Arbor Day Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $31.7+ million distributed (2024, via Inflation Reduction Act funding)
Success Rate: ~8% (230+ applications, 18 awarded in Community Roots nonprofit phase)
Decision Time: Varies by program
Grant Range: $20,000 - $1,000,000
Geographic Focus: United States (national, with specific focus on underserved communities)

Contact Details

Main Office: 211 N 12th Street, Suite 501 Lincoln, NE 68508

Phone: 1-888-448-7337 (toll-free)

Email:

General inquiries: info@arborday.org
Grant inquiries: grants@arborday.org
Corporate partnerships: corporatepartnerships@arborday.org

Website: www.arborday.org

Hours: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM CT, Monday-Friday

Overview

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is one of the largest conservation and tree-planting organizations in the United States, with assets of over $120 million. The organization's mission focuses on inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. In 2023, the Foundation received a transformative $50 million Inflation Reduction Act grant from the USDA Forest Service, enabling a massive expansion of its grant-making capacity. By October 2024, the Foundation had already subawards $31.7 million to municipalities, community-based organizations, and Tribal communities across the country. Under CEO Dan Lambe's leadership since 2022, the Foundation has emphasized planting trees "where they have the greatest impact on our climate, communities and biodiversity," with a strategic focus on environmental justice in disadvantaged communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Roots Program - $100,000 - $1,000,000 (over 3 years) Major grant program funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, supporting urban forestry projects in underserved communities. Two phases: Phase 1 for community-based nonprofits ($4.7 million to 18 organizations), Phase 2 for Tribes and Tribal organizations ($8 million to 16 recipients). Applications accepted via online portal on a fixed deadline basis.

TD Green Space Grants - $20,000 USD / $25,000 CAD Annual grants for municipalities in the United States and Canada supporting local forestry projects. Applications typically due in December via online portal on a fixed annual deadline.

Growing Roots Grant Program - Up to $50,000 Pilot program launched in 2024 in partnership with Vita Coco, supporting K-12 schools recognized by the Foundation's Tree Campus K-12 program. Three schools received funding in the inaugural year. Application method and future cycles to be determined.

Priority Areas

The Foundation actively funds projects that:

Increase tree canopy in underserved and disadvantaged communities
Address urban heat island effects
Combat nature deprivation
Create access to green jobs
Address food insecurity through food forests and community orchards
Support natural disaster recovery
Strengthen environmental justice
Build community forestry capacity
Cool vulnerable neighborhoods through green infrastructure
Support Indigenous land stewardship and food sovereignty

Geographic Priorities: Projects must serve communities of greatest need, particularly low- to moderate-income residents. Recent awards have focused on communities in California, Florida, Texas, Missouri, Massachusetts, Washington, and Tribal lands nationwide.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the Foundation's grant programs are narrowly focused on tree-planting, urban forestry, and community greening projects. Projects unrelated to trees or urban forestry would not be eligible.

Governance and Leadership

Executive Management Team

Dan Lambe - Chief Executive
Katie Loos - President
Paul Cooper - Chief Operating Officer
Nicole Rasmussen - Chief Financial Officer
Yinka Akinyemi - Vice President, People and Experience
Dan Morrow - Vice President, Partnerships
Katrina Wells - Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Kimberley Abresch - Vice President, Development
Britt Ehlers - Vice President, Leadership Development

Board of Trustees

Leslie Weldon - Chair
Ken Munson - Vice Chair
Pat Covey - Immediate Past Chair
Mark Johnson, Mak Azadi, Denise Naguib, Danielle Crumrine, Robert Ruano, Jennifer Greenfeld, Crayton Webb, Ernesto Herrera, Kacey KC

Leadership Perspective

Dan Lambe, who became CEO in 2022, outlined three guiding principles at his first staff meeting: Team (recruiting quality people), Focus (determining the most efficient strategy for planting trees), and Belief (that the Foundation's work can make a lasting difference).

Lambe has stated: "The Foundation has done so much good for the world in its first 50 years and I am honored and energized to lead the organization into its next chapter as people need trees and forests more than ever before. Trees are rightfully being treated as a solution to some of the world's biggest problems and the Arbor Day Foundation is focused now more than ever on planting trees where they have the greatest impact on our climate, communities and biodiversity."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Community Roots Program: Applications accepted through online portal at arborday.org. The program operates in phases with specific deadlines. The first nonprofit phase closed August 12, 2024, and the second Tribal phase closed September 30, 2024. Future application cycles to be announced.

TD Green Space Grants: Applications submitted via online portal with annual deadlines typically in December. Recent deadlines have included December 9, 2022; December 17, 2021; and December 18, 2020. Applicants must be municipalities within TD Bank's footprint in the US or Canada.

Growing Roots Grant Program: Open to schools recognized by the Tree Campus K-12 program. Application process and future deadlines to be determined as the program evolves beyond its 2024 pilot year.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. However, the Community Roots Program Phase 1 had an August 2024 deadline with awards announced in September 2024, indicating approximately a 1-month turnaround.

Success Rates

Community Roots Program (Phase 1): The Foundation received more than 230 applications from community-based nonprofits and awarded 18 grants, resulting in an approximate 8% success rate. This demonstrates high demand and significant competition for these large awards.

Other Programs: Success rate data is not publicly available for TD Green Space Grants or Growing Roots.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. Standard practice would allow unsuccessful applicants to reapply in future funding cycles, but this should be confirmed with Foundation staff.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's publicly stated priorities and evaluation criteria:

Demonstrate Deep Community Knowledge The Foundation specifically looks for applicants who "demonstrate a deep familiarity with the unique needs of their community and have developed a specific plan to collaborate with residents and trusted organizations within the impacted community." Applications should show granular understanding of local challenges, not generic statements about need.

Prioritize Environmental Justice Outcomes The Foundation seeks proposals that "increase tree canopy and address challenges such as nature deprivation, access to green jobs, food insecurity, and urban heat." Successful Community Roots applicants addressed urban heat island effects, natural disaster recovery, and establishing food forests. For example, Sustaining Our Urban Landscape (SOUL) in New Orleans focused on reforesting the Lower 9th Ward, while Denver Urban Gardens proposed a "Dig Deeper Initiative" creating food forests.

Show Strong Community Engagement Plans "Special consideration will be given to those projects that demonstrate ability to involve the community, corporate sector, other nonprofit organizations and volunteers in the program." Applications should detail specific partnerships, volunteer recruitment strategies, and community co-design processes.

Include Comprehensive Maintenance Planning The Foundation requires that "a maintenance plan is in place to ensure survivability of new trees." This is critical—tree survival rates matter. Detail your watering schedules, mulching plans, protection from damage, and long-term stewardship approach.

Commit to Robust Metrics and Reporting Demonstrate "ability to provide key metrics around green space and canopy acres expanded, while also tracking and producing priority reporting concerning trees planted, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction, and additional ecosystem services created." Applications should specify measurement methodologies and data collection systems.

Align with Annual Program Themes For TD Green Space Grants, the 2023 theme was "Using Green Infrastructure to Cool Vulnerable Neighborhoods." Successful applicants frame their projects within the Foundation's current strategic emphasis areas.

Target Tree City USA Communities (for TD Green Space Grants) For U.S. municipal applicants, "preference will be given to currently recognized Tree City USA communities or those interested in becoming a Tree City USA community over the next calendar year."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Competition is intense: With only an 8% success rate in the Community Roots nonprofit phase, applications must be exceptionally strong and clearly differentiated
Environmental justice is central: Every funding priority emphasizes serving disadvantaged, underserved, or low-to-moderate-income communities—this must be demonstrated with specific data
Community co-design matters: The Foundation wants to see that communities most affected are actively involved in planning and implementation, not just beneficiaries
Maintenance is make-or-break: Tree survival is a key metric—weak maintenance plans will sink otherwise strong applications
Quantify your impact: Be specific about canopy acres, trees planted, GHG reduction, and ecosystem services—vague promises won't compete
Watch for new funding cycles: The Inflation Reduction Act funding created unprecedented opportunity—sign up for notifications at arborday.org to catch new application windows
Consider multiple pathways: If you're not competitive for large Community Roots grants, TD Green Space Grants (for municipalities) or Growing Roots (for schools) may be better fits

References

Accessed: December 22, 2024