Bloomington's tree canopy is decreasing, due to tree mortality related to age, development, climate change, storms, diseases, and pests. More than 20% of the potential plantable land in town still needs trees. Without dedication and active community engagement in planning and caring for our urban forest, the quality of life we enjoy in Bloomington will steadily decrease. Most of us understand that trees are critical in addressing climate change. Most of us don't realize the tangible mental and physical health benefits trees provide or that our urban forest produces real benefits equivalent to millions of dollars annually. Trees slow storm water and prevent flooding, shade our homes and buildings reducing heating and cooling costs, and even increase business in our stores!

Walk down a street without trees, then one filled with trees, and notice the difference in how you feel! This feeling, and all of the tangible health, social, and economic benefits of trees are a public asset that belongs to all of us, no matter what neighborhood we live in.

CanopyBloomington's solution to our decreasing canopy and to the issue of tree equity is to:

-Prioritize planting trees in Bloomington's marginalized communities.

-Work with the City of Bloomington to plant and prune young trees. Trees need significant care, water, mulch, and pruning their first three years in the ground in order to reach maturity, when they play the biggest role in providing benefits.

-Develop a robust plan of volunteer and paid youth tree tenders as part of a larger professional development program to nurture our newly planted trees and a strong green economy of arborists, landscapers, and nurseries.

-Diversify the tree species in Bloomington, so that one pest or disease doesn't wipe out a large portion of our urban forest.

You can play a role in CanopyBloomington and in making Bloomington a true Tree City for all, by contributing any amount to our initial fundraising campaign. Our first planting is scheduled for this fall. The fundraising goal will cover our part-time executive director's salary and admin costs for the rest of 2021, approximately 100 trees, water, mulch, pruning supplies, and funding for our initial cohort of youth tree tenders. Your gift now gives  us enough time to do additional grant writing and fundraising for our 2022 planting, pruning, and educational goals.

A generous anonymous donor has agreed to match the first $20K in donations above and beyond our FundRazr goal, so please give what you can!

Contribute Any Amount – to make a real impact on the quality of life in Bloomington through trees and a healthy and growing urban forest! You’ll be included in our mailing list to stay informed about volunteer opportunities, tree care workshops, and our progress in growing Bloomington’s tree canopy.

Contribute $75 – Receive a copy of The Overstory, the 2019 Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Richard Powers, a beautiful tribute to trees and the natural world, from roots to crown, and back to seed. Your name listed on Canopy’s website as a launch supporter.

Contribute $150 – Receive a copy of The Overstory and a signed copy of local poet Ross Gay’s multi-award-winning book, Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, which includes To the Fig Tree on 9th and Christian, which illuminates the wonderful, unexpected community benefits of trees in an urban environment. It’s a perfect poem for our mission at Canopy, and one that you’ll want to read over and over again. Your name listed on Canopy’s website as a launch supporter.

Contribute $250 – Receive a 2-gallon blackberry or raspberry bush to enjoy these easy to grow and nutritious berries for years to come (delivered this fall for optimal planting). Your name listed on Canopy’s website as a launch supporter.

Contribute $350 – Receive a berry bush (delivered this fall for optimal planting) and a copy of both The Overstory and Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude. Your name listed on Canopy’s website as a launch supporter.

Contribute $500 – Receive a 3-4 foot flowering dogwood tree that you’ll enjoy every spring and year-round for years to come (delivered this fall for optimal planting). Your name listed on Canopy’s website as a launch supporter.

Contribute $1000 – Receive a 2 inch caliper/6 foot+ deciduous tree  planted in your yard (delivered this fall for optimal planting). Your name listed on Canopy’s website as a Leadership Launch Supporter.

Contribute $2000 – Receive all gifts. Your name listed on Canopy’s website as a Leadership Launch Supporter.

Thank you for your support. Let's go plant some trees!