future rees future - trees.org with the grameen foundation, we adapted their taroworks monitoring...

FUTURE FUTURE

REESFUTURE

for the

2015 Measuring OpportunitiesPlan of Action

PLant Trees. Change LIVES.2015 Plan of Action Measuring Opportunities2 | | 3

For over a quarter of a century, Trees for the Future has been sharing the transformative power of trees with farmers and communities in developing countries around the globe. The numbers speak clearly to our accomplishments – over 113 million trees planted with tens of thousands of farmers in over two dozen countries since 1989.

Everywhere we go, we see time and again, that there is no shortage of farmers and families who are looking for a solution to their fundamental problem: being stuck in a cycle of poverty driven by harmful land use practices, a diminishing natural resource base, and an intense pressure to provide for their families.

Our farmers almost all work on less than two hectares (4.95 acres) of land and struggle to meet basic needs of their families. They have few resources to invest back into the land, and fewer still to deal with unexpected crises or for “luxuries” like health care and education. Their plight today forces them to farm in ways that limit their opportunities tomorrow.

to improve livelihoodsof impoverished farmers

by revitalizingdegraded lands.

mission is Our

They are representative of the depth and width of poverty that beset smallholder farmers in Africa. Today we are working in seven countries in East and West Africa, where the statistics show just how dire the situation is:

• in Kenya, over 43% of the population lives on less than US$1.25 a day;• in Senegal, 2.8 million people are undernourished;• throughout sub-Saharan Africa 65% of soils are degraded, leading to

losses estimated at nearly US$68 billion dollars.

We see also the integral role that trees play in breaking smallholder farmers out of the poverty trap. Trees provide them with a long-lasting and self-replenishing source of resources, from essential nutrients for other crops to forage for animals tofirewoodfortheirfamilies.Mostimportantly,theyaretheanchortoanentirelynew way of farming for our participants — the Forest Garden System — designed to revitalize degraded lands for increased diversity and productivity far into the future.

One tree, one farmer, and one Forest Garden System at a time: together with you, our supporters, we are achieving our vision for the future: to build a world where farmers leave a legacy of opportunity through sustainable practices and productive lands for future generations.

A banner Year in Social MediaOur engagement and reach is growing as we share stories and pictures from the field, while our presence is expanding as we add new channels. In November, we hit 50,000 followers on Facebook, and in December we launched our Instagram. On the pages that follow are some of our most popular Facebook posts from 2014. If you haven’t liked, followed, joined, pinned, or subscribed to us yet, please do. We’re working hard to share even more interesting content in 2015, and we wouldn’t want you to miss it. #TreesForTheFuture #PlantTrees #ChangeLives

/TreesfortheFuture /company/trees-for-the-future@treesftf /treesftf@treesftf

Board of DirectorsDr.JohnMoore(Chairman),ProfessorEmeritus,UniversityofMarylandDr.PeterFalk(ViceChairman),DefenseThreatReductionAgencyDinah Bengur, The World BankMarkBrown,StrayerUniversityAnneCoffey,Attorney

MichaelGumbley,charity:waterShannonHawkins,FBRCapitalMarketsJohn Leary, Trees for the FutureKellyLewis,RuppertNurseriesHumphreyMensah,CalvertFoundation

JohnMontgomery,CapitalFiduciaryAdvisorsLLCLarrySeruma,NileCapitalManagementLLCLindaSobelKatz,CommunicationsConsultantFranz Stuppard, HaitiWaterBedru Sultan, Greener Ethiopia

Advisory CouncilDr.JohnMunsell,VirginiaTechAaronGreco,TreeRingChristopherKral,HGSTSeanGriffin,GeospacialScientistCarolineMullen,IconixBrandGroup

Front Cover ChildrenfromthevillageofKoumbidiaSocelookonasYoroCamara,ournewesttechnicianinSenegal,practicescollectingdatainthefieldthroughTaroWorksonatabletBack CoverCommunitymemberscarrymaterialsandseedlingstotheplanting site in the Gersale Watershed of Ethiopia

REESFUTURE

for the


2014 Through the years, we have planted trees wherever they have been needed — in watersheds, in deforested and arid lands, along eroded hillsides, in schoolyards, and in the gardens and farmlands of farmers. However, we provide more than just seeds and nursery materials — we train farmers on advanced farming techniques, support groups of farmers to help minimize individual risks of adopting new technologies, and monitor what we do to ensure maximum impact.

2014 was a year of exciting change for the organization. While we successfully continued our many traditional tree planting activities, we also invested heavily in pulling together our experiences andexpertiseinordertorefineourholisticForestGardenProgram.Theyearalsosawusleaveouractivities in a number of countries in good hands as we focused our attention on our new four-yearForestGardenProjects.Throughthese,wewillbeabletosupportfarmers,moredeeplyandfor more time than before, as we revitalize degraded lands and improve livelihood opportunities.

RobustMeasurementWiththegeneroussupportofThePalmerFoundation,TreesfortheFuturemadeincrediblestridesin2014atimprovingourmonitoringandevaluationprocesses.InconjunctionwithsystematizingourForestGardenProgram,wealsodevelopedarobustsetofindicatorsbasedonsitevisitsand participant surveys. Working with the Grameen Foundation, we adapted their TaroWorks monitoring app for our programs and began the rollout to East Africa in April. This new app-based trackingsystemputssmartphonesortabletsintothehandsofallofourtechnicians.Itwillallowustoreplaceoldpaper-andExcel-basedprocessesformoreefficientandtimelyimpactevaluationbyour dispersed team.

TransformingOurProgramsTheYearinReview

17,112,017

28,832The Year in

Numbers

15 In2014,weworkedwithfarmersin15 countries on three continents, supporting them with tree planting and assistance for the establishment Forest Garden Systems

We planted over 17 million trees in 2014, bringing our lifetime total to 113.5 million treesOur work is most effective when

we partner with groups of farmers, harnessing their expertise, passion,

and collective enthusiasm

Farmers are the lifeblood of our work - it is their effort, their time, andtheirlandthatmakeForestGardenSystemsareality.In2014,

we provided training and materials to over 28,000 farmers, indirectly benefitting154,000men,women,andchildren

FAMILIES

TREES

ProjectsConvertedIn2014,weundertooktheimportantprocessofevaluatingourportfolioofworkinlightofournewForestGardenProgram.Asthenewprograminvolvesworkingwithlargergroupsoffarmersfor longer periods of time, we wanted to ensure that our future project portfolio maximized our impact. We decided to focus on the countries where we could be the most effective.

However, this meant that of the 15 countries we worked in last year, we had to transition out ofeight.Inthissense,ithasbeenabittersweetyear;sayinggoodbyetomanypeople,bothcolleaguesandbeneficiaries,withwhomwehavegrownwiththroughthedecades.However,weare thankful for the all the families that have invited us into their homes and the incredible changes wehavebeenabletoachievetogether.Weareexcitedtoseehowourfar-flungfamilymemberscontinue to innovate in the future.

Sincemuchofourpastworkaddressedspecificneedsthatourfarmersandcommunitiesidentified—liketheneedforfirewoodorsoilimprovement—manyofourfarmersalreadyhavespecificcomponents in place, like living fences, alley cropping, or woodlots. However, few have all of the components they need for a successful Forest Garden System. We took stock of the work our farmerparticipantshadalreadydoneandidentifiedtheneedsandgapsthatexist.

With training and support provided by our technicians and country coordinators, we are helping our farmers work together and cooperate with each other as they design and implement holistic plansforrestorativefarms.As2014ended,13projectsitesinfivecountrieshadbeensuccessfullyconvertedtoForestGardenProjects,accountingforover3,500farmers.

InHaiti,veteranCountryCoordinatorTimote Georges now leads the Smallholder Farmers Alliance, which counts numerous Trees for the Future farmer group alumni among its members

In Good hands...

InBrazil,wehelpedfounderFernandaPeixotogrowthelocalorganization,Arvores Parao Futuro, for a number of years; it recently received officialNGOrecognitionfromthegovernment, paving the way for their continued work on tree planting projects far into the future

InHonduras,hundredsoffarmingfamilies that we have supported for years will now have a new market for their products since our long-serving RegionalDirector,JoshBogart,startedthe High Mountain Coffee Company

651communities Countries

In Ethiopia, the nursery manager at Gocha Nursery surveys the results of his hard work. These seedlings will soon be in the ground in forest gardens around the area! Planting trees, changing lives — that’s what we do. Posted February 18, 2014 at 11:43am

24,920 people reached 249 34

With Earth Day behind us, let’s get back out into the field. These mango seedlings are growing fast in the Ethiopian sun; very soon the folks at Gocha Nursery will be working with local farmers to integrate them into forest gardens. They’re part of a package of trees that will help to transform the lives of the people who plant them. Posted April 24, 2014 at 2:31pm



2014 FinancialsIn2014,weenhancedourfinancialoversightcapacitybyhiringanewfinanceofficerandstrengtheningtheFinanceCommitteeofourBoardofDirectors.Undertheirguidance,wemadegreat strides in putting processes in place that will enable us to translate investments in our organizationintomaximumbenefitsforourprogrambeneficiaries.

Areviewofourunauditedfinancialperformanceshowsthattheorganizationexperienceda13%year over year increase in revenue in 2014. Our ability to show the effectiveness and impact of our ForestGardenProgramledtoseveralgrantsbeingawardedforourprojectsindifferentcountriesby foundations, as well as increased interest from corporations and individual donors.

At the same time, our overall expenses also increased. The 19% growth included a 49% increase in program costs, owing to a heavy investment in developing and rolling out our innovative, technology-basedfieldmonitoringandevaluationprocesses.Wealsoincreasedourinvestmentinour staff, hiring new employees and building capacity for existing ones.

LedbyourFinanceCommittee,weinvestedinbetterunderstandingourexpenses,cuttingunnecessary ones and properly allocating what remained. Although we ended 2014 with a fundraising shortfall of $80,000, we reduced our overhead rate to 23% of total expenses. We have faiththatourimprovedefficiencywillhelpencouragemorepeopletosupportourworkandallowus close the budget gap in 2015.

2015 ImplementandMonitorTheYearAheadWe have long said that Trees for the Future plants trees and changes lives. For years we have tracked how many trees we have planted – in fact by the end of 2014, we had planted over 113.5 million. While we continue to track trees, we are excited to begin collecting and analyzing data from our newly developed, program-wide indicators of success. These will be applied to each project, giving us a clearer picture of how many lives we change and how much they are changing.

In2015,datawillbegintocomefromnearly4,000farmersparticipatinginourfirst14ForestGardenProjects.ThesefarmersaredesigningandestablishingForestGardenSystemsonfarmsthat average between one to two acres in size. Together, they will cover approximately 4,500 acresoflandinfivecountries.Ourhousehold-levelimpacts–consistingofindirectbeneficiariesfromchildrentoelders–willtouchover24,000people,providingthemwithdiversifiedsourcesofnutritious foods and greater economic opportunities.

We launched one new project in Senegal this year and are actively assessing future project sites inallfivecountries.WearealsomobilizingfundingandstaffingtorestartactivitiesinMaliinthenear future, where Forest Garden Systems can be particularly effective in addressing the intimately connectedproblemsoflanddegradation,desertification,andpoverty.

Total Funding and Support, 2013–2014 Total Expenditures, 2013–2014

Phases to A FOREST GardenTrees for the Future is implementing a four-year model, with a phased approach, to help farmers establish Forest Garden Systems in our current countries. Just as each phase on the farm depends on the success of the previous phase, we have designed our corresponding training program to conclude with advanced agricultural techniques and planning activities to ensure long-term sustainability as the project closes.

Wefindgroupsoffarmers who, after years of intense monoculture farming, suffer from decreasing yields on degraded lands largely devoid of trees

An important part of the “revitalization” phase is for

farmers to learn how to successfully raise seedlings ofnitrogen-fixingtreesin

their own nurseries

Established trees rebuild soil health, allowing farmers to transition

intothe“diversification”phase, where numerous

new food crops and fruit trees are integrated into

the farm

With a wide variety of crops complementing trees, we help farmers explore market opportunities and plan to obtain inputs independently for the long-term sustainability of positive impacts

This photo shows the end result of all the hard work you see in the photos we post: a forest garden, this one in Kenya. You can see layers of plants and trees, each part of a system designed to change the land and lift people out of poverty. In just five years, a farmer can go from bare soil to a rich mix of plants and trees that can feed a family and provide a basic income.Posted May 25, 2014 at 2:10pm14,920 people reached 638 97

In Senegal, a mother stands with her young child by their community's tree nursery. These tiny trees will soon grow tall in a forest garden, and their fruits, nuts and leaves will help this young person grow up strong and healthy. Posted June 7, 2014 at 9:47am

25,848 people reached 1,504 175

Mobilization Revitalization

Graduation Diversification

2013 2014

Other Support

Foundation Grants

Individual Donations

Corporate Partners

$1,562,053

$1,765,099

$250,000

$500,000

$750,000

$1,000,000

$1,250,000

$1,500,000

$1,750,000

$1,900,000

2013 2014

Fundraising

General & Administrative

Programs

$1,552,441

$1,844,835

$250,000

$500,000

$750,000

$1,000,000

$1,250,000

$1,500,000

$1,750,000

$1,900,000


Building a Forest Garden SystemDesigned to be implemented over four years, our Forest Garden Programstartsbyidentifyingtheneeds and existing assets of our farmers. We aim to help them establish a Forest Garden System that can restore their soils and move them beyond self-sustenance. Inthemostdegradedplotswework on, this begins with planting fast-growing,nitrogen-fixingtrees utilizing various agroforestry techniques to rebuild the health and productivity of soils.

We train farmers on numerous skills, including establishing nurseries, raising seedlings, planting living fences and alleys, setting up windbreaks, composting, applying green manure, and using integrated pest management techniques.

Together, these activities form our “revitalization” phase, which, in addition to restoring soil health, willalsoprotectfieldsfromerosion,

grazing animals, and further degradation. As farmers successfully complete this phase, they transitiontothe“diversification”phase,wheretheyplantawidervarietyoffoodandmarketableproducts to improve their economic situation and resilience to external shocks.

By diversifying, farmers move away from simple monocultures. They add trees that provide fruit for saleandconsumption,andforageforlivestock.Mostofourfarmerslearntointercropvegetablesin the cool understory of faster-growing trees, ultimately diversifying not only the sources of production, but also the timing of it.

This diversity forms the foundation of different “tiers” on their farms, which also essentially extends theirfarmsvertically.Inadditiontovegetablesandgroundcropsthatgrowinthealleysbetweentrees, vines can climb tree trunks and hardwoods grow quickly in height, allowing them to become the tallest tier on the farm. WespendourlastyearwithourfarmersensuringthattheycansustainthebenefitsoftheirForestGarden System, with minimal inputs, well into the future. We assist farmers with activities that promote long-term perspectives and success, including training on pruning, hardwood nurseries, and group planning skills for inputs and marketing.

MonitoringandEvaluationIn2015,ourtechniciansacrossAfricawillbespendingasignificantamountoftheirtimeimplementing our new, robust monitoring and evaluation system. As part of our monitoring, we are collecting farm and tree data for every participant as well as conducting household level surveyswitharandomizedsampleofourbeneficiaries.Theresultswillfeedintotheevaluationofourprogram,measuredagainstourthreedefinedForestGardenProgramoutcomes.Thisyearalone, Trees for the Future will conduct nearly 10,000 site visits.

Working TogetherFarmersfacedwithdecreasingyear-on-yearyieldsunderstandfirsthandhowtenuoustheirsituation is. The pitfalls of continuing to farm the same way are clear, but the risks associated with changing — losing yields that they cannot afford to lose, failing at planting species they have not worked with before — are undeniably large.

Helping farmers to overcome the obstacle of inherent risk is fundamental to how our programs aredesigned.Throughtheyears,wehaveseenhowbeneficialitisforfarmerstoworktogether.Creatingastronggroupdynamicwherefarmersbecomepeers—thatsupport,learnfrom,andhelpeachotherthroughchallenges—distributesriskacrossthegroup.Italsofacilitateswideradoptionofthemostsuccessfullocalpractices.Morethanthesepracticalbenefitsthough,groupsof farmers that implement new techniques together help farmers feel more comfortable taking on new risk, because they know they are not doing so alone.

Wearecontinuingtorefineandimplementourgrouptrainingprograms.Projectshave,onaverage, one volunteer lead farmer for every 15 farmer participants. The lead farmer serves as the firstpointofcontactforeachparticipant,visitingfarms,offeringadvice,andconnectingfarmerstoresourcestheymightneed.In2015,weanticipateworkingwithatleast252farmergroups,providing at least four trainings through the year to each group. The “class time” is useful for not only sharing effective techniques and new skills, but also for fostering cooperation among farmers and building a stronger peer support network.

Continuing our recent focus on Cameroon, these primary school students in the village of Fujua are planting trees along a stream near their school. The new trees will protect the stream from erosion, and their shade helps to reduce water loss through evaporation. Plus, it’ll be a great place for the kids to cool off on a hot tropical day.Posted June 10, 2014 at 9:49am19,096 people reached 940 112

Once trees have grown to a sufficient size in a nursery, it’s time to transplant them to the fields. In this photo, a lead farmer in one of our projects in Burundi carries a seedling to its new home. Farmers who work with us receive extensive training, learning techniques to share with others in their communities. Each lead farmer becomes a hub for spreading the word about the power of forest gardens to transform the land — and people’s lives. Posted June 18, 2014 at 11:15am16,904 people reached 633 70

Outcome 1: Food Security

Akeybenefittodiversifyingthe crops that farmers can plant successfully is the ability to alleviate food insecurity at the household level. To track this, we are monitoring the number of food crops planted as well as surveying families to determine the impacts of greater on-farm food availability on their lives.

Outcome 2: Economic Resiliency

Households with a more diverse set of marketable crops are less susceptible to market shocks in any one crop. We will measure the number of different crops farmers have available that they can sell during the year. We will also administer household-level surveys to measure positive changes in livelihoods.

Outcome 3: Landscape Productivity

There are clearly positive benefitstolandproductivityfrom the incorporation of trees onto farms. By tracking and measuring the diversity and density of trees on farms, we can begin to determine theextentofthesebenefitsand understand how our long-term planning is impacting the environment at a landscape level.

MonitoringandEvaluation:KeyProgramOutcomes

Photos:fieldstaffinKenyaaretrainedonnewmobilemonitoringtechnologyanddatacollectionmethods.

Malikusedtofarmfieldcropslikepeanutsandmaize. All he had to show for decades of hard work though, was barren land with dying soils. Like millions of other subsistence farmers, he was never able to produce enough to feed his family for the year, much less put anything into savings. Driven by hunger, he used to raid the local forest for wood and fruit, gathering anythinghecouldeatorsell.Malikwouldalsosearch for work in markets across Senegal, attempting to earn tips by pushing wheel-barrows and carrying boxes.

Three years after starting to work with Trees for theFuture,MalikhasaForestGardenSystemwith 2,463 trees. They yield something of value to harvest, eat, trade or sell every day of the year. With the 13 new species growing in his fields,hegeneratedover$1,200in2014–fivetimesmorethanwhatmaizeandpeanutfarmers earn from the same amount of land. Today,Malikdoesnotneedtoleavehisvillageto work. He is no longer away from his family for weeks or months at a time. His family, includingfivechildren,iswell-fedandMalikisnow starting to save money — a dream he did not think was possible to realize in the village of his birth.

...Meet Malik

Photoscourtesyoftentree.

CurrentForestGardenProgramSitesCurrentProgramCountries

Mali

Senegal

Cameroon

Ethiopia

UgandaKenya

Tanzania

LegacyReforestationSitesFutureForestGardenProgramSites


Mount BAMBOUTOS - CAMEROONTheincrediblybiodiverseMountBamboutosWatershedishome to numerous critically endangered species, including theCrossRiverGorilla.However,thisecosystemisunderintense pressure from impoverished communities with few livelihood opportunities. Expansion of subsistence agriculture, unsustainable harvesting of forest resources, and overgrazing are causing fragmentation of crucial habitats and deforestation.

Inresponse,weareworkingwithfarmersfrom40communitiesto establish Forest Garden Systems on over 300 acres of land where they can produce needed crops and marketable products. The positive effects are already apparent. InSeptember2014,theGovernmentofCameroondesignatedtheTofalaHillWildlife Sanctuary, in the heart of the watershed, as a fully protected wildlife sanctuary – in part because adjacent communities have shown that they have viable livelihood opportunities that reduce pressure on the forests and watersheds in the area.

Project Sites, 2015 & FUTURE

All smiles in Konso, Ethiopia! If one tree can bring so much happiness, imagine a whole forest garden.Posted August 13, 2014 at 8:30am


These school children spent a day learning about the importance of planting and caring for trees. It’s vital to teach children about sustainability and the environment from a young age!Posted September 16, 2014 at 10:30am


Longido, in the Arusha province of northern Tanzania, suffers from extended droughts, high demand for wood for construction and fuel use, and a lack of farming tradition amongstMaasaicommunities.Theseconditions have resulted in deforestation and heavy pressures on natural resources, including available water.

TheMaasaihavebeennomadicpastoralistsforcenturies,butmanyhavebeen forced recently to turn to permanent agriculture for sustenance as water scarcity destroys their traditional livelihood. We count many of these new farmers among our participants in Longido, and we are working with them to grow hundreds of thousands of trees that will ease water demands, provide fuelwood, and produce forage for their animals. With Forest Garden Systems in place, the 400 farmers we are working with in Longido will build not only more sustainable livelihoods, but greater resilience to the devastating effects of climate change.

Long

ido

- tan

zani

a

InOctober2014weheldatrainingsessionwithalargefarmergroupatourIkinuProject,justnorthofNairobi.Aspartofthefirstyearofour project, we held a Design training for all of our farmers there. The session introduced the fundamental ideas behind the Forest Garden System and helped them envision their farms in the future by getting practical experience on how to map and plan a plot of land.

During the session, the 40 farmers in attendance were split into subgroups. Each was led by a Trees for the Future technician. Using the host farmer’s plot as a sample, they walked the farm and worked together to create maps of the plots on paper. Farmers shared their most common concerns and decided on which crops and products wouldprovidethegreatestbenefits.Techniciansfacilitatedthediscussions by suggesting placement of trees, potential companion planting for crops, and alternative agroforestry technologies for better soil health. At the end of the session, each sub-group presented their maps, showing their vision for how a Forest Garden System would contributetotheirself-sufficiencyoverthenextfouryears.

IKINU - KENYA


PaulinoDamianogrewupinatownontheslopesofMountKenya in East Africa. An engineer by trade, he developed an interest in tree planting and agroforestry after witnessing how deforestation, intensive agriculture, and grazing practices were destroyingthebeautyandproductivityofhishomeland.In2007,PaulinojoinedourLongDistanceAgroforestryTrainingProgramandcompletedhiscertificatethatyear.Afterwards,hefoundedasmall organization working with local youth, starting reforestation projectsinMountKenya’sdegradedforests.CollaboratingwiththeMinistriesofAgricultureandForestryhearrangedandoversawtheplanting of tens of thousands of trees.

In2009,PaulinobecameourCountryCoordinatorinKenya,managing our training and tree planting projects there. With the help of dedicated technicians, he has been shepherding our Kenya program ever since, building partnerships, training farmers, and expanding our tree planting activities across the country. Morerecently,hehasbeenintegralinmakingourForestGardenProgramareality.Paulino’sworkanddedicationarerepresentativeofallofourfieldstaff–peoplewhoarepassionatelydevotedtomaking a difference in their countries and creating a better future for their own compatriots.

Paulino - Kenya

LegacyReforestationDegradation of communal and poorly protected forests at the landscape level is a critical threat to the livelihoods of communities throughout Africa and the health of our planet. Deforestation, overgrazing, and conversion of forest land to agriculture results in the cessation of vital ecosystem services and loss of essential forest products that farming communities depend on for subsistence.

As the productivity of their land diminishes from unsustainable farming practices, they encroach further into forested lands and natural habitats in pursuit of fertile soils. Within a generation or two, the once verdant forests and watersheds surrounding these communities, teeming with clean springs, rivers and abundant wildlife, can quickly become a denuded, dry, and hostile landscape.

ThoughmuchofourworkisnowfocusedoneffectivelyimplementingourForestGardenProgram,we continue to work in communities and areas where reforestation and land rehabilitation needsaregreat.ThroughourLegacyPrograms,weareprovidingcommunitieswithtrainingandresources to plant millions of trees that will rehabilitate degraded forest lands and watersheds; in 2015, we plan to plant some four million trees at 13 sites in four countries.

Inadditiontoreforestingdegradedareas,ourLegacyProgramsalsosupportcommunalwoodlotsin communities that require fuelwood for cooking and timber for building homes. Our work can provide communities with a sustainable source of the forest resources they depend on, allowing the newly reforested sites, and what’s left of existing forests, to grow and thrive.

Moringa is an edible plant whose leaves provide many nutritional benefits, including vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium and protein. In this photo, one of our partner farmers in Africa stands by his moringa seeds proudly.Posted September 18, 2014 at 5:30am


On Omar’s nursery, many varieties of seedlings grow until they are ready for transplant. Some of the seedlings pictured here were planted around his field to add a large new section of fruit trees on his land, which will provide fresh fruits for his family.Posted October 4, 2014 at 9:30am


Our Budget for 2015Trees for the Future has experienced steady growth, and we are working diligently to create replicable and scalable programs that can reach more families in the coming years. To do so, we are investing in all facets of our organization.

Building on last year’s work in improving our monitoring and evaluation, we will focus this year on increasing our capacity to collect, analyze, and then share data with our supporters. We are hiringandtrainingadditionalfieldstaffwhowillvisitthousandsoffarmerstoconductannualassessments and surveys. We are also investing in updating our ability to communicate our impacts better through a new website and other outreach channels.

We expect our fundraising budget to increase slightly in 2015. We are adapting our fundraising strategy to promote long-term funding for our new four-year projects. We are working to increase support across the board, but are especially building capacity to attract and manage multi-year grants from foundations, corporations, and large individual donors. TreesfortheFutureisdedicatedtoprovidingfinancialandprogrammaticaccountability,andsoadministrativecostswillincreaseaswell.Withourfinanceteam’sleadership,webegananewreporting system in 2014, which cut costs and lowered our overhead rate. We are hiring additional administrativesupportstaffincountriesofoperationtoassistwithfieldaccountingofthelargergrants we are now receiving.

14...implementing 14 four-year projects in six countries in East and West Africa

projects

1000...holding over 1000 trainings for the farmer participants in our program

trainings

IN 2015, We Are...

252...working with thousands offarmerbeneficiariesin252 farmer groups

grou

ps

ProjectedBudgetByExpenditure,2015

Fundraising General & Administrative Programs

$1,404,558

$309,889

$240,000


2015 HowYOUCanHelpWaystoContributeWearethankfulforthegenerosityofallofourdonorsthroughouttheyear.Itisonlywiththehelpof our community of supporters that we can undertake the important work that is needed to assist ourfarmerpartnersinthefield.Youmakeitpossibleforustosucceedinourmission.

$100,000 and Above

$20,000–$99,999

$10,000–$19,999

$5,000–$9,999

AmberLotusPublishingCanonSolutionsAmerica,Inc.

CREDOetnies-SoleTechnologyInc.

JadeIndustries,Inc.Mercola.com

MidwesternPetFoods,Inc.Oboz Footwear

OurLadyQueenofPeaceChurch

PaperCultureThe Andryc Family

ReunionIslandCoffeeTheCrosierFamily

TheRischFamilyCarbonfund.orgFoundation

The Kohls FamilyGreenCabsLimited

The Tryon FamilyJakprints,Inc.

Love HealsMaxFingerandFamily

Oakworks,Inc.PapyrusRecycledGreetings,Inc.The Estate of Lawrence A. Smith

WeWOOD Watches

2014 A Word of GratitudeOurNotableContributors

There are a multitude of ways that you can contribute to revitalizing degraded lands in order toimprovethelivelihoodsofimpoverishedfarmers.Yoursupport-whethermonetary,throughstock, in-kind, or by sharing our story - is invaluable and makes a tangible difference in the lives of thousands of farming families across Africa. How will you contribute?

TreesfortheFuturewillnevertradeorsellyourcontactinformation.Alldonations,includingfortreeplantingcertificates,arefullytax-deductible; receipts are provided for tax purposes. For inquiries regarding donations or other forms of support, please e-mail us at [email protected] or call +1-800-643-0001.

MatchingGiftsMatchesareapowerfulwaytocreateacommunityof giving, amplifying the power of donations to achieve more than they could on their own. We always welcome potential match campaigns with businesses, foundations, or individuals.

Legacy GiftsLet your legacy be one of giving opportunity — the opportunity for future generations to live healthy, prosperous lives on bountiful lands with restorative Forest Garden Systems. For more information, please contact us.

OtherWaystoContributeStill looking for other ways to contribute? Trees for the Future can provide printed or electronic Certificates of Support to loved ones or friends; they are a thoughtful and meaningful gift for any occasion. We also make it easy to donate appreciated securities; it can all be done electronically via your broker. Amazon.com shoppers can make sure that 0.5% of all their purchases is donated to Trees for the Future by shopping as usual through smile.amazon.com. For a complete list of ways to contribute, visit trees.org/donate. Finally, make sure that you spread the word. Our ability to scale and replicate our program depends on the support ofasmanypeopleaspossible—joinoure-maillist,findusonsocialmedia,passthisPlanofActionalong— however you chose to do it, share our story.

BecomeaCorporatePartnerWould you like your business to donate a percent ofitsprofitstoplantingforestgardens?Wouldyoulike to plant a tree — or ten — with every order you receive? Would you like to use tree planting as an incentive to shift your customers billing from mail to email? We would like to hear your ideas!

SponsoraProjectHave you ever imagined planting a million trees or helping hundreds of families improve their lives? JoinEminenceOrganicSkinCare,tentree,USagain,and the Addax and Oryx Foundation in sponsoring a multi-year project. Sponsors receive periodic reports and have the opportunity to visit their project.

Children stand near a two year old cashew tree in a family member’s forest garden. Growing up, they will benefit from increased food security and biodiversity near their homes. Plant trees, change lives.Posted October 11, 2014 at 9:00am


Taking care of a nursery and tending the seedlings is a full time job, but the benefits make all the hard work worth it!Posted December 4, 2014 at 6:00pm


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2015 Plan of Action Measuring Opportunities16 |

Trees for the Future1400 Spring Street, Suite 150SilverSpring,MD209101-301-565-0630 | 1-800-643-0001www.trees.org | email: [email protected]

PLANT TREESCHANGE LIVES

future rees future - trees.org with the grameen foundation, we adapted their taroworks monitoring...

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