What Trees Matter does

Trees Matter is a 501c3 nonprofit organization headquartered at 734 W. Polk St, Phoenix, Arizona, operating since 2002 with a mission to foster and inspire an increased, more balanced tree canopy in the Valley of the Sun (Phoenix metropolitan area). The organization runs four core programs: the Utility Shade Tree Program (anchored by an SRP partnership that distributes 2,000+ desert-adapted shade trees annually and a City of Mesa "Trees Are Cool" initiative targeting 15% canopy coverage by 2050), the Trees for Schools program serving 30+ schools since 2016, the Urban Food Forest program that educates on edible desert species (mesquite, acorn, pecan), and the Resiliency Project, created in 2020 to memorialize COVID-19 victims through tree planting. Supporting resources include a Tree Database, an "Ask the Arborist" forum, downloadable Tree Education Sheets, and the annual Trees Matter McPherson Award.

The organization's go-to-market is community-led and field-based rather than technology-driven. Distribution operates through direct community events, school district partnerships (Cartwright, Mesa Public Schools, Tempe Elementary), and municipal collaborations (City of Mesa, City of Glendale, SRP, APS). The technology stack is intentionally lightweight: Wild Apricot powers membership and the website, PayPal processes event payments, Google Forms handles event registration, and Bloomerang manages volunteer sign-ups. There is no proprietary technology platform, mobile application, or API.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid nonprofit model: recurring monthly membership donations, one-time donations, event ticket sales (workshops at $10-$45, the Mesquite Pancake Breakfast, and the Fancy Garden Party at $65-$75 per ticket), merchandise (Urban Food Forest Recipe Book), and corporate sponsorships (e.g., VanTrust Real Estate, Snell and Wilmer). The organization is staffed by 1-10 employees led by Executive Director Aimee Williamson, with Community Engagement Manager Jessica Hummel and Volunteer/Contact Manager Ariel Stone, supported by a Tree Team Cohort of trained volunteers and a college internship program. Customer segments are primarily Phoenix-metro residents and Title I schools, with secondary segments in corporate sponsors and municipal governments.

Name

Trees Matter

Legal name

Trees Matter

Website

https://treesmatter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Trees Matter is a Phoenix-based 501c3 nonprofit that distributes desert-adapted shade trees, runs school and community plantings, and educates residents across the Valley of the Sun on urban forestry and edible desert species.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Memberships: Monthly membership donations and one-time donations from individuals supporting tree canopy initiatives in the Valley of the Sun.
2. Event Ticket Sales: Annual fundraisers including Mesquite Pancake Breakfast for DINNER and Fancy Garden Party Fundraiser with ticket sales ranging from $15-$75 per person.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Urban Food Forest Recipe Book containing over 50 recipes using ingredients from local trees.
4. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate opportunities and matching gift programs where organizations support Trees Matter through sponsorships and donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Trees Matter is a Phoenix-based 501c3 nonprofit that distributes desert-adapted shade trees, plants trees at schools and community sites, and educates residents about tree care and the edible uses of desert trees. The organization runs programs such as the Utility Shade Tree Program (distributing 2,000+ shade trees annually through SRP and City of Mesa partnerships), Trees for Schools, the Urban Food Forest, and the Resiliency Project, while funding operations through donations, memberships, event ticket sales, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Trees Matter is a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Phoenix, Arizona, focused on fostering and inspiring an increased, more balanced tree canopy in the Valley of the Sun. The organization operates as a single unified offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its core programs include the SRP Shade Tree Program and Mesa Shade Tree Program (which distribute free shade trees to residents), the Trees for Schools Program (which plants trees in schools while educating youth), the Urban Food Forest Program (which teaches about edible trees and hosts related events), and the Resiliency Project (which plants trees to honor those affected by COVID-19). Additional offerings include volunteer programs (Tree Team Cohort, general volunteer opportunities), an internship program, a tree database resource, the 'Ask the Arborist' forum, Tree Education Sheets, and an annual McPherson Award. The organization also hosts fundraising events including the annual Mesquite Pancake Breakfast for DINNER and Fancy Garden Party Fundraiser.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Utility Shade Tree Program (SRP Shade Tree Program)
• Mesa Shade Tree Program
• Trees for Schools Program
• Urban Food Forest Program
• Resiliency Project
• Monthly Memberships
• Mesquite Pancake Breakfast for DINNER (Annual Fundraiser)
• Fancy Garden Party Fundraiser
• Acorn Processing Workshop
• Mesquite Presentation & Harvesting Demonstration
• Fruit Tree Pruning Class
• Urban Food Forest Recipe Book
• Corporate Partnership and Sponsorship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,000+ desert-adapted shade trees distributed annually through SRP Shade Tree Program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• SRP (Salt River Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRP partners with Trees Matter for the Utility Shade Tree Program, distributing 2,000+ desert-adapted shade trees annually to SRP participants who completed virtual summer tree care workshops.
• City of Mesa - Trees Are Cool InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrees Matter partners with City of Mesa for the Mesa Shade Tree Program as part of Mesa's Trees Are Cool Initiative, working toward the city's goal of 15% tree canopy coverage by 2050.
• Tiger Mountain FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Resiliency Project, planting 100 trees at Spaces of Opportunity to honor those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Maricopa County Public HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCPH created a Tree Prioritization Map for Trees Matter's Trees for Schools program using poverty rate, heat deaths, heat illness, cardiovascular disease hospitalizations, and school locations to identify priority areas.
• The Nature ConservancymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Trees Matter on tree plantings at Borman Elementary school in Spring 2022.
• APS (Arizona Public Service)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Trees Matter for multiple school tree planting events including Augustus Shaw Montessori, Longview Elementary, and other schools.
• AZ Dept. of Forestry & Fire ManagementmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Trees Matter for tree plantings at Augustus Shaw Montessori School.
• Audubon ArizonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted edible tree workshops including Mesquite Presentation & Harvesting Demonstrations at Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center.
• Mesa Urban GardenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted Fruit Tree Pruning Class event with Trees Matter at Mesa Urban Garden.
• The Farm at South MountainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted Pecan Harvest event with Trees Matter; The Farm provided tour and history of the grounds.
• Shining Light FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Trees Matter on tree plantings at M.C. Cash Elementary School.
• Eighty Eight AcresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Trees Matter on tree plantings at Borman Elementary school.
• Watershed Management GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Trees Matter on tree plantings at Borman Elementary school.
• City of Glendale Conservation and Sustainable DivisionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Trees Matter on the Palo Verde and Ironwood Presentation: Edible Tree Series event at Glendale Public Library.
• VanTrust Real EstateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBlossom Sponsor for the 2nd Annual Fancy Garden Party Fundraiser.
• Snell and WilmerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBud Sponsor for the 2nd Annual Fancy Garden Party Fundraiser.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Forests: National nonprofit championing urban and rural forest conservation, policy, and large-scale tree-planting initiatives. Broader scope but overlapping canopy and reforestation mission relevant to Trees Matter.
• Arbor Day Foundation: National nonprofit running large-scale tree-planting campaigns, education programs, and Tree City USA designations. Comparable mission and community-tree focus, with much broader national scope.

Direct peers

• Friends of the Urban Forest: San Francisco nonprofit running neighborhood tree-planting programs with volunteer-led events and municipal partnerships. Directly comparable urban-canopy nonprofit structure to Trees Matter.
• TreePeople: Los Angeles-based nonprofit operating an urban forestry and tree-planting model with strong municipal partnerships, school programs, and volunteer-driven planting events. Highly comparable mission and operating model to Trees Matter.
• Casey Trees: Washington DC-area nonprofit focused on urban tree canopy, planting, education, and policy advocacy. Comparable regional urban-forestry nonprofit model with education and planting programs.
• Urban Releaf: Oakland, California-based nonprofit focused on urban tree planting, youth job training, and environmental justice in underserved neighborhoods. Directly comparable nonprofit urban-forestry model with strong community orientation.

Emerging players

• Groundwork USA: Network of local Groundwork trusts running urban environmental and tree-planting projects across multiple US cities. Comparable neighborhood-level urban greening model with volunteer and youth engagement.

Others

• The Nature Conservancy (Arizona): Major conservation organization actively partnering with Trees Matter on school plantings in Phoenix. Adjacent/ecosystem relationship rather than direct competitor; relevant as a peer funder and program collaborator in the same region.
• Sonoran Institute: Regional nonprofit focused on conservation and sustainable development across the Sonoran Desert region, including urban-rural connections in greater Phoenix. Thematically aligned with Trees Matter's desert-climate and community focus.

Regional players

• Keep Phoenix Beautiful: Local Phoenix affiliate of Keep America Beautiful running community beautification and tree-planting programs in the same Valley of the Sun geography. Overlapping local mission and city-level partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUKHyfP3ETRgpuZIx3ebZqQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/TreesMatterAZ

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Trees Matter