Trees That Feed Foundation
Trees That Feed Foundation is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that plants food-bearing trees (primarily breadfruit) across 20+ countries to combat hunger, support school feeding, and build agribusiness capacity in food-insecure communities in the Caribbean, Central/South America, and Africa.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersWinnetka, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Trees That Feed Foundation does
Trees That Feed Foundation (TTFF) is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Winnetka, Illinois, founded in 2008–2009 by co-founders Mary and Mike McLaughlin. The foundation plants food-bearing trees — primarily breadfruit — in food-insecure communities across more than 20 countries in the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Africa, with cumulative outcomes cited at over 400,000 fruit trees provided and more than 1,000,000 meals donated to schoolchildren.
TTFF's program portfolio comprises four interconnected pillars: (1) Planting Fruit Trees, focused on breadfruit propagation and distribution; (2) Providing Nutritious Meals, including school feeding programs using breadfruit-based products such as flour, biscuits (bullas), and other derivatives; (3) Boosting Agribusinesses, through breadfruit flour production and the deployment of proprietary hybrid solar dehydrators to local entrepreneurs, including a Women's Empowerment component; and (4) Teaching Agriculture, delivered via educational materials, coloring books, and academic papers. Its proprietary technology stack was developed in collaboration with Northwestern University engineering students and includes the hybrid solar dehydrator (now used by the UN World Food Program in Haiti), the Refruiterator evaporative cooling chamber, AirMesh and MeshMate tray systems, and the Aeroflect dryer enhancement.
The foundation operates as a donation-funded charity with no commercial product sales; revenue mechanics consist of voluntary contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations, with donor-facing price anchors such as $15 per tree planted, $150 per 500 school meals, $750 per training seminar, and $2,000 per basic food processing factory. Distribution is executed through partnerships with local NGOs, government forestry departments (notably Jamaica's Forestry Department since 2009), UN agencies (World Food Program and International Labour Organization P.R.O.F.I.T. project in Haiti), Peace Corps Jamaica, and universities including Northwestern and the National Tropical Botanical Garden/Breadfruit Institute.
Trees That Feed Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Trees That Feed Foundation
- Legal name
- Trees That Feed Foundation
- Website
- https://treesthatfeed.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Trees That Feed Foundation is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that plants food-bearing trees (primarily breadfruit) across 20+ countries to combat hunger, support school feeding, and build agribusiness capacity in food-insecure communities in the Caribbean, Central/South America, and Africa.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Trees That Feed Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Food Security and Agricultural Development (Nonprofit)
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Forestry (115310), Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry (115), Community Food Services (624210), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)
- SIC
- Forestry (800), Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Tree Planting & Establishment Services (Manual/Mechanized) (AFAMACAE), Agroforestry & Perennial Cropping Systems (EUABABAD), Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)
Keywords
Where Trees That Feed Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Winnetka
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Trees That Feed Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Trees That Feed Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates entirely on donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. Tax ID: 26-2780427.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Donation-based model - $15 plants one tree |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Trees That Feed Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Trees That Feed Foundation is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that plants food-bearing trees (primarily breadfruit), supports school feeding programs with breadfruit-based meals, and builds agribusiness capacity in food-insecure communities across the Caribbean, Central/South America, and Africa. The foundation distributes tree seedlings, provides training and processing equipment (including proprietary hybrid solar dryers), and supports local entrepreneurs across the breadfruit value chain.
Product overview
Trees That Feed Foundation is a US-based nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on planting food-bearing trees (primarily breadfruit), providing school meals, supporting agribusiness development, and delivering agricultural education. The core programs include the Planting Fruit Trees Program, School Feeding Programs, Agribusiness/Entrepreneurship Program, and Agriculture Education Program. Key products include breadfruit flour, breadfruit seedlings, and the hybrid solar dryer technology developed in collaboration with Northwestern University. The organization's approach combines direct service delivery (tree planting, school meals) with technology transfer (solar drying equipment, processing training) and educational resources (coloring books, academic papers, masterclasses).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Planting Fruit Trees Program Program focused on planting food-bearing trees, with breadfruit as the flagship tree species, to address hunger, poverty, and environmental decline in food-insecure communities across the Caribbean, Central/South America, and Africa.
- School Feeding Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 400,000 fruit trees provided globally
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Trees That Feed Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Trees That Feed Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Trees That Feed Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Jamaica Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & MiningcoreLong-standing partnership with Jamaica's Forestry Department dating back to 2009 when TTFF planted its first breadfruit trees. Partnered on the RE-LEAF initiative in 2026 with $50,000 USD investment for food-bearing tree distribution.
- American Friends of JamaicacoreListed as a partner organization supporting TTFF's work in Jamaica.
- Plant with PurposecorePartner organization working on environmental and development programs.
- GAPLminorListed as a partner organization.
- Northwestern UniversitycoreDeep partnership with Dr. Nyree Zerega (board member and breadfruit researcher), engineering students who designed hybrid solar dehydrators, and Dr. Patricia Beddows for environmental sciences. Trees planted on campus in Earth Atrium.
- World Food Program (WFP) HaiticoreUN World Food Program buying breadfruit flour from TTFF-supported local entrepreneurs for school feeding programs in Haiti under P.R.O.F.I.T. project.
- International Labour Organization (ILO)coreUN agency collaborating on P.R.O.F.I.T. project (Strengthening Agricultural Opportunities through Training and Technological Investment) in Haiti.
- Catholic Relief ServicescorePartner in P.R.O.F.I.T. project supporting agricultural development in Haiti.
- AZAKAminorLocal partner in Haiti involved in P.R.O.F.I.T. project.
- Peace Corps JamaicacoreOngoing partnership to plant food-bearing trees and provide educational activity books. Peace Corps volunteers assist with programs.
- National Tropical Botanical Garden / Breadfruit InstitutecoreLongtime supporter and collaborator; has funded breadfruit trees in Uganda and other parts of the world. Dr. Diane Ragone is a key figure in breadfruit research.
- Smallholder Farmers (Haiti)corePartnership in Gonaives, Haiti resulting in 5,000 breadfruit trees planted.
- GOALS HaiticorePartner organization led by Kathy McAllister. Focus on empowering communities through breadfruit solutions.
- Grimal Grove (Florida)coreFirst breadfruit grove in continental US, owned by Patrick Garvey. Hosts events to raise awareness about breadfruit. Featured in media coverage.
- Jamaica's First Lady Ann Marie DaviscoreStrong advocate of breadfruit and food independence. Participated in tree planting ceremonies and supports TTFF's work in the Bahamas.
- Dr. Russell FieldingcoreAuthor of 'Breadfruit: Three Global Journeys of a Bountiful Tree' published by Columbia University Press. Leading breadfruit researcher from Coastal Carolina University. Joined TTFF Board of Directors in 2026.
- His Grace Demo Farm (Uganda)coreRun by Grace Mubiru Bekalaze. Hosts Breadfruit Mastermind events and training sessions in Uganda.
- Aid AfricacoreHosted breadfruit events in Gulu, Uganda. Plants fruit trees with families in rural areas.
- Freedom in CreationminorPartner organization in Uganda hosting visits to food forests.
- Ulu Foods (Barbados)minorBreadfruit products company founded by Courtney Mills. Donated breadfruit crackers for book launch event.
- Amasar (Puerto Rico)coreBreadfruit flour company run by Marisol Villalobos. Featured in Breadfruit Masterclass. Products used at events.
- The Book Stall (Winnetka, IL)minorBookstore that hosted the first public event for Dr. Fielding's breadfruit book. Donated 10% of sales to TTFF.
- Andrina's Agro-Farm (St. Lucia)minorFeatured in Breadfruit Masterclass series. Farmer-entrepreneur perspective on growing, processing, and building value locally.
- Jus Chill, Inc. (U.S.)minorFeatured in Breadfruit Masterclass. Company turning perishable fruit into shelf-stable products while navigating food safety, branding, and distribution.
- La Torre Agricola (Puerto Rico)coreLeading breadfruit nursery in Puerto Rico run by Leo Torres. Implements tissue culture propagation for sustainable breadfruit tree production.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Trees That Feed Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Trees for the Future: US-based nonprofit focused on ending hunger and poverty through agroforestry and tree planting in sub-Saharan Africa. Directly comparable as a donation-funded nonprofit operating farmer-training and tree-planting programs in developing countries, with similar program model and target beneficiaries.
- Plant With Purpose: Nonprofit that works with farming communities to reforest watersheds and improve livelihoods in developing countries. Already listed as a TTFF partner, Plant With Purpose operates a very similar community-driven agroforestry and food security model.
- One Tree Planted: Nonprofit that partners with reforestation organizations globally to plant trees funded by individual and corporate donations. Comparable as a fundraising and distribution platform for tree-planting programs across multiple tropical and developing geographies.
- Trees, Water & People: Nonprofit that plants trees and improves access to clean cookstoves in Central America, Haiti, and the Caribbean. Directly comparable for operating community-based tree planting and food security programs in TTFF's core Caribbean and Central American geographies.
- Breadfruit Institute (National Tropical Botanical Garden): Research and outreach program dedicated to conserving and studying breadfruit. Already a TTFF partner, the Breadfruit Institute is the most domain-comparable organization globally on breadfruit specifically, providing research backing and germplasm.
Broad incumbents
- Catholic Relief Services: Large international humanitarian agency operating agricultural development and food security programs globally. Already a TTFF partner under the P.R.O.F.I.T. project in Haiti, CRS represents the institutional-scale peer working in the same geographies and beneficiaries.
- World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF): International CGIAR research institution advancing agroforestry science and policy globally. Comparable as a much larger institutional player addressing the same agroforestry, food security, and climate resilience themes TTFF operates in at field level.
- World Food Program (WFP): UN agency addressing global hunger through emergency relief and school feeding programs. Already a TTFF institutional buyer in Haiti, WFP represents the institutional-scale peer and demand-side counterpart for TTFF's breadfruit flour production.
Emerging players
- Partners of the Americas: Nonprofit that links US and Latin American communities through volunteer-driven programs in agriculture, education, and food security. Comparable as a hemispheric food security and agriculture development organization working across the Americas.
- FoodPlant Solutions: Nonprofit focused on identifying food plants that can address malnutrition in developing countries. Comparable as a smaller-scale organization working at the intersection of food plant selection, nutrition education, and tropical developing-country agriculture.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Trees That Feed Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceTrees That Feed Foundation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Trees That Feed Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Trees That Feed Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Trees That Feed Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Trees That Feed Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Trees That Feed Foundation
What does Trees That Feed Foundation do?
Trees That Feed Foundation is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that plants food-bearing trees (primarily breadfruit), supports school feeding programs with breadfruit-based meals, and builds agribusiness capacity in food-insecure communities across the Caribbean, Central/South America, and Africa. The foundation distributes tree seedlings, provides training and processing equipment (including proprietary hybrid solar dryers), and supports local entrepreneurs across the breadfruit value chain.
Is Trees That Feed Foundation a public or private company?
Trees That Feed Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Trees That Feed Foundation founded?
Trees That Feed Foundation was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Trees That Feed Foundation based?
Trees That Feed Foundation is headquartered in Winnetka, United States, in the North America region.
How does Trees That Feed Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are Trees That Feed Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Trees for the Future, Plant With Purpose, One Tree Planted, Trees, Water & People and Breadfruit Institute (National Tropical Botanical Garden). Broad incumbents are Catholic Relief Services, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and World Food Program (WFP). Emerging players are Partners of the Americas and FoodPlant Solutions.
Does Trees That Feed Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Trees That Feed Foundation.
What industry is Trees That Feed Foundation in?
Trees That Feed Foundation's product category is Food Security and Agricultural Development (Nonprofit). Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAI, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems, with a secondary code of AFAMACAE, Tree Planting & Establishment Services (Manual/Mechanized). Its NAICS code is 115310 and its SIC code is 800.