Trees Forever mission is to plant and care for Trees and the environment by empowering people, building community and promoting stewardship. Our philosophy has always been to involve people in projects that educate them in ways that ensure long term sustainability. For example, Trees planted in participating communities have a survival rate of 91%. Trees Forever achieves this through cutting-edge programs and innovative practices. Our trained and experienced staff assists and engages an average of 7,000 volunteers, community leaders and landowners across iowa and illinois with thousands of planting projects each year. We DO this by engaging volunteers in thorough planning processes that result in projects with the best chance for success, by providing friendly and knowledgeable assistance to community volunteers and leaders who are interested in planting and caring for Trees and natural areas, and by working with rural landowners who are committed to planting strips of land with native

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
84¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 6,700 volunteers and 89 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $374K a year · 10% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
84%
of spending
Looks good: 84% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$421K
to officers and key staff · 11% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 11% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 5.9 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $22K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.4M
34% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 34% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
14
of 14 voting members
Looks good: 14 of 14 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$3.7M
+4% vs prior year
Spent
$3.9M
To programs
84%
Net assets
$2.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$3.7M
FY2025▲ +4%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.4M
FY2021$4.6M
FY2022$5.0M
FY2023$3.2M
FY2024$3.5M
FY2025$3.7M
Expenses
$3.9M
FY2025▲ +7%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.0M
FY2021$3.2M
FY2022$3.5M
FY2023$3.8M
FY2024$3.6M
FY2025$3.9M
Net assets
$2.8M
FY2025▼ -8%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$697K
FY2021$2.1M
FY2022$3.8M
FY2023$3.1M
FY2024$3.0M
FY2025$2.8M

From the FY2025 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jan 1995.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

84 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 84% · $3.3M Management & general 12% · $483K Fundraising 3% · $132K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

21 people listed on the 990; $421K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$158,488Pt VII · Sec A
$132,925Pt VII · Sec A
$83,845Pt VII · Sec A
$45,880Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Michelle Beisker’s $158K as CEO is at the 68th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1851 $1–10M environment nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Michelle Beisker$158,488$103,921————
Dan Washburn$132,925$5,417————
Kiley Miller———$130,975$112,601—
Kiley Miller Resigned 72023——$117,271———
Shannon Ramsay————$56,486$105,042
Jerry Fannon Resigned 122023——$85,407———
Heather Croskrey$83,845—————
Jeff Jensen—$81,800$78,750$61,370——

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Trees Forever INC executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Planting and caring for trees and the environment by empowering people and building community.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $2.9M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Growing Community Forests

Trees forever helps communities grow and care for their community forests by providing grant funding with friendly and knowledgeable assistance to volunteers and leaders who are interested in planting and caring for trees and natural areas.

$2.7Mprogram expense
02

In 2025 trees forever educated individuals of all ages to care for trees: trees forever provides informative programs and hands-on learning experiences that build participants' knowledge of tree care, environmental stewardship, and conservation.

$114Kprogram expense
03

Collaborated with illinois communities to plant new trees, maintain existing ones, and safely remove those that pose risks. The project focuses on aligning tree?care activities with neighborhood priorities, ensuring that decisions reflect local needs and environmental goals.

$2Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$22K
Grants paid · 43 grants · $827K · 2020–2025
Unitemized GrantFY2025$342,952
City of PeoriaFY2025$25,000
The Village of Forest ParkFY2025$22,482
City of Waukegan Attn Treasury DepFY2025$15,000
City of GalesburgFY2025$15,000
Village of Park ForestFY2025$14,999
City of CollinsvilleFY2025$14,940
City of KewaneeFY2025$14,921
Muscatine Branching OutFY2025$11,050
Village of Orland ParkFY2025$10,325
Waverly Trees ForeverFY2025$8,500
City of Storm LakeFY2025$6,970
Waukegan Park DistrictFY2024$15,000
City of JacksonvilleFY2024$15,000
Muscatine Branching OutFY2024$11,050
Waverly Trees ForeverFY2024$8,500
City of MonticelloFY2023$16,500
See all 43 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.7M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.1M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$29K
Money outPt IX
$3.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.3M
Managementcol C$483K
Fundraisingcol D$132K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.9M
Total assetsLn 16$4.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.4M
PeoplePt VI, VII
21
listed · VII A
PaidVII A4
Voting boardVI 1a14
IndependentVI 1b14
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.0M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$80K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$29K
Other incomeLn 4–11$151
Gains on assetsLn 7$2K
Total revenueLn 12$3.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.9M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$657K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.2M
Total assetsLn 16$4.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.4M
Net assetsLn 32$2.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 589
VolunteersI 66,700
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.4M$1.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$657K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.2M$1.2M
Total assetsLn 16$4.1M$4.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.1M$1.4M
Net assetsLn 32$3.0M$2.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$159K$159K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$343K$343K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$450K$6K$380K$64K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.5M$1.5M
Payroll taxesLn 10$129K$101K$17K$12K
Accounting feesLn 11c$75K$42K$19K$14K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$15K$9K$4K$3K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$20K$14K$349$5K
Office expensesLn 13$649K$628K$8K$14K
OccupancyLn 16$57K$47K$7K$2K
TravelLn 17$81K$77K$4K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$65K$52K$6K$7K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$96K$61K$29K$6K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$309K$293K$13K$3K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.9M$3.3M$483K$132K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $3.7M$3.9M−$248K$2.8M 990 PDF
FY2024 $3.5M$3.6M−$108K$3.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $3.2M$3.8M−$607K$3.1M 990 PDF
FY2022 $5.0M$3.5M$1.5M$3.8M 990 PDF
FY2021 $4.6M$3.2M$1.4M$2.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.4M$2.0M$363K$697K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,658,423 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,842,998$1,505,702
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,671,197$2,123,448
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $12,860$29,122
I-11 Other revenue$151
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,527,055$3,658,423
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $682,008$502,139
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,796,010$2,037,587
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,157,397$1,366,730
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,635,415$3,906,456
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$108,360−$248,033
Part VI · Governance 14 of 14 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body14
VI-1b Independent voting members14
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $3,658,423 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$1,011,721
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$493,981
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$80,200
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,505,702
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,123,448$2,123,448
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $26,622$26,622
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $2,500$2,500
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $151$151
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,125,948 · Excluded from tax $26,773$3,658,423
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,906,456 across 14 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $159,187$159,187
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $342,952$342,952
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $6,366 · Management $380,275 · Fundraising $63,612$450,253
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,458,014$1,458,014
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $101,018 · Management $16,584 · Fundraising $11,718$129,320
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $41,938 · Management $19,263 · Fundraising $13,920$75,121
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $8,522 · Management $3,914 · Fundraising $2,829$15,265
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $14,395 · Management $349 · Fundraising $5,285$20,029
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $627,751 · Management $7,850 · Fundraising $13,549$649,150
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $47,359 · Management $7,400 · Fundraising $1,923$56,682
IX-17 TravelPrograms $77,121 · Fundraising $4,077$81,198
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $52,144 · Management $5,853 · Fundraising $6,671$64,668
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $60,779 · Management $28,743 · Fundraising $6,030$95,552
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $293,494 · Management $12,993 · Fundraising $2,578$309,065
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,291,040 · Management $483,224 · Fundraising $132,192$3,906,456
Part X · Balance sheet $4,196,279 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,425,097$1,910,522
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,401,815$369,535
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $26,071$25,987
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,248,105$1,232,754
X-11 Publicly traded securities$657,481
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,101,088$4,196,279
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $103,153$133,558
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $302,689$615,445
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $18,322$213,811
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $382,572$204,947
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,077,286$1,411,927
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $953,400$984,704
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,070,402$1,799,648
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,023,802$2,784,352
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,101,088$4,196,279
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,784,352 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,658,423
XI-2 Total expenses$3,906,456
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$248,033
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,023,802
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$8,583
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,784,352

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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