State Funding Awards $2.6 Million to San Jose Nonprofit
The grant aims to increase the tree canopy in San Jose to reduce neighborhood temperatures.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Philanthropy
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State officials awarded $2.625 million to the San Jose nonprofit Our City Forest to boost tree planting in heat-impacted neighborhoods. The funding arrives as the organization transitions leadership and seeks to address ongoing canopy density shortfalls.
Why it matters
The investment targets a 6 to 7 degree temperature gap between neighborhoods in San Jose by funding reforestation in areas with the thinnest canopy. This infusion helps stabilize the organization as it manages the operational challenge of scaling urban greening projects.
State authorities awarded $2.625 million to Our City Forest, a significant boost to help address historic funding shortfalls. The organization has previously engaged 175,000 volunteers and planted 80,000 trees since its 1991 founding.
The players
Our City Forest
A San Jose nonprofit organization that coordinates large-scale urban forestry projects and resident education.
Dave Cortese
A State Senator who facilitated the state-level funding award to the organization.
Rhonda Berry
The founding executive director of Our City Forest who recently retired from the organization.
Tara Sreekrishnan
The successor to Rhonda Berry as the executive director of Our City Forest.
The details
The state funding is earmarked to expand tree planting efforts in neighborhoods like East and Central San Jose, where lack of coverage leads to higher ambient temperatures. Our City Forest utilizes a model based on trained volunteer corps, such as the Tree Amigos, who lead implementation while educating residents on long-term maintenance. These initiatives are essential for reducing heat-island effects in densely built-out urban areas.
Timeline
1991: Our City Forest is founded.
September 25, 2026: The organization holds its first gala fundraiser.
October 2026: San Jose experiences an unusually hot October.
Market Landscape
The funding follows a pattern set by urban climate resilience programs that prioritize canopy expansion to mitigate the urban heat island effect. This investment reflects a broader municipal focus on using green infrastructure to reduce localized temperatures and improve quality of life.
Operators in the region should watch how these public-private partnerships influence local land management and green space requirements for new developments. Businesses should monitor future program rollouts to see if planting schedules align with local permit processes.
The takeaway
The grant signals an intent to scale tree-planting efforts to combat localized temperature spikes. Operators should track the organization's progress on tree-maintenance educational programs to understand potential impacts on municipal property upkeep standards.
Further reading
Find more context on local charitable initiatives in San Jose Philanthropy.
More information
Review the full details of current greening initiatives via the Our City Forest program information portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by San Jose Mercury News.
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Should your local government increase funding for urban tree canopy programs to reduce neighborhood heat?
