PLATINUM2025

Whatcom Million Trees Project

Planting & protecting more than one-million trees in Whatcom County — for our well-being & future.

Bellingham, WA   |  https://whatcommilliontrees.org

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Mission

Our vision is to spur positive ACTION for trees and forests within Whatcom County that will enhance community health, equity, biodiversity, and resilience in this era of rapid climate change. Our three-pronged strategy to accomplish the above: -- PLANT the right native tree seedlings in the right places — in public-purposed lands and at-risk neighborhoods that other entities do not restore. -- PROTECT mature trees in urban neighborhoods and key watersheds via policy improvements, development advocacy, increased awareness, and the removal of tree-killing invasives. -- CONNECT people together in hands-on positive action outdoors and at special events that highlight the multifaceted value of trees and forests.

Notes from the nonprofit

Our strength is forming innovative projects, partnerships, and community events in support of our local trees & forests. Such efforts are needed because Whatcom County is experiencing significant tree loss and negative environmental impacts from development, clear-cut logging of legacy forests, and from tree-killing invasives such as English ivy. Trees enhance the health and resilience of our local communities and are a key way to address the climate and biodiversity crises. Besides capturing carbon, trees... • provide cool spaces for ultra-hot summers • provide mammal, bird & pollinator habitat/biodiversity • reduce stormwater needs and flooding • oxygenate & clean our air and water • support aquatic/riparian habitat near streams • stabilize slopes • save energy by cooling buildings • form effective buffers from traffic • give human health & psychological benefits (reduced stress, more social connection, etc.) • provide natural areas to explore & enjoy.

Ruling year info

2021

Executive Director

Susan Hutton

Main address

1901 Cornwall Ave Ste 800

Bellingham, WA 98225-3659 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

86-3913386

NTEE code info

Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution (C12)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2024.
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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Protect mature trees, remove invasive plants, especially English ivy, promote policies that aim to achieve better equity in tree planting projects, and participate in restoration planting projects in which we plant at least 600 seedlings each year.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Community Events/Outreach

Each year, WMTP holds cool community events (films, presentations, book talks, etc.) to increase awareness & understanding of tree/forest issues that affect our local health, biodiversity, and climate resilience. We also are present in numerous community gatherings and info booth opportunities to spread the word.

Population(s) Served

Protecting mature trees and forests to boost climate resiliency, health, and biodiversity in… — key watersheds (Lake Whatcom, Padden, Samish, Nooksack) for water quality, salmon, habitat, etc. — urban settings to reduce extreme heat impacts & floods/runoff, enhance livability, improve air quality, etc. — other public or private parcels with at-risk trees due to non-native climbing plants such as English ivy.

Population(s) Served

Planting “right species in the right place” native tree seedlings in sites that have a public purpose or benefit, such as… — parks, trails & Greenways, — other public sites (campuses, schools, libraries, etc.), — multi-user facilities (health care, faith centers, etc.), — public mitigation sites, buffers & tree ‘banks’, — urban open spaces (via mini-forests), and — assisted regeneration forest areas.

Population(s) Served

Where we work

  • Whatcom County (Washington, United States)

Videos

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Total Volunteer Hours to Date

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Other - describing something else

Context Notes

Metric is cumulative over WMTP's four-year history to date.

Community Events/Outreach to Date

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Other - describing something else

Context Notes

Metric is cumulative over WMTP's four-year history to date.

Mature Trees Protected to Date

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Other - describing something else

Context Notes

Metric is cumulative over WMTP's four-year history to date.

Trees Planted to Date

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Other - describing something else

Context Notes

Metric is cumulative over WMTP's four-year history to date.

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Establish new partnerships to protect land and conduct reforestation efforts and provide essential planting aftercare.

Community work parties, strengthen organizational partnerships, offer trainings and outreach programs, and hold events.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people’s needs and how we can help them achieve their goals,

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We share the feedback we received with the people we serve, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually,

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don’t have any major challenges to collecting feedback,

Financials

Whatcom Million Trees Project
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build 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.

Whatcom Million Trees Project

Board of directors
as of 11/7/2025
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Laura Weiss

Whatcom Million Trees Project

Term: 2021 - 2026

Amy Brown

Whatcom Million Trees Project

Laura Weiss

Whatcom Million Trees Project

Michael Feerer Excutive Director & Founder

Whatcom Million Trees Project

Neil Schaner

Whatcom Million Trees Project

Robin Thomas

Whatcom Million Trees Project

Tim Douglas

Whatcom Million Trees Project

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

Disability