Savannah Tree Foundation

What Savannah Tree Foundation does

Savannah Tree Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 1981 and headquartered in Savannah, Georgia, that protects and grows the urban forest of Chatham County. Its core programs include strategic tree planting (6,427 cumulative trees planted across 215 sites), a community nursery cultivating 4,000 native trees, the Free Yard Tree residential program, invasive species removal, and a Memorial Planting Program across Savannah's six municipal cemeteries. Educational outreach is delivered through guided tree walks (Taxon Crawl), Tree Paddle kayaking events, Vines & Wines conservation evenings, a YouTube video series, and an STF Ambassador Program. Workforce development is a newer vertical, anchored by the Chatham Canopy Corps apprenticeship program funded by a $1 million, four-year federal-pass-through grant from the Georgia Forestry Commission.

The organization derives revenue from four streams: individual tax-deductible donations, multi-tier corporate sponsorships ($500-$5,000+ per event), government grants, and ticket-based educational events ($25 per Canopy Crawl ticket). Key institutional partners include the Georgia Forestry Commission, Gulfstream Aerospace, Arbor Day Foundation, Georgia Power, the City of Savannah, and Whole Foods. Savannah Tree Foundation also engages in policy work, partnering with all nine Chatham County municipalities on tree ordinance development and holding a 6,804 square foot environmental easement protecting the historic 300+ year-old Candler Oak since 1985. The organization is led by Executive Director Jackson Alexander and operates with a staff of eight full-time employees.

Name

Savannah Tree Foundation

Legal name

Savannah Tree Foundation

Website

https://savannahtree.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Savannah Tree Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 1981 that protects and grows Chatham County's urban forest through tree planting, a 4,000-tree community nursery, invasive species removal, education, and tree ordinance advocacy, serving residents, municipalities, and corporate partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Forestry Conservation

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban & Community Reforestation / Street Tree Planting (AFAMACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tree Preservation & Construction Site Tree Protection (HSAIADAL), Tree Removal & Dismantling (HSAIADAB)

Keywords

• Urban tree planting
• Community forestry programs
• Tree conservation nonprofit
• Volunteer planting events
• Arboriculture education

Headquarters

HQ city

Savannah

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting tree planting, education, and community programs. Includes memorial planting donations for cemetery tree plantings.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate partnerships at multiple levels: $1,500+ for general partnership, $5,000+ for exclusive planting events, $1,000+ for education events, $500+ for joining scheduled projects. Includes year-round website recognition and Green Gala highlights.
3. Government Grants: Received $1 million, 4-year Trees Across Georgia grant from Georgia Forestry Commission to fund Chatham Canopy Corps program addressing tree inequity and green job training.
4. Event Revenue: Revenue from paid educational events such as Canopy Crawl walking tours ($25 tickets) and other community events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Savannah Tree Foundation plants trees, cultivates native species in a community nursery, and distributes free trees to residents and businesses across Chatham County, Georgia. The organization educates the public through guided arborist-led walks, workshops, and online video content; engages volunteers in tree planting and invasive species removal; partners with corporations on sponsorship and team-building events; and advocates for tree ordinance policy with local municipalities. The Chatham Canopy Corps program additionally provides paid arboriculture apprenticeships as a green job training pathway.

Product overview

Savannah Tree Foundation offers a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on urban forestry: Tree Planting Programs (including Free Yard Trees and the Community Tree Nursery) form the core planting operations; Educational Outreach (including guided walks, video series, and ambassador training) builds community knowledge; Urban Forest Conservation through tree ordinance advocacy protects existing canopy; and Community Engagement through volunteer events (Invasive Removal Days, Tree Paddle, Canopy Crawl, Vines & Wines) mobilizes residents. Supporting programs include the Memorial Planting Program for donors, Corporate Partnership Programs for business sponsors, and the Chatham Canopy Corps workforce development initiative. Together, these programs address tree planting, care, education, and advocacy across Chatham County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tree Planting Programs Strategic tree planting initiatives that expand the urban canopy, promote local biodiversity, and improve environmental health across Chatham County. Open to community volunteers and corporate groups.
• Free Yard Trees Program Residential tree planting program in partnership with the Georgia Forestry Commission under the Trees Across Georgia grant, providing free trees to qualified homes and businesses in Chatham County.
• Community Tree Nursery Nursery cultivating native trees genetically adapted to the local climate, preserving historic tree genetics and maintaining a 4,000-tree inventory for future canopy restoration across Chatham County.
• Memorial Planting Program Annual donor-funded tree planting in six Savannah municipal cemeteries (Bonaventure, Colonial Park, Greenwich, Laurel Grove North, Laurel Grove South, Evergreen) during All Saints' Weekend in November, in partnership with the City of Savannah Cemeteries Division. Honors loved ones through tax-deductible contributions.
• Corporate Partnership Programs Tiered corporate sponsorship program offering General Partnership (from $1,500), Exclusive Planting Event Sponsorship (from $5,000), Exclusive Education Events (from $1,000), and Scheduled Project Participation (from $500). Includes year-round website recognition, Green Gala highlights, and tailored team-building experiences.
• Canopy Crawl / Taxon Crawl Walking Tours Beginner-friendly evening tree identification walks through historic downtown Savannah, led by ISA Certified Arborist Kathryn Erickson. Tickets priced at $25 per person.
• Tree Paddle Guided kayak and canoe interpretive paddle exploring coastal Georgia's forested waterways and wetland forests on Skidaway Island, in partnership with Savannah Canoe & Kayak.
• Vines & Wines Evening community conservation events combining social gathering with invasive species removal around historic trees such as the 300-year-old Candler Oak.
• Invasive Removal Days Hands-on volunteer workdays focused on removing invasive plant species and restoring local landscapes at multiple locations throughout Chatham County, including partnerships with Georgia Power and Whole Foods employee groups.
• Annual Tree Giveaway Biannual community tree giveaway events that distribute native trees to residents along with planting and care guidance, supported by partnerships with the Arbor Day Foundation (3,500 trees over 3 years) and other funders.
• Chatham Canopy Corps Workforce development and tree equity program providing paid arboriculture apprenticeships and green job training in historically underserved areas of Chatham County. Funded by a $1 million four-year grant.
• Urban Forest Conservation Advocacy Policy and ordinance work partnering with all nine Chatham County municipalities to develop, improve, and enforce tree ordinances and sustainable land-use practices for long-term ecosystem stability.
• STF Ambassador Program Structured volunteer leadership network with four tracks (Outreach, Advocacy, Education, and Events) that trains community leaders to represent Savannah Tree Foundation in neighborhoods and professional networks.

Quantifiable outcome

• Planted 1,124 trees across 56 sites from Tybee Island to Pooler since 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Partnerships

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

• Georgia Forestry CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Major grant provider through Trees Across Georgia program (Inflation Reduction Act funding). $1 million over 4 years to fund Chatham Canopy Corps program addressing tree inequity and providing green job training with 3 full-time arboriculture apprentices annually. Also partners on free yard tree program for residential planting.
• Gulfstream AerospacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Major corporate partner that helped plant 500 trees across 15+ locations over 3 years and enabled distribution of 6,000 trees through annual Family Day events. Provides employee volunteers for invasive removal and planting events. Partnership has grown significantly over several years.
• Savannah Canoe & KayakminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent partnership for Tree Paddle experiences - guided kayaking tours exploring coastal Georgia's forested waterways and wetland forests on Skidaway Island.
• Savoy SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Canopy Crawl and Taxon Crawl events. Starting location for evening tree walks through downtown Savannah.
• Georgia PowersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate volunteer partner contributing to invasive species removal and tree restoration efforts, particularly at West Lake community. Employees participate in volunteer workdays.
• City of Savannah Cemeteries DivisionsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Memorial Planting Program - annual tree planting in six municipal cemeteries (Bonaventure, Colonial Park, Greenwich, Laurel Grove North, Laurel Grove South, Evergreen) during All Saints' Weekend in November.
• Whole FoodsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate volunteer partner for invasive species removal events. Employees participate in community cleanup workdays.
• Georgia Forestry CommissioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-branded marketing and outreach through Trees Across Georgia program. Joint communication about equitable tree planting initiatives in Chatham County.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Trees Atlanta: Nonprofit urban forestry organization based in metro Atlanta focused on tree planting, forest restoration, and community education across a single metropolitan region — directly comparable model to Savannah Tree Foundation's Chatham County urban forest mission.
• TreePeople: Los Angeles-based nonprofit focused on urban forestry, tree planting, and environmental education. Closely aligned mission of growing urban canopy and developing the next generation of environmental stewards through community-led programs.
• Friends of Trees: Portland, Oregon-based nonprofit that plants trees and restores natural areas through community-led plantings and neighborhood engagement — closely analogous GTM motion and volunteer-driven urban forestry model.
• Casey Trees: Washington DC-area nonprofit dedicated to restoring, enhancing, and protecting the urban tree canopy. Highly comparable structure with planting programs, community engagement, workforce development, and municipal policy advocacy.

Regional players

• Athens-Clarke County Community Tree Council: Local tree advocacy and planting organization in Athens, Georgia. Closely comparable single-county urban forestry focus but in a different Georgia region and with a primarily volunteer-driven operating model.
• Keep Atlanta Beautiful Commission: Affiliate of Keep America Beautiful serving metro Atlanta with community cleanup, greening, and tree-related programming. Comparable regional nonprofit but operates in a different Georgia metro and is part of a national affiliate network.

Broad incumbents

• Arbor Day Foundation: National nonprofit focused on tree planting and conservation through member and corporate partnerships. Already a current partner of Savannah Tree Foundation; comparable in mission but operates at vastly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Davey Tree Expert Company: Large established commercial provider of tree care, environmental consulting, and urban forestry services across North America. Adjacent because it serves the same arborist skill set and corporate tree management needs but operates as a for-profit commercial enterprise rather than a community nonprofit.
• American Forests: National conservation organization focused on forest restoration and urban forestry initiatives across the U.S. Operates in the same advocacy and planting space but at a national scale rather than single-county focus.

Others

• Bartlett Tree Experts: National commercial tree care company offering arborist services to residential, commercial, and municipal clients. Compares through the same arboricultural discipline but is a for-profit services provider, not a community planting nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/savannahtreefoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/savannahtreefoundation
• Xx.com/SavannahTree
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/savannah-tree-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Savannah Tree Foundation