The Britton Fund

What The Britton Fund does

The Britton Fund, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit foundation founded in 2013 and headquartered in Porterville, California, that funds research and education in arboriculture and urban forestry across the Western United States (California, Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii). Its core programs include research grants of up to $30,000 per project, educational publications and bilingual Technical Information Sheets, the Richard W. Harris Urban Horticulture Scholarship at UC Davis (endowed with a $25,000 gift in 2013 and having supported 24 students), youth education through mobile apps (My Tree & Me, Chloe's Trees), the trademarked Treetures® children's brand, and the TreeCircus school touring program. The Fund's content and grants address western-specific challenges including climate-ready species selection, invasive pests, wildfire damage recovery, and urban tree infrastructure.

The Fund's business model is donation-driven nonprofit economics with four primary revenue streams: individual donations (monthly giving, tribute gifts, major gifts, legacy giving), corporate event sponsorships across tiers (Platinum/Gold/Silver/Bronze) for the annual Britton Fund Ride cycling fundraiser and WCISA conference events, publication sales through a BigCartel online bookstore, and grants from government agencies including CAL FIRE and the U.S. Forest Service. Most educational resources are distributed free; pricing where it exists is modest (e.g., suggested $20 donation for select guides). Distribution occurs through the Fund's website, free app-store downloads, the annual WCISA conference, school tours, and the 19th annual Britton Fund Ride scheduled for April 2026 in Oakhurst, CA with a $25,000 fundraising goal.

The Fund operates through a volunteer Board of Directors and Research Committee composed of credentialed academics and certified arborists, and maintains core strategic partnerships with WCISA, UC Davis, the Urban Forest Institute, CAL FIRE, and the U.S. Forest Service. It holds the Candid (GuideStar) Platinum Seal of Transparency for 2025 and 2026, and has awarded over $150,000 in cumulative research grants since inception. The organization has no parent company, no subsidiaries, no disclosed headcount, and operates as an independent legal entity closely affiliated with but separate from WCISA.

Name

The Britton Fund

Legal name

The Britton Fund, Inc.

Website

https://thebrittonfund.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Britton Fund is a 501c3 nonprofit foundation that funds arboriculture research and education across the Western US (CA, NV, AZ, HI). It serves tree care professionals, UC Davis students, and youth through research grants, bilingual publications, scholarships, and educational apps via its WCISA partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Foundation — Arboriculture Research and Education

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Educational Support Services (6117), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Forestry (800)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAOAB

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Donor Coordination, Grantmaking & Development Finance Programs

SECONDARYFSANAJAG

Biodiversity, Conservation & Natural Capital Funds

Financial & Insurance/Private Equity & Venture Capital/Impact / ESG & Sustainable Investment Funds

SECONDARYEDADAHAC

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Funding, Grants & Financial Aid Administration

Keywords

• Arboriculture research funding
• Urban forestry education
• Nonprofit foundation grants
• Tree care publications
• Professional arborist resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Porterville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, monthly giving programs, major gifts, tribute gifts, and event-based fundraising including The Britton Fund Ride cycling event, Silent and Live Auction, and annual conference events.
2. Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for annual fundraising events including The Britton Fund Ride and WCISA conference events, with various sponsorship tiers (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze).
3. Publication Sales: Sale of educational publications and resources including Botany for Arborists, Arid Zone Trees Compendium, Oaks in the Urban Landscape, and other technical guides through their BigCartel online bookstore.
4. Grants and Government Funding: Major gifts and grant funding from private organizations, corporations, foundations, and state/federal agencies including CAL FIRE and U.S. Forest Service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Britton Fund, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit foundation that funds arboriculture research and delivers tree care education to professionals and the public across California, Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii. Its core offerings include research grants (up to $30,000 per project), educational publications and Technical Information Sheets, a UC Davis scholarship program, free mobile apps for children, and fundraising events tied to the Western Chapter ISA (WCISA) community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• My Tree & Me App: Free educational app for children aged 3+ focused on urban forestry and tree knowledge. Developed through Harvey Mudd College Clinic Program as part of California Urban Forests Council's AMPlify the Urban Forest project.
• Chloe's Trees App
• TreeCircus
• Treetures

Products and services

• Woodchip Mulches for Landscape Trees Technical Information Sheet A bilingual (English/Spanish) free-download Technical Information Sheet for arborists and tree care professionals explaining how woodchip mulches improve soil health, conserve moisture, and support healthy roots in landscape trees.
• Selecting Woody Landscape Species to Enhance Biodiversity Technical Information Sheet A bilingual free-download Technical Information Sheet providing guidance on selecting woody landscape species to enhance biodiversity, targeted at arborists and urban forestry practitioners.
• Improving Soil Conditions in Urban Sites Technical Information Sheet A free-download Technical Information Sheet offering guidance on improving soil conditions in urban planting sites for tree care professionals.
• Diagnosing and Treating Sources of Water Stress in Urban Landscapes Technical Information Sheet A free-download Technical Information Sheet guiding arborists through diagnosis and treatment of water stress in urban landscape trees.
• Trees Damaged by Fire Guide A free-download guide on caring for fire-damaged trees, produced in response to Southern California wildfires, for tree care professionals and property owners.
• My Tree & Me App (Version 2) A free educational mobile app for children aged 3+ that teaches urban forestry through interactive puzzles, personal avatars, and tree card collections with stories and fun facts. Developed by Harvey Mudd College Clinic Program in partnership with California Urban Forests Council.
• Chloe's Trees App A free mobile app connecting children and families with trees, allowing them to plant, nurture, and track tree growth with personalized updates, used for family-based urban forestry engagement.
• Botany for Arborists Publication A comprehensive paid publication sold through the BigCartel bookstore covering tree taxonomy, anatomy, and physiology for Western landscape management, authored by leading arboriculture researchers.
• BigCartel Bookstore (Publications) An online bookstore offering publications for sale including Botany for Arborists, Landscape Design & Maintenance for Southwest Desert Trees Compendium, Decay Fungi of Oaks and Associated Hardwoods for Western Arborists, The Biology and Management of Landscape Palms, Oaks in the Urban Landscape, Reducing Infrastructure Damage by Tree Roots, Tree Care for Wildlife Best Management Practices, Irrigating San Francisco Bay Area Landscapes with Recycled Water, Wildlife Habitat Snag Signs, and Treetures Join the TreeCircus. Proceeds support research and education.
• 2025-2026 Research Awards Program Annual research grant program offering funding up to $30,000 per project for qualified researchers studying arboriculture topics such as climate-ready trees, urban tree infrastructure, invasive pests, and turf conversion effects on tree health.
• Richard W. Harris Urban Horticulture Scholarship An endowed scholarship program at UC Davis for students specializing in Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry. Established with a $25,000 gift in 2013 and supported by a matching contribution from WCISA, the program has shaped 24 students to date, including 2025-2026 recipients Seona Sherman (Redwood City, CA) and Jade Abrue (Novato, CA).
• The Britton Fund Ride (Annual Cycling Fundraising Event)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $150,000 in grants awarded supporting science-based research for arborists
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Western Chapter ISA (WCISA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose operational partnership with WCISA for annual conferences, educational events, and the Britton Fund Ride. WCISA matches annual contributions to the Richard W. Harris Urban Horticulture Scholarship program. The Britton Fund supports WCISA's educational mission and professional development for arborists.
• Urban Forest Institute (UFI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop bilingual (English/Spanish) educational tools for young tree care including updated Tree Care Cue Cards and five instructional videos. Led by UFI's Brian Kempf and Drs. Ed Gilman, Matt Ritter, and Jenn Yost.
• California Urban Forests CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the AMPlify the Urban Forest project that developed the My Tree & Me app for children's education about urban forestry.
• UC DaviscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome of the Richard W. Harris Urban Horticulture Scholarship program. Multiple research projects conducted with UC Davis researchers including Dr. Alison Berry, Dr. Matt Ritter, and Dr. Joanna Solins.
• TreeCircuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Britton Fund supports the TreeCircus educational stage show by supplying Treetures Join the TreeCircus coloring books. The TreeCircus performs at schools and events across the West, teaching students about trees and urban forestry through interactive performances.
• Golden Gate Audubon SocietyminorOthersThe Britton Fund provided a $1,500 printing grant to Golden Gate Audubon Society for publishing a guide on tree care and bird nesting (Caring for Birds' Nests and Trees).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Forests: National conservation nonprofit working on urban and rural forest health, policy, and education. Comparable to The Britton Fund as a peer grantmaking/research-advocacy organization targeting the forestry profession.
• Arbor Day Foundation: Large national nonprofit focused on tree planting, conservation, and forestry education. Closest comparable peer to The Britton Fund in mission (arboriculture research and public education) and structure (501c3 grantmaking/donor-driven).
• Forest Stewards Guild: Nonprofit professional organization advancing ecologically responsible forestry through education and practitioner support. Comparable as a peer nonprofit serving forestry/arboriculture professionals with educational programming.
• California Urban Forests Council: State-level nonprofit advancing urban forestry through education, policy, and community programs. Direct peer with overlapping Western US geography and shared audience of municipalities, arborists, and community advocates.
• Heartland Tree Alliance: Regional urban forestry program of the Arbor Day Foundation serving the central US with planting and education. Comparable structure (nonprofit urban forestry programming supported by donations and partnerships) and similar practitioner audience.
• Trees Atlanta: Regional nonprofit focused on urban tree planting, conservation, and education in metro Atlanta. Comparable as a regional urban-forestry grantmaking/education nonprofit with similar donor-driven model.
• Urban Forest Institute (UFI): Active strategic partner of The Britton Fund that develops bilingual young-tree-care educational tools (Tree Care Cue Cards, instructional videos) with researchers including Drs. Gilman, Ritter, and Yost. Highly comparable in mission and programmatic scope.

Broad incumbents

• Sustainable Forestry Initiative: Forestry-focused nonprofit that sets standards and funds sustainability-oriented research and education. Comparable in grantmaking/research mission and stakeholder community, though operating at much larger scale.
• The Nature Conservancy: Largest global environmental nonprofit, with growing urban forestry/green-infrastructure work. Broad incumbent in adjacent environmental conservation and grantmaking space, much larger than The Britton Fund but overlapping donor and partner networks.
• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA): Umbrella professional organization for arborists; The Britton Fund operates as a fundraising arm closely tied to its Western Chapter (WCISA). Broader incumbent that certifies practitioners and curates continuing education similar to the audience The Britton Fund serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheBrittonFund
• Xx.com/thebrittonfund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 The Britton Fund