The Giving Grove
The Giving Grove is a public charity based in Kansas City, Missouri. It supports community orchards and food forests intended to increase access to healthy food, strengthen communities, and improve urban environments.
The Giving Grove at a glance
In short: The Giving Grove gave $220K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $20K). 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $220,198
- -26.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $20,018
- -26.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $24,381
- Total assets
- $1,771,380
- +37.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (4 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Giving Grove
- Contact
Mailing address: 300 E 39Th St Ste Ll1D, Kansas City, MO 64111
Phone: (816) 226-6380
Website: https://givinggrove.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Giving Grove funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Tree Pittsburgh ($45K). Together the top 10 received $212K.
Grant Size Distribution
45 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 45 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization is based in Kansas City, Missouri. The 2025 grant purposes name orchard projects in Pittsburgh, Raleigh, New England, Nashville, Memphis, St. Louis, South Bend, Kansas City, Atlanta, Dallas, and Seattle. The website describes its program as a nationwide network and says it hopes to expand first in large urban areas that meet its stated criteria.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Is The Giving Grove open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 11 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $25K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $12K repeat.
- 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+4%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). 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 $70K (2021) to $509K (2023). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $220K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tree Pittsburgh | Growing orchards in pittsburgh pa to increase access to healthy food | $45,000 |
| Project Pando | Growing orchards in raleigh nc to increase access to healthy food | $25,000 |
| Retreeus | Growing orchards in new england to increase access to healthy food | $25,000 |
| The Nashville Food Project | Growing orchards in nashville tn to increase access to healthy food | $25,000 |
| The Works Inc | Growing orchards in memphis tn to increase access to healthy food | $25,000 |
| Seed St Louis | Growing orchards in st louis mo to increase access to healthy food | $24,381 |
| Unity Gardens | Growing orchards in southbend to increase access to healthy food | $13,333 |
| Kansas City Community Gardens Inc | Growing orchards in Kansas city mo and ks to increase access to healthy food | $12,408 |
| Food Well Alliance | Growing orchards in atlanta ga to increase access to healthy food | $9,350 |
| Grow North Texas | Growing orchards in dallas tx to increase access to healthy food | $8,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,771,380 | $1,808,685 | $1,409,079 | $220,198 | 11 | $46,619 |
| 2024 | $1,287,175 | $1,324,792 | $1,066,739 | $300,534 | 11 | $41,893 |
| 2023 | $1,018,521 | $1,161,459 | $1,238,889 | $509,153 | 13 | $22,913 |
| 2022 | $1,101,172 | $969,567 | $960,847 | $211,379 | 7 | $4,587 |
| 2021 | $1,068,315 | $556,526 | $625,290 | $70,000 | 3 | $177 |
| 2020 | $1,165,171 | $865,752 | $367,466 | — | — | $148 |
| 2019 | $618,803 | $728,408 | $144,896 | — | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states that its mission is to provide healthy calories, strengthen community, and improve the urban environment through a nationwide network of sustainable little orchards. Its program description emphasizes food security, community strength, and environmental improvement in urban areas.
The Giving Grove’s website describes a community-led model: local residents help plan, plant, maintain, and harvest orchards. The organization provides training and support in areas such as tree care, pest management, pruning, community engagement, and soil health. Its website also describes support for organizations joining its affiliate network, including a collaborative match of up to $75,000 over two years, fundraising assistance, supplies, and technical support.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, The Giving Grove reported 11 grants totaling $220,198. Grants ranged from $7,726 to $45,000, with a median grant of $24,381. Grant purposes described orchard projects intended to increase access to healthy food.
The largest reported grants included $45,000 to Tree Pittsburgh for growing orchards in Pittsburgh; $25,000 each to Project Pando for orchards in Raleigh, ReTreeUS for orchards in New England, The Nashville Food Project for orchards in Nashville, and The Works Inc. for orchards in Memphis. Other grants included $24,381 to Seed St. Louis for orchards in St. Louis and $12,408 to Kansas City Community Gardens Inc. for orchards in Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas.
The website describes an affiliate-network process for organizations seeking to bring Giving Grove programming to a city. It says the organization looks first to large urban areas with at least 50,000 food-insecure residents and an organization with a track record of providing agricultural or gardening assistance.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Oscar Tshibanda as board chair, Kevin Birzer as treasurer, and Kate Conner as secretary. Directors listed on the filing are Jill Quigley, Todd Moore, Greg Finkle, Clara Maingi, Michael Carmona, Linda Appel Lipsius, and Tanner Haid.
The Giving Grove is led by Ashley Williamson, Co-Ceo on every filing since 2022; 2 of 13 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ashley Williamson
Co-Ceo
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$85K (2023) → $108K (2025)
Erica Kratofil
Co-Ceo
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$101K (2023) → $107K (2025)
Oscar Tshibanda
Board Chair
Trustee → Director, 2022
Director → Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jill Quigley
Director
Secretary → Trustee, 2021
Trustee → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$15K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Greg Finkle
Director
Chairman → President, 2024
President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Todd Moore
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Clara Maingi
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Carmona
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda Appel Lipsius
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Mj Jobe
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tanner Haid
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Birzer
Treasurer
Chairman → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kate Conner
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Gordon Braun (2019–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Yolanda Young (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Ben Sharda (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Robert Reiman (2019–2022) — Chief Executive Officer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $108K, to Ashley Williamson (Co-CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Giving Grove
How much does The Giving Grove give each year?
The Giving Grove gave $220K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $301K across 11 grants.
What is The Giving Grove's typical grant size?
The Giving Grove's median grant in 2025 was $24,381, and its average grant was $20,018, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Giving Grove that year got $25K on average.
Does The Giving Grove give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on The Giving Grove's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Giving Grove's largest grantees?
The Giving Grove's largest 2025 grantees include Tree Pittsburgh ($45,000), Project Pando ($25,000) and Retreeus ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Giving Grove?
The Giving Grove reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.8M.
What does The Giving Grove fund?
The organization states that its mission is to provide healthy calories, strengthen community, and improve the urban environment through a nationwide network of sustainable little orchards. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Giving Grove?
The Giving Grove has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check givinggrove.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does The Giving Grove make grants?
The organization is based in Kansas City, Missouri. The 2025 grant purposes name orchard projects in Pittsburgh, Raleigh, New England, Nashville, Memphis, St. Louis, South Bend, Kansas City, Atlanta, Dallas, and Seattle. The website describes its program as a nationwide network and says it hopes to expand first in large urban areas that meet its stated criteria.
What is The Giving Grove's EIN?
The Giving Grove's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-5000184. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 19, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 28, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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