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Garden Conservancy Inc

EIN 13-3570145 · Greenwich, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE, SHARE, AND CELEBRATE AMERICA'S GARDENS AND DIVERSE GARDENING TRADITIONS FOR THE EDUCATION AND INSPIRATION OF THE PUBLIC.

Income
$7.7 million
Spending
$5.9 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
56.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 40%
Employees
23
Volunteers
750
Highest pay
$316,743, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 56.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 25

    36 of 36 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, 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 (1)
  1. $4.2 million spent. OUR ORGANIZATIONAL PRACTICES FOCUS ON THREE MAIN AREAS: PRESERVATION, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY. WE WORK TO RESTORE HISTORIC AMERICAN GARDENS, ASSIST PRIVATE GARDENS IN THEIR DESIRE TO BECOME PUBLIC AMENITIES, PRESENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES RELATING TO THE HISTORY AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF GARDENS AND GARDENING, AND OPEN PRIVATE GARDENS ACROSS THE NATION TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH OUR "OPEN DAYS" PROGRAM.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.IN 2025, THE GARDEN CONSERVANCY CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND ITS PROGRAMS THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY AND ENGAGEMENT OF A GROWING COMMUNITY OF MEMBERS, DONORS, AND EVENT PARTICIPANTS. DURING THE 2025 SEASON, OPEN DAYS WELCOMED MORE THAN 32,000 VISITORS TO 347 GARDEN-VISITING OPPORTUNITIES AND PRESENTED SIXTEEN VIRTUAL PROGRAMS TO OVER 7,000 PARTICIPANTS. THE NATIONAL SPEAKING TOUR FEATURED CELEBRATED PHOTOGRAPHER NGOC MINH NGO, WHO SHARED HER PASSION FOR ROSES AND PHOTOGRAPHY AND HER INSIGHTS INTO BREATHTAKING ROSE GARDENS FROM ENGLAND AND FRANCE TO JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES. OUR GARDEN FUTURES GRANTS PROGRAM (INCLUDING THE PAGE DICKEY GRANT FOR AMERICAN GARDENS) SUPPORTED TWENTY-EIGHT NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH GARDEN-BASED PROGRAMMING AND THE STUDY OF GARDEN HISTORY. OUR PRESERVATION PROGRAM CONTINUED TO OFFER GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE TO THOSE SEEKING RESOURCES TO PRESERVE OR RESTORE GARDENS; WHILE ALSO ENSURING THE LONGEVITY OF THE EIGHT GARDENS THE GARDEN CONSERVANCY PROTECTS THROUGH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. THROUGH THE SUZANNE AND FREDERIC RHEINSTEIN FUND FOR DOCUMENTARY FILMS, WE CONTINUED THE FILM DOCUMENTATION OF THE ANNE SPENCER HOUSE AND GARDEN MUSEUM IN LYNCHBURG, VA, AND HELD A PREMIERE OF EARTH I THANK YOU: THE GARDEN AND LEGACY OF ANNE SPENCER AT THE SMITHSONIAN'S NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE IN WASHINGTON, DC.NANCY FRIESE BECAME THE GARDEN CONSERVANCY'S FIRST ARTIST IN RESIDENCE. HER RESIDENCY FOCUSED ON DOCUMENTING THE SHIFTING SEASONS AT TWO LANDMARK SITES CURRENTLY UNDER RESTORATION: WEATHERSFIELD ESTATE & GARDEN IN AMENIA AND BLITHEWOOD GARDEN IN ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.

    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 October 1990.

    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.