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Portland Parks & Recreation's Urban Forestry partners with community groups to give away thousands of free yard trees to Portlanders
Help us give away free trees!
Did you know the City of Portland gives away thousands of free trees to Portland residents each year? Urban Forestry is looking to partner with community groups to bring trees to neighborhoods that need them the most!
2026 Partner Contracts
Urban Forestry's Yard Tree Giveaway program aims to provide 4,500 FREE TREES to Portlanders this fall, with a focus on neighborhoods with low tree canopy. Urban trees play a vital role in creating healthier, safer communities. Bringing trees to these areas that need them the most is one of the best ways to improve public and environmental health outcomes.
With funding made possible by the Portland Clean Energy Fund, Urban Forestry is offering five $10,000 paid contracts to community organizations. We honor the role of community organizations in amplifying culture, activating civic power, affirming belonging, and bridging critical resources to our communities.
The goals of this Partner Contract are to:
- Promote free trees available through the PP&R Urban Forestry's Yard Tree Giveaway.
- Help people register for Yard Tree Giveaway.
- Provide early registration, access, and assistance for underserved community members.
- Host a Yard Tree Giveaway Tree Selection Event
- Register 50 community members for trees.
How to apply
Applications will be available between April 22 - May 17. Visit our partner page to learn more and apply.
More questions? Contact:ufvolunteers@portlandoregon.gov
Meet Last Year's Partner Organizations
Organizations were selected because they are connected to underserved communities and people living in our priority service areas. The partnerships helped advance the Yard Tree Giveaway goal of increasing tree canopy where it is most needed. With funding made possible by the Portland Clean Energy Fund, the Yard Tree Giveaway Partners Program offered contracts with the following community organizations:
Past Contract Recipients
($10,000 each, 4 available): Contract recipients promoted YTG content AND assist with registering community members to sign up for free trees at tabling events and other in-person activities.
Imagine Black Futures
Imagine Black Futures was Founded in 2009, the Portland African American Leadership Forum (PAALF) united Black leaders to drive community change.
In 2015, we launched the People’s Plan, engaging nearly 500 community members in shaping a vision for a thriving, connected Portland. Released in 2017, the plan outlined 65+ action items and highlighted the need for greater Black political representation. In 2019, we created Imagine Black to lead this work. By 2020, we began transitioning to Imagine Black Futures to better reflect our inclusive, statewide vision and commitment to all Black people across the African Diaspora.
People of Color Outdoors
People of Color Outdoors (POCO) is a Portland based nonprofit that has a mission to help Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and White parents of BIPOC children deepen their natural connection with nature in a supportive community. We do that by offering an average of 60 outdoor events of all kinds, throughout the state of Oregon and in the SW area of Washington. POCO hosts the POCO Guardians, an environmental education and leadership program for children, and has offered leadership training to members in the areas of fishing, wellness walks, kayaking, and birding. POCO’s Founder, Pamela Slaughter, was the first recipient of the Joey Pope Award for innovative and impactful leadership in the Portland Metro area. POCO has a long-term goal of building a retreat center with a focus on environmental and cultural education and events.
Somali Oregon Service Center
The Somali Oregon Service Center (SOSC) is a community based nonprofit organization serving the Somali and East African communities across Oregon. Although officially founded in 2020, SOSC has been actively engaged in community service for over 15 years, building a strong foundation of trust, cultural connection, and advocacy long before its formal establishment. Rooted in the lived experiences of Somali immigrants and refugees, SOSC was created to address the growing and complex needs of East African families adapting to life in the United States. What began as an informal network of community members supporting one another has grown into a fully operational, culturally specific service center dedicated to advancing equity, access, and empowerment. SOSC offers a wide range of programs and services, including housing navigation, workforce development, youth mentoring, language interpretation, healthcare access, civic engagement, and immigration support. With a multilingual and multicultural team, many of whom share the immigrant experience, the organization ensures that every service is delivered with cultural sensitivity and community insight. By partnering with local governments, schools, healthcare providers, and other nonprofits, SOSC plays a vital role in bridging cultural and systemic gaps. It advocates for inclusive policies while helping individuals and families overcome barriers to education, employment, Environment and social integration. Over the past 15 years, SOSC has earned a reputation as a dependable and compassionate resource for East African Oregonians. Its official founding in 2020 marked a new chapter—allowing it to expand programs, strengthen partnerships, and reach even more community members in need. Today, the Somali Oregon Service Center continues to stand as a pillar of strength, resilience, and hope—committed to uplifting communities and shaping a more just and inclusive Oregon for all.
Southeast Uplift
Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Coalition is a nonprofit and nonpartisan civic organization that has been building informed, inclusive, and participatory neighborhoods since 1968. Today, we serve as the district coalition office that helps grassroots organizations build their capacity to serve communities throughout the 19 neighborhoods that make up District 3 in inner Southeast Portland and parts of Northeast. Residents throughout District 3 are invited to participate in SEUL's Climate Justice Action Committee. The YTG partnership is this committee's flagship project for the coming fiscal year, focusing on the 8 neighborhoods prioritized for increasing tree canopy in District 3