• How will the money be used? 100% of proceeds from this fundraiser go to planting shade trees and preserving our mature trees - 80 percent of the funding will support tree planting in Dilworth and 20 percent will support equity by working with a partner nonprofit to help sponsor trees in a nearby less economically advantaged Charlotte neighborhood. We will support TreesCharlotte's investments in the McCrorey Heights neighborhood's tree canopy efforts.

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• What trees are we talking about in Dilworth? Street trees. These are the trees in the planting strip between sidewalks and the street and they are managed by the city of Charlotte. City arborists are charged with the care of these trees - including trimming the trees, removing diseased/damaged trees, and selecting and planting new ones. 

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• Where will these supplemental trees be planted? In locations throughout Dilworth as determined by the City Arborist. The sites selected will be places where street trees have been removed in excess of one year ago or where no street tree has been in a while/ever.

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• What kinds of trees will be planted? The City Arborist will select the trees based on the Dilworth Master Street Tree Plan and tree availability. The Tree Canopy Committee is working with the City to make sure that wherever possible large shade trees can be planted. 

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• Why will some of the trees planted be large shade trees and others be smaller ornamental trees? Two reasons - power lines and site suitability. Power lines above areas to be planted with a new tree necessitate smaller trees. Planting sites vary in width between the sidewalk and the street, and narrow planting strips limit the type of tree that can succeed and usually mean that smaller trees are appropriate. Whenever possible, if there are no power or streetlight lines above an area, or site constraints, larger maturing trees will be used.

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• When will the trees be planted? This winter, likely January and February of 2024. The City Arborist says that trees can be planted, if watered diligently for the next year, from October through March, making winter a solid time to plant.

 

• How much do trees cost? Trees cost a total of about $725 per tree. The cost has increased from prior years. Why so high? First we have to purchase the trees (we use trees grown in Morganton, as approved by the City of Charlotte), add to that the cost of freight to bring the trees to Charlotte. Then we have to hire a City-approved planting contractor who conveys the trees to the planting sites, dig the holes, plant the trees, and waters them for 1 year. Also included is a one year tree guarantee.

 

• What are the fundraiser specifics? The fundraising campaign begins November 3rd and ends December 9th. Our goal is to raise $30,000 in 2023. Every contribution matters!​​

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• What if contributions for this fundraising are received after December 9th? It is the goal to be able to plant additional trees next year (winter 2023) as well, and we will hold the funds to jump start next year’s effort.

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• Is my contribution tax deductible? Yes. The Dilworth Community Development Association is a 501(c)(3) organization, EIN #58-1338753. All donations are deemed tax-deductible absent any limitations on deductibility applicable to a particular taxpayer. No goods or services were provided to you in exchange for your contribution. The all-volunteer DCA, while a nonprofit, does not have the administration needed to do individual contribution Share the Shade reporting with the IRS, so you will not receive a receipt from the DCA to use for tax purposes - please keep a copy of your check or print out your online contribution for reporting purposes.

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• Can I take advantage of my company's contribution matching program? Yes. The Dilworth Community Association is a 501(c)(3) organization and as such donations to the Share the Shade tree fundraiser can be eligible for corporate matching. Info your firm will need: The Dilworth Community Development Association, Inc. taxpayer ID number is 58-1338753, the address is PO Box 36023, Charlotte, NC 28236-6023. Matching contributions can be sent to the P.O. Box.