The secret to getting free trees is to become a TreePhilly community partner.
What is a community partner?
A community partner hosts a tree giveaway event in their neighborhood. They can give out 25 to 100 trees in fall or spring. A community partner must be a not-for-profit group. If you want free trees in your community, find a local group and talk to them about becoming a community partner. Groups could be:
- A faith-based institution
- A CDC (community development corporation)
- A civic association
- A business, sponsored by a non-profit group
- A Tree Tenders group
- A coalition of several groups
How does a group become a community partner?
Community groups must apply to the Community Yard Tree Giveaway Grant to get trees. The application opens in August and February. Fill out an application and TreePhilly will decide if your group is a good fit that season. The application asks questions like:
- Who is your community?
- What kinds of yards does your neighborhood have?
- How many trees do you want to give away?
- How many volunteers do you have?
What does a community partner do?
Community partners host an event to give away trees. They advertise the event and register community members to help them get trees. TreePhilly supports each community partner by providing FREE trees, mulch, and education at the event. TreePhilly also helps community partners do their best with training and support. After the event, when all paperwork is turned in, we award the community partner between $200 and $500.
So, are these trees really free?
Yes, the trees are free! BUT, residents must plant trees on private property in the City of Philadelphia. Do NOT plant our trees in the sidewalk or a container. Trees will not survive the stress of that planting location.
I want you to work with my group. How do I get TreePhilly to pick my application?
We pick groups based on strong applications and what our urban forest needs. Good applicants have:
- Strong community ties
- Staff people or committed volunteers
- Space: an event space with bathrooms
- Rain date plan
We also pick community partners in neighborhoods that need trees the most. Our goal is to get every single neighborhood in Philadelphia to 30% tree cover. Today, tree cover in Philadelphia ranges from 2.6% to 48% in different neighborhoods. That means we have to do more work in neighborhoods that have fewer trees. We also have to spend less energy in neighborhoods that have more trees. TreePhilly is growing a Philadelphia where all residents have equal access to trees. Today, that is not the case. Tomorrow, it could be.
We encourage applications from the following neighborhoods:
Dickinson Narrows, Fairhill, Harrowgate, Feltonville, Fern Rock, Frankford, Gray’s Ferry, Haddington, Cobbs Creek, Hunting Park, Logan, Lower Moyamensing, Mantua, Millcreek, Ogontz, Olney, Oxford Circle, Point Breeze, Sharswood, Swampoodle, Poplar, Stanton, Strawberry Mansion, and Nicetown/Tioga.
