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The Exploding Organization:Managing Rapid Growth in an Urban Forestry Nonprofit
A Case Study from Austin, TX
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Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
Edwards PlateauOak-Juniper Woodland
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
• Community Tree Plantings
• Free Tree Giveaways• Partnership with the
City of Austin
…. For 20 years
• Budget <$180,000• 1-2 staff
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
Great!• Nearly 75,000 street trees in 20
years• Everyone was having a good
time doing what they liked • Long history created valued
place for TreeFolks in Austin’s cultural landscape – and bolstered support for urban forestry municipal efforts
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
Great!• Nearly 75,000 street trees in 20
years• Everyone was having a good
time doing what they liked • Long history created valued
place for TreeFolks in Austin’s cultural landscape – and bolstered support for urban forestry municipal efforts
But!• Reliance on one community partner• Lack of diversity in funding stream• Lack of branding created confusion on
what TreeFolks really was. City Agency? Landscaping Company? What?
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
Sept 13, 2011 Oct 25, 2016
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
High Winds + Drought + Weakened Trees
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
Bastrop County Complex FireImage Courtesy Austin American Statesman
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
Bastrop Reforestation Program 2.2 million trees in 5
years 2012-2016 500 landowners 4,000 acres Overplanting to mimic
natural forest regeneration and eventual density
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
• Many partners at the table to provide technical feedback, clear policy role, and funding
Bastrop CountyTexas A&M Forest Service
Arbor Day FoundationAmerican Forests
Texas Parks & WildlifeLady Bird Johnson Wildflower
CenterAmerican YouthWorks
Lost Pines Recovery TeamAlcoa Foundation
Apache FoundationH-E-B
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
• Many partners at the table to provide technical feedback, clear policy role, and funding
• Nonprofit role became clear – implementation, community engagement and education
• TreeFolks became the bridge between public resources and private land/residents
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
• More than doubled budget and staffing overnight
• Added only one program FTE + temp in short term – high focus on flawless program delivery. Big success! High survival %
• Little investment in messaging or development
• Inherent end date to program
Presented to ACTrees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
Time for some soul-searching, also known as strategic planning.
• Asked the hard and wonderful questions – who do we want to be?• Answers:• Broader in reach• Greater in impact• SUSTAINABLE
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
How do you make this sustainable?
1989 2010 2015 2017$0
$400,000
$800,000
$1,200,000
$1,600,000
$2,000,000
0
5
10
15
20Budget # Staff
?
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
Nonprofit Sustainability
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
Image Credit: Steve Zimmerman
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
• Nonprofits face a unique set of circumstances• An over-reliance on fee-for-service can cause a nonprofit to fail the “exempt
purpose test” and endanger 501(c)3 status
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
The goal of financial sustainability for nonprofits is to maintain or expand services within the organization while developing resilience to occasional economic shocks in the short term (e.g., short-term loss of program funds, monthly variability in donations)
-- L.M. Sontag-Padilla et al. 2012. Financial Sustainability for Nonprofit Organizations.RAND Report.
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
Sustainability strategy • Leverage short-term emergency funding by expanding capacity in non-program
areas• Ensure percentages of program funding – EVERY program - are dedicated to
support staff• Diversify funding: you MUST balance fee-for-service with private giving,
grantwriting, external partnerships• Brand awareness• Realistic expectations for what long-term means in nonprofit
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
Memorial Day Weekend Floods 2015
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
Total Affected Area:• 61 miles of river• 1200 parcels/ landowners• 4800 acres
• Total trees: 600,000 in 3 years
Memorial Day Weekend Floods 2015
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
Blanco River Reforestation Program: Trees for the Blanco
Blanco River Reforestation Program: Trees for the Blanco
Modeled after Bastrop program Provides:
• Trees• Planting services• On-site consultations• Education• Need to convince
landowners to steward riparian land (reduce mowing!)
Presented to ACTrees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
• Reached participation target in 2 months rather than 2 years
• Raised significant private and foundation support quickly
• Inclusive stakeholder group model helped with resources and significantly increased service quality to recipients
Presented to Alliance for Community Trees Day at Partners in Community Forestry 2016
• Understand your organization’s ecological niche• Know what your programs are worth and don’t be afraid to
ask for it – including overhead• Diversify funding and partners – but diversify board and
staff, too• Hire the best people and pay them a living wage
– then don’t micromanage• Learn from other sectors