Transparency & Use of Funds

We believe donors deserve complete clarity on how their contributions are used. This page details our financial practices, fund allocation, and reporting commitments.

Financial Stewardship

Where Your Money Goes

Essential Trees Tag Foundation is committed to responsible stewardship of every donation we receive. Funds collected through our platform are allocated to:

Native tree procurement and seedling supply
Community partnerships (schools, parks, conservation groups, municipalities)
Environmental education and green-space outreach
Logistics required to plant and monitor trees safely
Tagging systems and tracking infrastructure

A portion of donations may support operational costs necessary to maintain and expand our programs. We target a minimum of 85% of funds directed to direct program costs. Financial summaries and allocation reports may be provided upon request.

📸 Photo Updates

Photo and progress updates on plantings — typically within 14 days of a planting event.

📄 Documentation

Receipts and supporting documentation collected when applicable, especially for bulk purchases.

⚖️ Compliance

We follow applicable nonprofit governance practices and operational controls in New Mexico.

🌳 Tree Tagging

Every tree planted is assigned a unique tag ID and tracked for growth, survival, and impact over time.

📊 Annual Reporting

We publish annual impact summaries documenting trees planted, communities served, and fund allocation.

🔒 Privacy

We protect personal data with confidentiality and care, per our Privacy Policy.

Donation Terms

How Donations Are Handled

Are donations tax-deductible?

Essential Trees Tag Foundation is a registered domestic nonprofit organization (EIN: 41-4990547). Please consult your tax advisor to confirm deductibility applicable to your individual circumstances. We can provide documentation of our nonprofit status upon request.

What is the refund policy for donations?

All donations are voluntary and generally non-refundable. In exceptional circumstances, refund requests may be submitted within 30 days of the donation date. See our full Donation & Refund Policy.

How are emergency donations handled?

Emergency donations are prioritized for immediate deployment to active wildfire recovery or ecological crisis sites. We provide expedited reporting on emergency fund usage within 14 days of initial deployment.

Can I restrict my donation to a specific program?

Yes. When available, donors may designate funds to a specific program or campaign. Unrestricted general fund donations are allocated to the highest-priority verified needs across all programs.