TreePeople

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.

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

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

• Urban forestry services
• Tree planting programs
• Environmental education
• Green infrastructure design
• Wildfire restoration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Beverly Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Grants: Government and foundation grants for specific projects including wildfire resilience, urban greening, stormwater management, and environmental education.
4. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling merchandise; proceeds support tree planting and care initiatives.
5. 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

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• IntuitmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Corporate 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 PowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey 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 DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner 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 SanitationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Greater LA Water Collaborative contributing to integrated water management solutions. Works with TreePeople on stormwater projects and green infrastructure initiatives.
• Tetra TechsupportingTechnology or IntegrationEngineering 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic 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)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to create Green Places projects integrating green infrastructure with public transportation. TreePeople supports greening of Metro-owned properties and transit corridors.
• SavATree Consulting GroupsupportingTechnology or IntegrationConsulting 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 LabsupportingTechnology or IntegrationAcademic partner contributing spatial analysis expertise to the Green Priorities in LA County tree canopy assessment project.
• UCLA Center for Public Health & DisasterssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Los Angeles Urban Cooling Collaborative, contributing public health expertise on heat-related illness and vulnerable populations.
• California State University NorthridgesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Los Angeles Urban Cooling Collaborative contributing research capacity to urban heat mitigation strategies.
• Yale School of Forestry and Environmental StudiessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Los Angeles Urban Cooling Collaborative contributing forestry and environmental science expertise.
• Climate ResolvesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal climate organization partner in the Los Angeles Urban Cooling Collaborative working on urban heat solutions.
• Global Cool Cities AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Los Angeles Urban Cooling Collaborative focused on cool surfaces and materials to reduce urban heat.
• University of Miami Miller School of MedicinesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Los Angeles Urban Cooling Collaborative contributing health and medical expertise on heat impacts.
• Heal the BaysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization partner working on water quality and coastal protection. Part of the watershed health network.
• Trust for Public Land - LA OfficesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner focused on creating parks and green spaces in urban areas. Collaboration on parks-for-people initiatives.
• Water LAsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization working on water conservation and rainwater harvesting in Los Angeles.
• LA Neighborhood Land TrustsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner focused on creating green spaces and parks in underserved Los Angeles neighborhoods.
• Amigos de los RiossupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatershed health organization partner working on green infrastructure and community greening.
• Council for Watershed HealthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization focused on watershed health and sustainable water management.
• North East TreessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based organization partner focused on urban forestry and greening in the Northeast LA area.
• Pacoima BeautifulsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partner working on environmental justice and greening in Pacoima.
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in $4 million settlement for home retrofits and green streets projects; supports TreePeople's rainwater capture pilot program.
• LA WaterkeepersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in settlement with LA County supporting stormwater capture and pollution reduction projects.
• StarbuckssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceived Community Service Partner Award from TreePeople; supports community greening initiatives.
• Ten StrandssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Environmental Literacy task force working on the Blueprint for Environmental Literacy for California schools.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/TreePeople_org
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/TreePeople
• Facebookfacebook.com/TreePeopleorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/treepeople
• Instagraminstagram.com/treepeople_org
• TikToktiktok.com/@treepeople?lang=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TreePeople