Friends of Woodlawn Cemetery Ofelmira Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To save, restore, protect and preserve the historical integrity and conserve the natural beauty of Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira, NY as well as to educate the public about the history of the cemetery and the community.
- Income
- $280,995
- Spending
- $300,622
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 20
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
Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 67% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1599% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (12)
- $110,000 spent. The stone chapel built in 1907 now serves as the cemetery office. The mortar joints were leaking causing interior and exterior damage. Masons were hired to address the following: remove and replace incorrectly repointed masonry with proper mortar, repair and repoint the joints that had eroded, replace missing exterior stone, clean the masonry and apply weather sealer.
- $76,796 spent. Purchased four 48-niche columbariums for the expansion of the cremation garden and had two of the columbariums installed.
- $48,250 spent. Had a new roof installed on the caretaker's house built in 1914.
- $23,302 spent. Hired Grever & Ward, Cemetery Planners to mark out and map two additional sections of gravesites.
- $14,949 spent. Painted the exterior of the caretaker's house.
- $12,500 spent. Replaced the bathroom and kitchen fixtures in the office/chapel building.
- $7,000 spent. Painted the interior of the office/chapel building.
- $2,514 spent. Purchased landscaping supplies and equipment.
- $1,650 spent. Repaired two gates and one monument.
- $1,350 spent. Ground penetrating radar to establish new gravesite sections.
- $500 spent. Annual allocation of funds toward the cost of hosting/technical support for the cemetery's digital record-keeping system, eCIMS.
- $200 spent. Granted $200 to the Elmira Garden Club to support their efforts to beautify the cemetery.
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
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 December 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 February 2007.
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.