Arbor Day Foundation Announces First-Ever 2021 Environmental Equity Grant Winners

LINCOLN, Nebraska (November 18, 2021) – The Arbor Day Foundation today announced the recipients of the 2021 Environmental Equity Grant, a first of its kind.

The grant seeks to fund community-based projects that specifically address climate- and race-related inequities through local tree planting initiatives in communities of need across the United States.

“Trees do so much good for our communities beyond just beautifying our neighborhoods and that is really what the Environmental Equity Grant is seeking to address,” said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation, which helped select the eventual grant applicant winners. “Trees cool our cities, clean our air, promote wildlife and they even make our neighborhoods safer. Trees, parks and green spaces become gathering spots for the community where life happens and everyone deserves to enjoy the benefits of trees, regardless of social background.”

Applicants of the first-ever Environmental Equity Grant were asked to detail tree planting, tree distribution, and capacity building projects specifically emphasizing investment into areas of social inequity that lacked tree canopy.

Out of numerous organizations that applied, eight recipients were hand selected to receive funding. They include: Baltimore Tree Trust (Baltimore); Cumberland River Compact (Nashville, Tennessee); Forest ReLeaf of Missouri (St. Louis); Friends of Grand Rapids Parks (Grand Rapids, Michigan); TreePeople (Los Angeles); The Bronx is Blooming, Inc. (Bronx, New York); TreesUpstate (Greenville, South Carolina); Tucson Clean & Beautiful (Tucson, Arizona).

Each recipient will receive $100,000 in grant dollars over a two-year period, with projects expected to begin in the fall of 2021.

These grants are made possible through funding provided by Target. The collaboration is part of Target Forward, the retailer’s sustainability strategy that puts its business to use to accelerate opportunity and equity and positively impact both people and the planet.

For more information about the grant program, visit arborday.org.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters and valued partners. Since 1972, more than 400 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival.

As one of the world's largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees. More information is available at arborday.org.