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John J Tyler Arboretum

EIN 23-1417540 · Media, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF TYLER ARBORETUM IS TO CONSERVE OUR HISTORIC LANDSCAPES AND CONNECT PEOPLE WITH THE NATURAL WORLD.

Income
$4.7 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
12.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
46
Volunteers
262
Highest pay
$119,313, executive director as of 7/9/25

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 79% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 2026, 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

    14 of 14 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 January 31, 2026, 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. $1.8 million spent. TYLER ARBORETUM CONTINUES TO PRIORITIZE ITS MISSION TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE NATURAL WORLD THROUGH REGULAR PROGRAMMING FOR ALL AGES. SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS CONTINUE TO BE A POPULAR DRAW AND TYLER ADDED A FOOD PRODUCTION FIELD TRIPS THAT ENCOURAGES CHILDREN TO LEARN HOW FOOD IS GROWN, HELP HARVEST IN TYLER'S VEGETABLE GARDEN, AND THEN MAKE AND EAT A RECIPE USING THE INGREDIENTS HARVESTED. ALL TYLER'S CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE NATURE IMMERSION, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, AND CREATING BETTER STEWARDS OF THE NATURAL WORLD. TYLER'S SUMMER CAMP RESTARTED IN 2025 AND HAS ALREADY BECOME A POPULAR LOCAL CAMP, SELLING OUT FOR 2026. TYLER CONTINUES TO SEE IMMENSE INTEREST IN ITS ANNUAL PLANT SALE, EVENING EVENTS AND SPECIAL NATURE AT NIGHT SERIES THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) BEFORE AND AFTER HOURS FEATURES LIKE OWL PROWLS, MOTH NIGHTS, AND FULL-MOON HIKES REMAIN POPULAR, AS DO TYLER'S COMMUNITIES OF WEDNESDAY MORNING BIRDERS, HIKERS, AND WILDFLOWER ENTHUSIASTS.TYLER CONTINUES TO PROVIDE VISITORS WITH DOCENT-LED TOURS, HISTORY TOURS, POP-UP EDUCATION STATIONS, AND REGULAR DOCENTS AT ITS POLLINATOR PRESERVE. THE POLLINATOR PRESERVE CONTINUES TO BE AN EXCITING ATTRACTION THAT HIGHLIGHTS UNUSUAL SPECIES OF MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES, WHILE ALLOWING VISITORS TO READ EDUCATIONAL SIGNAGE THROUGHOUT THE GARDEN ABOUT IMPORTANT HOST PLANTS FOR NATIVE POLLINATORS.IN 2025, TYLER HOSTED ITS FIRST TRAIL CHALLENGE, ENCOURAGING VISITORS TO HIKE ALL 17 MILES OF TYLER'S TRAILS IN ITS 550 ACRES OF NATURAL AREAS. 439 PEOPLE REGISTERED FOR THE CHALLENGE AND PARTICIPANTS HIKED MORE THAN 2,805 MILES OF TYLER'S TRAILS, REINFORCING THAT TYLER ARBORETUM'S NATURAL AREAS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, ENCOURAGING THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF NATURE IMMERSION AND HIKING. WITH THE TRAIL CHALLENGE POPULARITY, TYLER WILL REPEAT IT AGAIN IN FALL 2026.ALL VISITORS WERE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN TYLER'S ONGOING, PERENNIAL ACTIVITIES: 1) WALKING IN PREMIER GARDENS, INCLUDING THE WISTER RHODODENDRON GARDEN AND ITS NEW HYBRIDIZER GARDEN; 2) EXPLORING THE NATIVE WOODLAND WALK; 3) DISCOVERING THE STOPFORD MEADOW MAZE; 4) TAKING IN THE SCENIC LOOP; 5) LEARNING ABOUT EDIBLE PLANTS IN LUCILLE'S GARDEN; 6) EXPERIENCING THE SENSORY WALK THROUGH THE FRAGRANT GARDEN AND MORE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 2026, 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 January 2026.

    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 1942.

    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.