What Tree Trust does

Tree Trust is a Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1976 in response to Dutch elm disease, headquartered in St. Paul and operating with 11-50 employees. The organization runs two distinct divisions: a nonprofit programs arm and a commercial social enterprise. The nonprofit arm delivers Career Pathways programs for youth (YouthBuild for ages 16-21, Branches pre-apprenticeship for ages 18-28, and the Summer Youth Employment Program for ages 14-21) and Community Forestry programs (Green Futures tree planting initiative, Learning with Trees educational program, discounted Tree Sales, and Tree Planting Initiatives). Tree Trust Landscape Services functions as the commercial arm, offering ISA-certified tree care, landscape construction, commercial lawn and snow care, and custom accessibility ramps to residential and commercial customers across the Twin Cities metro.

The organization's core technology is rooted in arboriculture, including a nationally recognized three-year Arborist Apprenticeship Program registered with the Minnesota Department of Industry, ISA-certified arborist expertise, and specialized tree planting and landscape construction capabilities. Notable differentiated assets include the Growing Shade interactive mapping tool (co-developed with The Nature Conservancy and Metropolitan Council) and the Our Town Trees mobile exhibit (co-developed with the Minnesota Science Museum). The organization maintains certifications including ISA Certified Arborist status, TCIA Electrical Hazards Awareness, Minnesota Department of Agriculture commercial pesticide applicator licensing, BBB accreditation, and PCI compliance for payment processing.

Tree Trust's business model is a hybrid social enterprise. Revenue is generated through three streams: earned revenue from Tree Trust Landscape Services (quote-based pricing for tree care, landscape construction, lawn/snow services, and accessibility ramps), government grants (notably a $1.5M U.S. Department of Labor YouthBuild grant in 2023 and a $70K Otto Bremer Trust grant in 2022), and donations and corporate sponsorships (Cigna, Cargill, CenterPoint Energy, Xcel Energy, Delta, Wells Fargo, Takeda, and others). Tree Trust distributes through direct sales (landscape services), school and community organization partnerships (alternative high schools for YouthBuild), and 16+ municipal partnerships (Minneapolis, St. Paul, Brooklyn Park, Edina, Eden Prairie, and others) for tree planting and forestry programs. The CEO and Executive Director Jared Smith announced a departure effective November 20, 2025, placing the organization under interim leadership during an executive search.

Name

Tree Trust

Legal name

Tree Trust

Website

https://treetrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tree Trust is a 1976-founded Minnesota nonprofit operating two divisions: youth workforce development programs (YouthBuild, Branches, Summer Youth Employment) and Community Forestry initiatives (Green Futures, Learning with Trees), cross-subsidized by a commercial Landscape Services social enterprise serving Twin Cities property owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Workforce Development and Environmental Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Support Activities for Forestry (115310)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Tree Planting & Transplanting (HSAIADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Urban & Community Reforestation / Street Tree Planting (AFAMACAL), Tree Pruning & Crown Management (HSAIADAA), Tree Health Care (Diagnosis, Treatment, Fertilization) (HSAIADAD)

Keywords

• Youth workforce training
• Community tree planting
• Landscape services
• Urban forestry programs
• Arborist apprenticeship

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Landscape Services Revenue: Professional landscape services including tree care, landscape construction, lawn/snow care, and accessibility ramps generate revenue from residential and commercial clients. This social enterprise financially supports Tree Trust nonprofit programs.
2. Government Grants: Funding from government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Labor ($1.5 million YouthBuild grant) to support workforce training programs for youth.
3. Donations and Sponsorships: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation support fund nonprofit programs including tree planting and youth career training.
4. Tree Sales: Discounted tree sales to residents through partnerships with municipalities, making trees affordable and accessible to the community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Tree Trust is a Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs paid youth workforce training programs in construction and tree care (YouthBuild, Branches, Summer Youth Employment Program) and community forestry programs (Green Futures, Learning with Trees, Tree Sales), while operating a professional Landscape Services social enterprise offering tree care, landscape construction, lawn/snow care, and accessibility ramps in the Twin Cities metro. Landscape Services revenue cross-subsidizes the nonprofit's workforce development and tree-planting mission.

Product overview

Tree Trust operates two distinct divisions: Non-Profit Programs and Professional Landscape Services. The non-profit side focuses on career pathways for youth (YouthBuild, Branches, Summer Youth Employment Program) and community forestry (Green Futures™, Learning with Trees™, Tree Sales, Tree Planting Initiatives). The landscape services division provides commercial tree care, lawn/snow care, landscape construction, and custom accessibility ramps. Landscape Services functions as a social enterprise that financially supports the nonprofit programs creating green career opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Green Futures™: Program adding thousands of trees to the environment annually, creating a more sustainable urban forest.
• Learning with Trees™

Products and services

• Tree Trust YouthBuild
• Branches
• Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Tree Trust's oldest program (since 1977) serving youth ages 14-21 with basic skills training using hand tools, landscape and construction projects, providing first job experience.
• Green Futures™
• Learning with Trees™
• Tree Sales
• Tree Care Services Professional tree care services for residential and commercial clients including tree and shrub removal, pruning, stump grinding, plant health care, root and soil care, and tree planting, delivered by ISA Certified Arborists.
• Commercial Lawn and Snow Care Lawn maintenance and snow/ice management services for commercial properties throughout the Twin Cities, including property maintenance, mowing, fertilization, weed control, snow plowing, and ice-melting applications.
• Landscape Construction Residential, commercial, and municipal landscape construction services including hardscape (patios, walkways, walls), softscape (planting, mulching, sod), carpentry (fences, pergolas, benches), and design services.
• Custom Accessibility Ramps Customized wood accessibility ramps built for easy home access, meeting accessibility and building codes. Financial aid available for qualifying Hennepin County residents through the county's ramp loan program. Service offered since 1996.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400 youth to be served in 2023 through Career Pathways programs
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Paladin Career and Technical High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner for YouthBuild program. Students alternate between Tree Trust training and school, earning high school credits and a paycheck while exploring skilled trades and tree care careers. Paladin was recognized by Minnesota Association of Alternative Programs as Best School of the Year.
• Transition Plus MinneapoliscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner school providing YouthBuild programming for students with interrupted education.
• Minnesota Internship CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner school providing YouthBuild programming across all campuses.
• Volunteers of America High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner school providing YouthBuild programming for students.
• Career PathwayscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partner providing workforce development connections for YouthBuild participants.
• Twin Cities Habitat for HumanitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing hands-on training opportunities for YouthBuild participants. Young people gain construction experience rebuilding community homes.
• Davey Tree Expert CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer partner that hired Tree Trust Branches graduate Melanie as a full-time climbing arborist trainee. Tree Trust maintains relationships with numerous green industry employers for job placement.
• City of MinneapoliscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner funding tree plantings and providing discounted trees to homeowners. Tree Trust maintains Midtown Greenway in contract with City of Minneapolis.
• City of Saint PaulcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner for tree planting programs and community forestry initiatives.
• Brooklyn Park, Edina, Eden Prairie, Hopkins, Lakeville, Maplewood, Mendota Heights, Minnetonka, Minnetrista, Rochester, Roseville, South St. Paul, St. Louis ParksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partners funding tree plantings and providing discounted trees to residents through tree sales programs.
• The Nature ConservancysecondaryTechnology or IntegrationCollaborated with Tree Trust and Metropolitan Council to create the Growing Shade interactive mapping tool showing intersection of tree canopy and regional priorities.
• Metropolitan CouncilsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartnered with Tree Trust and The Nature Conservancy to develop the Growing Shade interactive mapping tool for planning tree planting where most needed.
• Minnesota Science MuseumsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Tree Trust to develop the Our Town Trees mobile exhibit connecting students to trees in their community.
• CargillsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Learning with Trees educational planting program.
• CenterPoint EnergysecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Learning with Trees educational planting program.
• Dakota Electric AssociationsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Learning with Trees educational planting program.
• Hennepin CountysecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Learning with Trees educational planting program. Also offers ramp loan program for Hennepin County residents needing accessibility ramps.
• Xcel EnergysecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Learning with Trees educational planting program.
• Hennepin County Regional Railroad AuthoritysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwner of Midtown Greenway; Tree Trust greens and maintains portions of the Greenway trail through contract with HCRRA.
• Midtown Greenway CoalitionsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner with mission to develop, improve, protect, and enjoy the Midtown Greenway as a green urban corridor. Collaborated with Tree Trust on Greenway transformation.
• Juxtaposition ArtssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit arts organization that Tree Trust partnered with to landscape their new building and adjacent skatepark in North Minneapolis.
• Capitol Region Watershed DistrictsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Tree Trust Career Pathways participants to plant trees and native plants outside their office building in Saint Paul.
• Takeda PharmaceuticalssecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting tree planting on 36th Avenue in Minneapolis with free trees for residents.
• 36th ART (Avenue Revitalization & Transformation)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity group partner in Minneapolis tree planting initiative along 36th Avenue between 25th Street and Lake Street.
• Thermo King - Trane TechnologiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that donated to Tree Trust planting events.
• U.S. Bank (in partnership with Arbor Day Foundation)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that donated to Tree Trust planting events through Arbor Day Foundation partnership.
• Delta Air LinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor that fully funded tree planting events with Tree Trust.
• Wells FargominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor that fully funded tree planting events with Tree Trust.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bartlett Tree Experts: National commercial tree and shrub care company with scientific arboriculture services. Overlaps with Tree Trust's tree care, plant health care, and pruning services for commercial clients.
• Davey Tree Expert Company: National commercial tree care, environmental services, and landscape management company. Both a Tree Trust employer-partner and an incumbent competitor for commercial tree-care work in the broader market.
• SavATree: National residential and commercial tree care and lawn care provider with ISA-certified arborists. Competes with Tree Trust Landscape Services for Twin Cities residential tree-care business.

Emerging players

• Heart of America Foundation: National nonprofit operating programs that combine workforce development with community greening and education spaces. Comparable workforce-plus-greening dual mission at a national scale.
• Groundwork USA: National network of local Trusts (Groundwork "Hudson", "Dallas", etc.) focused on environmental stewardship, youth job training, and community greening. Closest national peer to Tree Trust's hybrid workforce-plus-greening model.

Direct peers

• Casey Trees: Washington D.C.-based nonprofit focused on urban tree planting, tree care, and community forestry education. Closest functional analogue to Tree Trust's community forestry plus tree care services model, with a similar dual mission but a regional (D.C.) focus.
• Friends of Trees: Portland-based nonprofit that plants and cares for trees in neighborhoods and natural areas. Highly comparable community tree-planting mission and volunteer/corporate partnership model.
• New York Restoration Project: NYC-based nonprofit that plants trees, builds gardens, and transforms open space in underserved neighborhoods. Comparable urban greening mission and equity-focused community forestry delivery.
• Tree Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh-based urban forestry nonprofit dedicated to growing and maintaining the city's tree canopy through community planting, education, and stewardship. Directly comparable in scope and urban-forestry-only nonprofit model.
• Keep Indianapolis Beautiful: Indianapolis-based nonprofit delivering community beautification, tree planting, and youth engagement programming. Comparable dual focus on greening and youth/community engagement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TreeTrust
• Facebookfacebook.com/TreeTrust
• Instagraminstagram.com/treetrustmn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tree-trust

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

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 Tree Trust