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Planting Fields Foundation

EIN 11-1770097 · Oyster Bay, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O.THROUGH A BALANCED APPROACH TO PRESERVING AND CREATING, THE FOUNDATION STEWARDS THE BUILT AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OF PLANTING FIELDS AS A PUBLIC CENTER OF LEARNING AND LIFE.- WE CONSERVE AND MAKE ACCESSIBLE OUR TANGIBLE AND INTANGIBLE HERITAGE, GIFTED BY THE COE FAMILY AND SHAPED BY 20TH-CENTURY VISIONARIES.- WE CELEBRATE HUMAN INGENUITY AND CREATIVITY THROUGH DESIGN, HORTICULTURE, AND ART.- WE FOSTER RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP TO DEEPEN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW NATURE AND CULTURE INTERSECT.- WE PROVIDE A SANCTUARY FOR PERSONAL DISCOVERY AND SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
90.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
36
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$367,788, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 90.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 73% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $716,219 spent. HISTORIC LANDSCAPE: THE FOUNDATION PRESERVES AND ENHANCES THE 409-ACRE HISTORIC LANDSCAPE OF PLANTING FIELDS, ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING INTACT GOLD COAST ESTATES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. IN 2024, WITH SUPPORT FROM PARKS AND TRAILS NEW YORK, THE FOUNDATION IMPLEMENTED A SITEWIDE WAYFINDING AND INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE PROJECT. IN COLLABORATION WITH NEW YORK STATE PARKS, THE BUREAU OF HISTORIC SITES, AND INTERNATIONAL DESIGN FIRM WIEDEMANN LAMPE, THE INITIATIVE DELIVERED 120 CUSTOM SIGNS, 10 INTERPRETIVE DISTRICTS, AND A NEW COLOR-CODED VISITOR MAP AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND CHINESE, BOTH ON-SITE AND ONLINE. THIS PROJECT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED NAVIGATION, BROADENED CIRCULATION, AND ENHANCED VISITOR ENGAGEMENT WHILE PRESERVING THE HISTORIC INTEGRITY OF THE LANDSCAPE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.)IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NYSOPRHP, IN 2023, THE FOUNDATION COMPLETED THE RESTORATION OF THE ORIGINAL OLMSTED BROTHERS OAK ALLEE, REMOVING DISEASED TREES ALONG THE MAIN ENTRANCE DRIVE AND REPLANTING 101 NATIVE CHINKAPIN AND WHITE OAKS. THIS PROJECT RESTORED A HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT DESIGN FEATURE WHILE ALSO IMPROVING BIODIVERSITY, WATERSHED HEALTH, AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION. THE WORK WAS SUPPORTED THROUGH INDIVIDUAL GIVING AND MAJOR GIFTS. WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FUND SUPPORT, THE FOUNDATION ALSO INSTALLED 2,000 LINEAR FEET OF ADA-COMPLIANT PATHWAYS LINKING THE MAIN PARKING AREA TO KEY GARDENS, DRAMATICALLY IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY AND EQUITABLE PUBLIC ACCESS.
  2. $587,116 spent. EDUCATIONAL AND VISITOR EXPERIENCE: FESTIVALS AND PUBLIC EVENTS REMAINED A CORNERSTONE OF ENGAGEMENT, WELCOMING OVER 7,000 VISITORS TO CELEBRATIONS SUCH AS ARBOR DAY, THE CAMELLIA FESTIVAL, AND HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING EXPANDED WITH JUNIOR RANGER FIELD TRIPS ALIGNED WITH NYS CURRICULUM STANDARDS, AS WELL AS THE INAUGURAL SENSORY CELEBRATION WEEK, WHICH INTRODUCED TAILORED EXPERIENCES FOR NEURODIVERSE YOUTH. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF PARTNERS, THE FOUNDATION MADE ITS ANNUAL CAMELLIA FESTIVAL FREE OF CHARGE IN 2025, REDUCING BARRIERS TO ACCESS AND EXPANDING PUBLIC ENJOY- MENT OF PLANTING FIELDS' RENOWNED CAMELLIA COLLECTION. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO OFFER GUIDED AND SELF-GUIDED TOURS OF THE HISTORIC MAIN HOUSE AND INTRODUCED HISTORIC LANDSCAPE TOURS IN EARLY 2025.
  3. $453,726 spent. COLLECTIONS, ARCHIVES, AND EXHIBITS: IN 2024, THE FOUNDATION ADVANCED THE ACCESSIBILITY AND STEWARDSHIP OF ITS ARCHIVAL HOLDINGS THROUGH IMPROVEMENTS IN COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT AND STORAGE FUNDED BY THE PEGGY M. GERRY CHARITABLE TRUST. THE ARCHIVES WERE RELOCATED TO A NEWLY DESIGNED FACILITY THAT ENHANCES PRESERVATION AND SUPPORTS INTERNAL RESEARCH, SCHOLARLY ACCESS, AND EXPANDED DIGITAL AVAILABILITY. THE FOUNDATION ALSO CONTINUED ITS CATALYST PROGRAM, COMMISSIONING SITE-SPECIFIC CONTEMPORARY WORKS IN DIALOGUE WITH THE HISTORIC SITE. THE 2024 COMMISSION, FOLLIES: A BOTANICAL BACKSTORY BY PROCESSIONAL ARTS WORKSHOP, ENGAGED DIVERSE AUDIENCES AND REINFORCED THE PROGRAM'S ROLE IN LINKING HISTORIC PRESERVATION WITH CONTEMPORARY ARTISTIC PRACTICE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.)IN 2025, THE FOUNDATION WAS AWARDED ACCREDITATION BY THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS, A DISTINCTION ACHIEVED BY ONLY 3% OF MUSEUMS NATIONWIDE.
  4. $417,159 spent. HISTORIC STRUCTURE MAINTENANCE: THE FOUNDATION ADVANCED THE PRESERVATION OF PLANTING FIELDS' HISTORIC STRUCTURES, MOST NOTABLY COMPLETING PHASE I OF THE TEA HOUSE RESTORATION. EVERGREENE ARCHITECTURAL ARTS CONSERVED EVERETT SHINN'S TWO LUNETTE MURALS, PAINTED FURNITURE, LATTICE MILLWORK, FIREPLACE, AND MARBLE FLOOR, REVITALIZING A SPACE ONCE DESCRIBED AS "A STRING OF PEARLS IN A SHOEBOX." THIS MARKED THE FIRST MAJOR INTERVENTION SINCE THE 1980S, ENSURING THE TEA HOUSE'S ARTISTIC AND HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. IN ADDITION, IN 2025, WITH FUNDING FROM THE GREATER HUDSON HERITAGE NETWORK, THE FOUNDATION CONSERVED AN ORIGINAL MOUNTED ELK HEAD IN THE MAIN HOUSE'S GREAT HALL. THE TREATMENT STABILIZED AND PRESERVED THIS ARTIFACT, MAINTAINING THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF THE MANSION AND INTEGRITY OF ITS DECORATIVE ARTS COLLECTION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1954.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.