TreePeople
TreePeople is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1973 that delivers nature-based climate solutions across Southern California — including urban tree planting, wildland restoration, school greening, stormwater capture, and environmental education — serving underserved communities, K-12 schools, government agencies, and corporate partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersBeverly Hills, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What TreePeople does
TreePeople is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization founded in 1973 by Andy Lipkis and headquartered at a 45-acre Coldwater Canyon Park facility in Beverly Hills, California. The organization delivers nature-based climate solutions across Southern California through eight core programs: Community Forestry (urban tree planting and care), Restoration & Conservation (wildland restoration and native plant cultivation), Urban & School Greening (green infrastructure design and implementation), Education & Outdoor Equity (K-12 environmental literacy), TreePeople Land Trust (stewardship of 3,000+ acres in the Santa Monica Mountains), Policy & Advocacy, Research, and Water management. The organization is not technology-intensive in a traditional software sense — its core operational assets are a native plant nursery, the 45-acre headquarters with event and education facilities, and a high-resolution LA County Tree Canopy Map built with academic partners using LiDAR and remote sensing.
The business model is a multi-stream nonprofit funding structure. Revenue comes from individual donations (including a monthly recurring 'Canopy' giving program, tree dedications, and legacy/estate giving), corporate partnerships (Teams for Trees volunteer events, sponsorships, Lunch & Learns, and venue rentals), government and foundation grants (LA County Board of Supervisors, US Forest Service, Cal Fire, California Coastal Conservancy, NRDC, Dorrance Family Foundation), merchandise sales through an online storefront, and event-based fundraising (the annual 'An Evening Under the Harvest Moon' gala raised $705,000 in 2017, and the 'Once Upon a Canyon Night' summer entertainment series generates ongoing revenue). The primary beneficiary segments are underserved LA communities facing extreme heat and tree canopy deficits, K-12 schools and students (reaching 236,000+ students annually through Generation Earth), corporate ESG and employee engagement partners, and government agencies (LADWP, LA Metro, Bureau of Sanitation, Flood Control District). Current leadership comprises CEO Cindy Montañez, who has expanded the organization's regional impact, and founder/President Andy Lipkis. The organization maintains a board of directors and operates without parent company or external equity ownership.
TreePeople firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TreePeople
- Legal name
- TreePeople
- Website
- https://treepeople.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- TreePeople is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1973 that delivers nature-based climate solutions across Southern California — including urban tree planting, wildland restoration, school greening, stormwater capture, and environmental education — serving underserved communities, K-12 schools, government agencies, and corporate partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TreePeople industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Nonprofit Services / Urban Forestry
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Forestry (115310), Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (1132), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)
- SIC
- Forestry (800), Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Tree Planting & Transplanting (HSAIADAE)
Keywords
Where TreePeople is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Beverly Hills
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
TreePeople business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Membership: Individual donations through online portal, monthly giving program (Canopy), legacy giving, and membership. TreePeople is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with Tax ID 23-7314838. Gifts are tax-deductible.
- Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor events, volunteer programs, and campaigns. Sponsors support annual gala 'An Evening Under the Harvest Moon' and other programs.
- Grants: Government and foundation grants for specific projects including wildfire resilience, urban greening, stormwater management, and environmental education.
- Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling merchandise; proceeds support tree planting and care initiatives.
- Event Revenue: Special events including 'Once Upon a Canyon Night' entertainment series and 'An Evening Under the Harvest Moon' gala generate fundraising revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly Giving Program (Canopy) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Tree Dedications |
| Other | Annual | Corporate Partnerships |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
TreePeople product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TreePeople is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers nature-based programs across Southern California, including community tree planting and care, wildland restoration and fire resilience, school and park greening, K-12 environmental education, land trust stewardship of 3,000+ acres, green-infrastructure consulting for cities, and policy advocacy on urban heat, water, and forestry. Programs are funded through donations, grants, corporate partnerships, merchandise, and events, and delivered via direct community engagement, an on-site 45-acre park with native plant nursery, and partnerships with government and academic institutions.
Product overview
TreePeople is a non-profit environmental organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and services focused on urban forestry, environmental education, and climate resilience for Southern California. The core offerings include Community Forestry (tree planting and care), Restoration & Conservation (wildland restoration), Urban and School Greening, Education & Outdoor Equity, TreePeople Land Trust, Policy & Advocacy, Research, and Water management programs. Supporting services include Coldwater Canyon Park (facility), Moonlight Hikes and Events, Tree Dedications, and various giving programs (Wildfire Resilience Fund, Monthly Giving/The Canopy, Legacy Giving). The organization also operates Corporate Partnerships/Teams for Trees and an online Shop. These programs work together to fulfill TreePeople's mission of inspiring communities to grow a more climate-resilient Southern California through nature-based solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- TreePeople Land Trust: A land trust that stewwards more than 3,000 acres of land in the Santa Monica Mountains, protecting spaces for public recreation, environmental education, and scientific research.
- Generation Earth
- LA Stormcatcher
- Calles Verdes Project
- Los Angeles Urban Cooling Collaborative (LAUCC)
Products and services
- Community Forestry
- Restoration & Conservation
- Urban and School Greening
- Education & Outdoor Equity
- TreePeople Land Trust
- Policy & Advocacy
- Research
- Water / Safe Clean Water
- Coldwater Canyon Park
- Moonlight Hikes and Events
- Tree Dedications
- Wildfire Resilience Fund
- Monthly Giving (The Canopy)
- Legacy Giving / Legacy Grove
- Corporate Partnerships / Teams for Trees
- Shop / Merchandise
Quantifiable outcome
- 236,000+ students impacted by school outreach annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use TreePeople
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
TreePeople technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
TreePeople partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
27 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.
- IntuitmajorCorporate partnership around Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. TreePeople planted more than 700 trees through this partnership as part of Intuit's sustainability and community initiatives.
- Los Angeles Department of Water and PowercoreKey partner in the Greater LA Water Collaborative focused on stormwater capture, water resilience, and climate adaptation. Collaborates with TreePeople on cistern and rain garden pilot projects to help LA secure a climate-resilient water future.
- Los Angeles County Flood Control DistrictcorePartner in the Greater LA Water Collaborative working to forge collaborative solutions for water challenges facing the region. Supports coordinated, multi-benefit projects for climate resilience.
- City of LA Bureau of SanitationcorePartner in the Greater LA Water Collaborative contributing to integrated water management solutions. Works with TreePeople on stormwater projects and green infrastructure initiatives.
- Tetra TechsupportingEngineering firm providing technical support to the Greater LA Water Collaborative and LA Stormcatcher Initiative. Supports design and implementation of stormwater capture systems.
- Loyola Marymount University Center for Urban Resilience (CURes)coreAcademic partner in the LA County Tree Canopy Assessment project. Combined high-resolution remote sensing data with environmental and demographic data to assess urban greening needs.
- Metro (LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority)majorPartnered to create Green Places projects integrating green infrastructure with public transportation. TreePeople supports greening of Metro-owned properties and transit corridors.
- SavATree Consulting GroupsupportingConsulting partner for LA County Tree Canopy Assessment. Provided spatial analysis expertise using high-resolution remote sensing data and LiDAR imagery.
- University of Vermont Spatial Analysis LabsupportingAcademic partner contributing spatial analysis expertise to the Green Priorities in LA County tree canopy assessment project.
- UCLA Center for Public Health & DisasterssupportingPartner in the Los Angeles Urban Cooling Collaborative, contributing public health expertise on heat-related illness and vulnerable populations.
- California State University NorthridgesupportingPartner in the Los Angeles Urban Cooling Collaborative contributing research capacity to urban heat mitigation strategies.
- Yale School of Forestry and Environmental StudiessupportingPartner in the Los Angeles Urban Cooling Collaborative contributing forestry and environmental science expertise.
- Climate ResolvesupportingLocal climate organization partner in the Los Angeles Urban Cooling Collaborative working on urban heat solutions.
- Global Cool Cities AlliancesupportingPartner in the Los Angeles Urban Cooling Collaborative focused on cool surfaces and materials to reduce urban heat.
- University of Miami Miller School of MedicinesupportingPartner in the Los Angeles Urban Cooling Collaborative contributing health and medical expertise on heat impacts.
- Heal the BaysupportingEnvironmental organization partner working on water quality and coastal protection. Part of the watershed health network.
- Trust for Public Land - LA OfficesupportingPartner focused on creating parks and green spaces in urban areas. Collaboration on parks-for-people initiatives.
- Water LAsupportingPartner organization working on water conservation and rainwater harvesting in Los Angeles.
- LA Neighborhood Land TrustsupportingPartner focused on creating green spaces and parks in underserved Los Angeles neighborhoods.
- Amigos de los RiossupportingWatershed health organization partner working on green infrastructure and community greening.
- Council for Watershed HealthsupportingPartner organization focused on watershed health and sustainable water management.
- North East TreessupportingCommunity-based organization partner focused on urban forestry and greening in the Northeast LA area.
- Pacoima BeautifulsupportingCommunity organization partner working on environmental justice and greening in Pacoima.
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)supportingPartner in $4 million settlement for home retrofits and green streets projects; supports TreePeople's rainwater capture pilot program.
- LA WaterkeepersupportingPartner in settlement with LA County supporting stormwater capture and pollution reduction projects.
- StarbuckssupportingReceived Community Service Partner Award from TreePeople; supports community greening initiatives.
- Ten StrandssupportingPartner in Environmental Literacy task force working on the Blueprint for Environmental Literacy for California schools.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
TreePeople competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- American Forests: National 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on urban and rural forestry, tree planting, and forest restoration. Directly comparable as a tree-canopy-focused nonprofit with similar advocacy, reforestation, and policy programs.
- Arbor Day Foundation: Largest tree-planting nonprofit in the U.S., running the Tree City USA program and large-scale reforestation. Directly comparable as a member-supported nonprofit driving community tree planting and education nationwide.
- Casey Trees: Washington D.C.-based nonprofit focused exclusively on planting, caring for, and advocating for the urban tree canopy. Closely comparable in program design (tree planting, education, policy) but operates in a single metro region.
- Friends of the Urban Forest: San Francisco-based nonprofit that plants and cares for street trees and provides urban forestry education. Directly comparable neighborhood-scale tree planting and volunteer-driven model, differing primarily by geography.
Broad incumbents
- Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit creating parks and protecting land in cities, including a Climate Smart Cities program targeting urban tree canopy. Comparable mission around urban green space and an established partner listed in TreePeople's network.
- The Nature Conservancy: One of the world's largest environmental nonprofits with active California land conservation, climate, and urban resilience programs. Overlapping mission on climate resilience, land stewardship, and policy advocacy, though vastly larger scale.
Others
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Major environmental advocacy organization that has partnered with TreePeople on a $4M settlement for green infrastructure in LA. Comparable in policy and urban sustainability focus, but operates as an advocacy org rather than direct service provider.
Emerging players
- Climate Resolve: Los Angeles-based climate nonprofit focused on urban heat, cool roofs, and community resilience. Direct collaborator in the LA Urban Cooling Collaborative and overlapping focus on heat mitigation and equity.
- Sustainable South Bronx: NYC-based environmental justice nonprofit pioneering urban green infrastructure and workforce development. Comparable in environmental justice, urban greening, and youth training mission, though in a different region.
Regional players
- City Plants: Los Angeles municipal-affiliated program providing free trees to residents and businesses. Operates in TreePeople's exact geography with a similar residential tree-planting mission, offering partial overlap in target market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
TreePeople social profiles
Digital presenceTreePeople financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TreePeople leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
TreePeople subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
TreePeople funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TreePeople M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TreePeople
What does TreePeople do?
TreePeople is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers nature-based programs across Southern California, including community tree planting and care, wildland restoration and fire resilience, school and park greening, K-12 environmental education, land trust stewardship of 3,000+ acres, green-infrastructure consulting for cities, and policy advocacy on urban heat, water, and forestry. Programs are funded through donations, grants, corporate partnerships, merchandise, and events, and delivered via direct community engagement, an on-site 45-acre park with native plant nursery, and partnerships with government and academic institutions.
Is TreePeople a public or private company?
TreePeople is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was TreePeople founded?
TreePeople was founded in 1973. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is TreePeople based?
TreePeople is headquartered in Beverly Hills, United States, in the North America region.
How does TreePeople make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Donations and Membership is the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships, grants, merchandise Sales and event Revenue.
Who are TreePeople's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are American Forests, Arbor Day Foundation, Casey Trees and Friends of the Urban Forest. Broad incumbents are Trust for Public Land and The Nature Conservancy. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is listed as an others. Emerging players are Climate Resolve and Sustainable South Bronx. City Plants is listed as a regional player.
Does TreePeople have an API?
No public API is recorded for TreePeople.
What industry is TreePeople in?
TreePeople's product category is Environmental Nonprofit Services / Urban Forestry. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAD, Forestry & Reforestation, with a secondary code of HSAIADAE, Tree Planting & Transplanting. Its NAICS code is 115310 and its SIC code is 800.