Set Up Guide

Memorial Tree Program

Program Overview: Memorial Tree Programs give residents and families the opportunity to dedicate a tree in honor of loved ones. These living tributes provide lasting beauty, shade, and environmental benefits for community parks and public spaces. Whether planted along a trail, in a neighborhood park, or as part of a memorial grove, each dedication strengthens the bond between people and the places they cherish.

Set Up Guide for a Memorial Tree Program

1. Define Your Program's Vision & Purpose

Cities and towns have a unique opportunity to help residents honor loved ones in a meaningful way. A well-designed Memorial Tree Program not only creates lasting tributes but also enhances the environmental sustainability of public spaces.

Select Planting Locations: Identify areas where memorial trees will enhance beauty and function—such as parks, trails, boulevards, or memorial gardens.
Choose Tree Species: Provide families with a curated list of species suited to your climate and maintenance capacity, ensuring strong growth and longevity.
Select Dedication Plaques: Determine plaque styles, sizes, and inscription guidelines. Samples help families picture their dedication.
Outline Guidelines: Establish expectations for planting timelines, care responsibilities, and how long the dedication will be maintained.
Set Pricing: Ensure costs cover the tree, planting, plaque, and long-term care. Transparency reduces confusion and builds trust.

Did You Know?

Many cities include a 10-year maintenance plan in the memorial fee, ensuring that trees thrive without requiring families to contribute additional funds later.

2. Make the Process Easy for Participants

The easier it is to participate, the more families will take part. A streamlined process removes hesitation and builds confidence that the memorial will be handled with care. By offering accessible information and convenient tools, you ensure that honoring a loved one feels both meaningful and manageable.

Online Webpage: A dedicated program webpage allows participants to view details, explore available tree options, and complete their dedication in one place.
Offer Online Payments: Allow donors to check out online with credit/debit cards, ACH Transfer, and automatically provide tax receipts.
Dedication Details: Collect the donor’s information, the name of the individual being honored, and the plaque inscription.
Map Out Locations: Provide a visual map of available trees across city spaces to make selection simple and transparent.

Manage Memorial Programs Effortlessly

Digital tools can cut administrative time by more than 40 percent. A central system makes it easy to track tree dedications, organize plaques, and log maintenance, ensuring every memorial is honored with accuracy.

3. Keep Your Program Running Smoothly

A well-managed program eliminates the headaches of manual tracking, miscommunication, and back-and-forth questions. With a clear system in place, administrators save time while participants enjoy a smooth and reliable experience. Organization behind the scenes makes memorial giving easier for everyone and keeps the focus on what matters most.

Keep Track of Memorial Trees and Donors: Maintaining accurate records of donor information, tree species, planting dates, and care plans creates accountability and consistency.
Stay on Top of Maintenance: A system for logging tree health checks, pruning schedules, and replanting ensures that memorials continue to thrive. In the rare event that a tree must be replaced due to natural causes, communicating with the family builds trust and maintains the connection to their legacy.
Celebrate Families: Publicly recognize new dedications through photos, newsletters, or social media posts.