Program 1 · 22.1% of program spending $15.8M
Arbor day farm - this national historic landmark is home to lied lodge, innovative conservation demonstrations, and the arbor day farm tree adventure.
The 990 read · EIN 23-7169265 · NE · Fiscal year FY ending Jun 2025
National Arbor Day Foundation
National Arbor Day Foundation: CEO salary, finances and where donations go
In its own words
“The purpose of the corporation shall be to engage in educational and charitable activities including offically promoting the annual observance of arbor day, inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees, stimulating a world-wide program of tree and horticultural planting and care, advancing nature education…”
Data only Figures straight from the filing, screened by our rules. Not yet reviewed in depth by a CPA.
Methodology by Amir Arani, CPA, CA · Updated
- Top pay
- $485K Dan Lambe, 0.5% of spending
- Revenue
- $111.9M 76.6% from donations and grants
- Spent
- $104.5M 68.4% on programs, as reported
- Net assets
- $109.2M end of FY ending Jun 2025
- Savings
- 12.5 months of spending, net assets ÷ spending
- People
- 657 employees, 1 volunteers
01 · Red flags
No red flags in its latest filing.
We screen every filing against twelve rules. A flag is a prompt for a closer look, not a finding of wrongdoing.
No reported asset diversions, no insider transactions, no fundraisers keeping most of the money, and the governance policies we check for are in place.
02 · Where $1 goes · FY ending Jun 2025
Of each dollar it spent, 68.4¢ went to programs, as reported.
The split the charity filed.
Moves the $4.8M of joint mail and ad costs booked as programs into fundraising.
68.4¢
Programs, $71.5M
19.9¢
Fundraising, $20.8M
11.6¢
Admin, $12.2M
63.8¢
Programs, $66.7M
24.5¢
Fundraising, $25.6M
11.6¢
Admin, $12.2M
Cost to raise $1
24¢
as reported
30¢
counting the shared mail
For each dollar donated, National Arbor Day Foundation spent 24¢ on fundraising, or about 30¢ counting joint costs.
Fundraising ÷ $85.6M contributions · Form 990 Parts VIII, IX03 · What it does
What it told the IRS it spent on.
The charity's own description of its largest programs, with what each cost.
Program 2 · 2.7% of program spending $1.9M
Tree city USA - the tree city USA program, since 1976, has strengthened and encouraged communities to develop and maintain successful community forestry programs. The strong partnership between the usda forest service's urban and community forestry (usfs) program, the national association of state foresters (nasf), and the arbor day foundation allows the organizations to leverage resources and expertise for the betterment of community forests throughout the country.
Program 3 · 2.5% of program spending $1.8M
Arbor day/youth education - the foundation promotes arbor day, America's oldest environmental holiday, and offers nature education programs to reconnect children with nature to inspire the next generation of tree planters and environmental stewards.
Program 4 · 2.2% of program spending $1.6M
Conference programs
Program 5 · 0.1% of program spending $86K
Rain forest rescue - various activities that support local partners and communities in their efforts to protect, sustain, and restore tropical rain forests.
04 · The savings
Net assets: $28.9M to $109.2M in 11 years.
Net assets at each fiscal year end, 2014 to 2025.
29
30
31
35
37
38
51
67
81
93
101
109
05 · Who gets paid
The 8 highest-paid people.
Reportable pay in FY ending Jun 2025, from the charity and related organizations.
Dan Lambe
Chief Executive Officer
$484,641
Katie Loos
President
$284,550
Pete Davis
Managing Director of Catalytic Investments
$261,011
Paul Cooper
Chief Operating Officer
$225,822
Nicole Rasmussen
Chief Financial Officer
$221,870
Yinka Akinyemi
VP Human Resources
$211,619
Daniel Morrow
VP Programs and Partnerships
$203,193
Katrina Wells
VP Marketing & Communications
$201,153
Largest outside contractors
| Contractor | Service | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Rr Donnelley | Lettershop | $3,942,472 |
| Planit Geo Inc | Tree canopy data | $3,520,000 |
| Fedex | Shipping services | $1,541,603 |
| Michigan Dept of Natural Resources | Tree planting, reforestation | $1,064,463 |
| Stonebrook Exterior | Construction | $1,037,956 |
06 · Questions
The questions people ask about the National Arbor Day Foundation.
Short, sourced answers. Each one stands on its own.
How much does the National Arbor Day Foundation CEO make?
Dan Lambe, Chief Executive Officer, received $484,641 in reportable compensation in FY ending Jun 2025, 0.5% of National Arbor Day Foundation's $104.5M in spending.
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part VIIWhat percentage of National Arbor Day Foundation donations go to programs?
National Arbor Day Foundation reported 68.4% of FY ending Jun 2025 spending as programs, 19.9% as fundraising and 11.6% as management. That includes $4.8M of joint mail and ad costs counted as programs; without them, programs were 63.8%.
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part IXHow much money does National Arbor Day Foundation have?
Net assets were $109.2M at the end of FY ending Jun 2025, about 12.5 months of spending.
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part XDoes National Arbor Day Foundation have any red flags in its filing?
Its latest Form 990 triggered none of our twelve screening rules, which cover reported asset diversions, insider transactions, fundraiser costs, governance policies and spending patterns.
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025)07 · Sources and citing
Every number, traced.
- National Arbor Day Foundation Form 990, FY ending Jun 2025 (IRS e-file)
- National Arbor Day Foundation Form 990 history (ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer)
Cite this page
Amir Arani, “National Arbor Day Foundation: CEO salary, finances and where your dollar goes,” Charity Math, updated 2026-11-07. https://charitymath.com/charities/national-arbor-day-foundation/