RETREET
Redefining Disaster Relief
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
There is no other organization in the world uniquely focused on standardizing the process of replanting trees in communities in the wake of natural disaster. We are developing the best practices of doing so.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Replanting Native Trees in the Wake of Disaster
Volunteers from all over the world planted 5,154 trees, 1.5" caliper in size, for over a thousand families rebuilding their communities, bring joy, hope, and renewed sense of environmental identity to victims of natural disaster.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of trees planted
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of families served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our goal is to augment diminished communities with excited volunteers who have traveled from all over the world to aid in the rebuilding process by planting powerful symbols of hope that will impact the urban environment for generations to come, thereby bringing our cause to international prominence.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The concept for our flagship weekend events (“RETREETs”) crystallized around making community service as fun for the RETREETers as it is helpful for the recipients. Certainly, our primary focus is to plant trees, which provide numerous economic, environmental, and psychological benefits to the communities in which we work. However, we also explore the town, ride bicycles, and host events. All of the locals for whom we plant are invited to join us in these activities.
We promote a healthy, physically interactive way of life, encourage a strong connection to nature, propagate tree planting and care education, and, most importantly, harness the innate spirit of volunteerism in order to bolster diminished communities and augment the sense of interpersonal connectivity. Through direct action and community engagement, we offer a unique solution to an urgent problem at a relatively low cost.
The pursuit of our mission naturally draws our group together. That which defines a RETREETer at home does not apply during our events. Teams of strangers from all walks of life are formed to complete a structured task that is highly beneficial to everyone involved. RETREETers get to know the people they are helping in a very personal way, and often hear stories of individual and community struggle told on location, accompanied by meaningful thanks. Being on RETREET is a profoundly invigorating and gratifying experience. It is unforgettable. RETREETers head home tired, sore, accomplished, and content. Time and time again, they return for another event, bringing friends and family along.
Our model improves with each event. As we plant new species of trees in new areas, on new terrains, and with new volunteers, we better our outreach, organizing, and teaching methods. By far, the most important element of our success has been partnering with local organizations, companies, and other nonprofit agencies. By offering these varied groups access to our model, our base of volunteers, and our resources, we empower and direct local desires to rehabilitate the affected area while learning from their existing expertise.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
RETREET has the capability to lead and educate volunteers in the field, coordinate large-scale community-based replanting events, partner with local organizations, and work in a variety of locations.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Since January 2012, we have held 26 RETREETs in 18 communities across the US and Canada that resulted in the planting of 5,683 trees at over 1200 homes, a donation of more than 11,000 volunteer hours. Beyond this direct impact, we take pride in the untold number of people who have learned about the importance of their community trees through exposure to our programs and their participants.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
RETREET
Board of directorsas of 07/29/2020
Grady McGahan
Michael Sultan
Coralina Meyer
Jennifer Lorenz
Martha Brown
Kathleen Clancy
Grady McGahan