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January 13, 2021

Become a Community Partner – Spring 2021

What is the Community Yard Tree Giveaway Grant?

The Community Yard Tree Giveaway program empowers Philadelphia community groups to host free yard tree giveaways in their neighborhoods. Through this program, groups can partner with TreePhilly to help green their neighborhood by distributing trees to neighbors, friends, and families. TreePhilly provides FREE trees, event support, mulch, education, and a $200-500 grant award. Partners are responsible for hosting and promoting the event and connecting with their community.

This season we are offering up to 20 grants to community groups to promote and register their community for trees between March 27th and May 15th 2021. Applications are accepted based on quality of application, environmental justice priorities, neighborhood context and canopy loss.

COVID SAFETY

We have adapted our programming to address COVID-19 safety and health concerns:

Partners will have two Contactless Distribution Options:

1. Drive-through pick-up hosted in their region
2. Door-to-door delivery program

Volunteer and Staff Safety Protocol

1. All staff and volunteers loading trees, mulch and materials must wear masks, work gloves and maintain a distance of 6ft from other staff.
2. Staff and volunteers must wipe handles, steering wheels, hoses, combination locks, knobs, tools and any other high-touch surface using alcohol-based cleaning solution before and after every use

For information on previous events, check out Community Yard Tree Giveaways. For photos, check out our Flickr page. Read more about the Community Yard Tree Giveaway Grant below.

The deadline to submit applications for Spring 2021 Community Yard Tree Giveaway Grants is Thursday, February 9th, 2021. Selections will be announced February 18th ,2021.Scroll down to learn more or download the Community Yard Tree Giveaway Application 2021



Grants Provide:
• 25, 50, 75, or 100 yard trees in 5 gallon containers (first time applicants are only eligible for 25 or 50 trees)
• An award of $200 for a 25 tree event, $300 for a 50 tree event, $400 for a 75 tree event, or $500 for a 100 tree event upon successful completion of event and submission of deliverables*
• Mulch and paper bags for each participant
• Tree and mulch delivery to giveaway location
• Event planning support
• Expert tree knowledge, resources, and advice
• Training workshop for event organizers
• Educational materials and tree tags
• TreePhilly staff members at the event to provide planting demonstrations and event support

Guidelines:
• Trees given away must be planted in Philadelphia.
• Trees given away must be planted in the ground on private property.
• Trees CANNOT be planted in the sidewalk or in containers.
• Tree recipients must commit to watering, mulching, and caring for their trees.

Community Partner Requirements
• Applicants must serve a Philadelphia community— Nonprofits, faith-based organizations, civic associations, CDCs, Tree Tenders groups, local businesses, school associations, and similar organizations.
• We accept applications authored by multiple groups. If more than one group is applying, no more than three groups may be listed on the application. If you applying with multiple groups please designate:

  • One 501(c)(3) group to act as fiscal sponsor and receive the monetary award.
  • One group to act as the lead organization for executing giveaway responsibilities.
  • • Groups must have the staff or volunteer capacity to plan, promote, and run an event.

    Event Requirements
    • Giveaway events must be held in Philadelphia.
    • Giveaways must be held between March 27th and May 15th 2021.
    • Giveaway events must include space for planting demonstrations facilitated by TreePhilly staff.
  • Space could be: a yard, parking lot, large sidewalk, patio, or playground.
  • • Giveaway events must include nearby bathroom access for volunteers and staff.
    • Giveaway events must include a contingency plan in case of inclement weather. Giveaway events may not be canceled day of for non-emergency inclement weather
  • Examples: if it rains, we will move the event to our indoor space or put up a tent.
  • • Tree giveaways are recommended to last two hours. Partners may propose an alternate length of time if the event corresponds with another event like spring festival or local job fair.

    GIVEAWAY OPTIONS

    Option 1: Door-to-Door Delivery Only

    Organizations will sign up community members to receive a tree that will be delivered directly to their doorstep. Organizations must promote the tree delivery program and register community members for 25 trees by a set registration deadline (see application for deadline options). Organizations have the option of TreePhilly delivering the trees or, if they have an organization-owned vehicle and insured drivers, they may select to run the deliveries themselves in exchange for an increased grant award.

    Option 2: Regional Pickup Event, plus Delivery

    Organizations will be paired with up to three other grant recipients from their region to distribute trees at a contactless pick-up organized by TreePhilly staff. TreePhilly will collaborate with grant recipient to determine a location is accessible to each co-hosting organization’s communities. The event will be a contactless, drive-thru-style tree pickup where pre-registered tree recipients arrive in a vehicle to receive their tree. Organizations are responsible for pre-registering all tree recipients by a designated registration deadline. There will not be an option for walk-in registration. A limited number of door-to-door tree deliveries will also be available as an option for community members who are unable to access an event due to lack of a vehicle or an increased vulnerability to COVID-19.

    Each grant recipient will be expected to promote the regional event within their community, register their community members for at least 25 trees (up to half of these trees may be registered for delivery executed by TreePhilly), and supply 1-3 volunteers on the day of the event.

    *Please note that you may not receive the number of trees you request. All first-time grantees will be awarded 25 or 50 trees, returning grantees are eligible for 75 or 100 trees. Final number of trees awarded will be determined by TreePhilly based on availability and the group’s capacity. TreePhilly will select tree species for each grantee. Species are generally native to the area, well suited for urban environments, and may include shade trees, smaller ornamental trees, and/or fruit trees.

    *Only not-for-profit organizations are eligible to receive the monetary award. Other organizations are invited to apply with a not-for-profit fiscal sponsor.