kacey Kc
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Austin Mackrill
Vice President of Experience
Vice President Arbor Day Farm → Vice President of Experience, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$144K (2021) → $164K (2025)
Daniel Morrow
Vice President Programs & Partnerships
Vice President Programs & Partnerhsips → Vice President Programs & Partnerhsi, 2024
Vice President Programs & Partnerhsi → Vice President Programs & Partnerships, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$132K (2021) → $203K (2025)
Yinka Akinyemi
Vice President Human Resources
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$141K (2021) → $212K (2025)
Michael Ashley
Enterprise Architect
Team Lead & Software Engineering → Enterprise Architect, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$135K (2022) → $149K (2025)
Michelle Saulnier
Vice President Programs & Partnerships
Vice President-Programs → Chief of Staff, 2023
Chief of Staff → Vice President Programs & Partnerships, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$143K (2022) → $179K (2025)
Nicole Rasmussen
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$111K (2022) → $222K (2025)
Paul Cooper
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Information Officer → Chief Operating Officer, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$170K (2022) → $226K (2025)
Brandon Schuster
Vice President Arbor Day Farm
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$168K (2023) → $166K (2025)
Nancy S. Davis
Marketing Campaign & Analytics Manager
Mrkting Campaign & Analytics Manager → Mrkting Campaign & Analy, 2024
Mrkting Campaign & Analy → Marketing Campaign & Analytics Manager, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$141K (2023) → $149K (2025)
Suk Wortman
Integrated Experience
Senior Director & Membership → Integrated Experience, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$134K (2023) → $161K (2025)
Katrina Wells
Vice President Marketing & Communications
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$201K (2025)
Denise Naguib
Turstee
Trustee → Turstee, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Britt Ehlers (2021–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Vicki Woolman (2021–2024) — Director & Strategic Initia
- Former: Woodrow Nelson (2021–2024) — Vice President Mission & Membership
- Former: Ellen Schultzabarger (2022–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Laura Krafka (2022–2024) — Director & Related Bus Vent
- Former: Nancy Rew (2023–2024) — Vice President Marketing Communications
- Former: Ken Munson (2022–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Karen Houser (2021–2022) — Vice President Systems
- Former: Matt Harris (2021–2022) — Chief Executive Officer
- Former: Susan Henricks (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Carter Etherington (2022) — Director of Marketing Communications
- Former: Mary Desjardins (2022) — Trustee
- Former: Mary Desjardins-Therrien (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Rob Nickolaus (2021) — Director of Information Te
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $485K, to Dan Lambe (Chief Executive Officer). 17 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about National Arbor Day Foundation
How much does National Arbor Day Foundation give each year?
National Arbor Day Foundation gave $11.6M across 181 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $6.2M across 122 grants.
What is National Arbor Day Foundation's typical grant size?
National Arbor Day Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $37,500, and its average grant was $63,862, across 181 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does National Arbor Day Foundation give grants?
National Arbor Day Foundation's top state is Nebraska, with 18% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Florida (9%) and Virginia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (5 grants), Cape Coral, FL (3 grants), Pittsburgh, PA (3 grants) and Philadelphia, PA (3 grants).
Does National Arbor Day Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 181 grants with a stated purpose on National Arbor Day Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are National Arbor Day Foundation's largest grantees?
National Arbor Day Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Arbor Day Impact Fund ($1,709,668), City Parks Foundation ($327,300) and City of Cape Coral ($316,665 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is National Arbor Day Foundation?
National Arbor Day Foundation reported $136.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $111.9M.
What does National Arbor Day Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. Its filing describes Trees for America as distributing millions of trees each year, helping replant forests, and teaching the importance of trees. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from National Arbor Day Foundation?
The Foundation’s filing says grant applicants are screened by a grant approval committee based on answers in the application form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is National Arbor Day Foundation's EIN?
National Arbor Day Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7169265. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 19, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 23, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 15, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in National Arbor Day Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). National Arbor Day Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/national-arbor-day-foundation-morg_074de24146104cd3b710c46a203ff972
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237169265_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{National Arbor Day Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/national-arbor-day-foundation-morg_074de24146104cd3b710c46a203ff972},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from National Arbor Day Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
National Arbor Day Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?