California ReLeaf

What it reported doing in 2024

Education and OutreachThis program strengthens grassroots efforts by engaging the general public, community leaders, interested organizations, and urban and community forestry professionals. California ReLeafs programs are designed to educate Californians about the value and benefits of trees as well as sound tree care practices.FY2025 Education & Outreach Accomplishments: Urban Forest Leadership Training Launched in early 2022 with a CAL FIRE grant and USDA Forest Service support, the Urban Forest Leadership program met monthly via Zoom to develop talent, collegial support, and professional capacity in the next generation of urban forest leaders. Katie McCleary of Paper Wings Creative Consulting ? a nonprofit leadership expert and author of Bridge the Gap, a book about collaborative and effective communications? ? facilitated the class sessions based on a custom agenda developed by Katie and California ReLeaf. As intended from the beginning, the grant program was able to provide stipends to class participants who attended the class on their own time, which were distributed in mid FY2025. For background information on this successfully concluded program, please visit: https://californiareleaf.org/resources/uf-leadership-program/Urban and Community Forest Economic Impact Study Begun in late 2021, California ReLeaf oversaw the third UF Economic Impact study with funding from CAL FIRE, to show the fiscal effects of local urban forestry-related jobs on Californias economy. The research team included California Polytechnic State University, North Carolina State University, and Virginia Tech. The research was completed in mid FY2025 with the publication of the statewide and regional reports as well as statewide and regional Infographic Factsheets. For more info, please visit: https://californiareleaf.org/resources/ucf-economic-contribution- study/Communications Outreach: California ReLeaf does the majority of its outreach communications via online platforms: email lists, social media, webinars, and the website.E-Communications Circulation: 1,400+ Recipients. Regular Email notifications were sent covering a variety of topics such as: Urban Forest Grant Opportunities, Arbor Week Art Contests, California Arbor Week Grants, webinars on drought and trees, urban forest tree canopy tools, tree care jobs, Learn Over Lunch Zoom events.Website Educational resources are shared via the ReLeaf website. The website has improved accessibility for all audiences with the earlier adoption of the AccessiBe service which uses AI (Artificial Intelligence) to improve website accessibility with respect to languages and ADA compliance. More recently in July 2023 a more sophisticated multi-language online translation widget called G-Translate was added to the website. This feature now provides ReLeaf website information in 100+ languages.Social Media Circulation: 5,000+. ReLeaf is very active in using multiple social media platforms to share urban forest issues of interest to community groups, government employees, and green industry professionals. Social media has been very effective in helping ReLeaf reach new community audiences.Webinars To access the ever-expanding library on YouTube of on-demand education and info on grants, tree care, trees and drought, and more please visit : http://californiareleaf.org/resources/webinars/ California Arbor Week 2025 In March 2025 California ReLeaf worked with the US Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to organize the 2025 Arbor Week Press Conference in Woodland. Speakers include representatives from the local nonprofit the Woodland Tree Foundation, the City of Woodland, the Woodland Joint Unified School District, CAL FIRE, , Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric, Blue Shield of California, and California ReLeaf. The winning California Arbor Week Art Contest posters were unveiled, and a celebratory tree planting was led by Woodland Tree Foundation. Pleas

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 70.9%; rating input score 71
• Program expense ratio: 73.9%; rating input score 74
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 91.7%; rating input score 92; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 49.8%; rating input score 50; 29th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 4.4%; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.97; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.07; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 16.2%; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6% per year; rating input score 100; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.2% per year; rating input score 100; 26th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 9.8% per year; rating input score 100; 58th percentile among comparable filings