The Garden Club of America
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE PURPOSE OF THE GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA IS TO STIMULATE THE KNOWLEDGE AND LOVE OF GARDENING, TO SHARE THE ADVANTAGES OF ASSOCIATION BY MEANS OF EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, CORRESPONDENCE, AND PUBLICATIONS, AND TO RESTORE, IMPROVE, AND PROTECT THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND ACTION IN THE FIELDS OF CONSERVATION AND CIVIC IMPROVEMENT.
- Income
- $7.4 million
- Spending
- $5.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 25.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 53%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 400
- Highest pay
- $242,360, chief operating officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 25.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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)
- $2.8 million spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMSTHE GCA OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF FAR REACHING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT GCA CLUBS, THEIR COMMUNITIES AND/OR THE PUBLIC. THESE INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATIONS, MATERIALS, RESOURCES, CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS AS DEVELOPED BY GCA COMMITTEES. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE: ANNUAL MEETING, THE SHIRLEY MENEICE HORTICULTURAL CONFERENCE, THE NATIONAL AFFAIRS & LEGISLATION CONFERENCE, CONSERVATION STUDY CONFERENCE, PHOTOGRAPHY CONFERENCE, FLORAL DESIGN CONFERENCE, AND VISITING GARDENS. ALSO INCLUDED ARE PROGRAMS SUCH AS GCA PROGRAMS ON DEMAND, SEED SHARE DATABASE, CLUB MEMBERSHIP SHOWCASE, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND OPPORTUNITIES RELATED TO EXHIBITING, PLANNING AND JUDGING FLOWER SHOWS, AND SUPPORT OF ZONE EVENTS.
- $695,525 spent. SCHOLARSHIPSTHE GCA AWARDS NUMEROUS SCHOLARSHIPS, INTERNSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS IN MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES INCLUDING BOTANY, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, CONSERVATION, LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND HORTICULTURE. APPLICANTS INCLUDE UNDERGRADUATE, GRADUATE, PD AND PROFESSIONAL CANDIDATES. PROGRAM EXPENSES INCLUDE SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS AND IN SOME CASES SMALL ADMINISTRATIVE FEES TO COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS.
- $367,198 spent. CIVIC PROJECTSCLUB PROJECT GRANTS INCLUDING FOUNDERS FUND, PARTNERS FOR PLANTS, RESTORATION INITIATIVE AND COMMON GROUND COLLABORATIVE.
- $99,274 spent. MEDALS AND AWARDS
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1954.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.