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Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens

EIN 23-2726419 · Devon, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JENKINS ARBORETUM & GARDENS CELEBRATES THE WONDER OF PLANTS AND PLACE AS A DESTINATION FOR EDUCATION, CONSERVATION, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
-10.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
30
Volunteers
379
Highest pay
$108,689, executive director

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: 40 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 43% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 31 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (2)
  1. $480,501 spent. EDUCATION - IN ADDITION TO WELCOMING 90,000+ VISITORS ANNUALLY, GARDEN ENTHUSIASTS AND NOVICES ALIKE ARE INVITED TO LEARN AND ENGAGE WITH JENKINS ARBORETUM & GARDENS THROUGH A MULTITUDE OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND PUBLICATIONS ON NATURE AND HORTICULTURE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. JENKINS BELIEVES IN FOSTERING A LOVE OF NATURE AT EVERY AGE, OFFERING PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND WALKS OF LIFE. THE GARDENS FURTHER SERVE AS THE SETTING FOR COMMUNITY CONNECTION THROUGH SEVERAL SPECIAL EVENTS, SUCH AS THE SPRING BLOOMS CELEBRATION AND WINTER LUMINARY WEEKEND. JENKINS IS COMMITTED TO TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF PROFESSIONALS THROUGH OUR STUDENT PROGRAMS. OUR TWO-YEAR HAMILTON HORTICULTURE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM OFFERS A STUDENT TO PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ALONGSIDE OUR HORTICULTURE STAFF IN THE GARDENS, THUS GAINING AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO GROW PLANTS AND MAINTAIN A PUBLIC GARDEN. OUR SUMMER HORTICULTURE INTERNSHIP AND EDUCATION/OUTREACH INTERNSHIP OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR 3-4 INDIVIDUALS, TYPICALLY COLLEGE STUDENTS OR CAREER CHANGERS, TO LEARN FROM OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF TO FURTHER SHARE THE LOVE AND SKILL FOR GARDENING, NATURE STEWARDSHIP, AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
  2. $873,125 spent. HORTICULTURE - JENKINS ARBORETUM & GARDENS IS A PUBLIC BOTANICAL GARDEN, OPEN TO EVERYONE, FREE OF CHARGE, EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR FROM 9 AM TO SUNSET (CLOSING HOURS VARY BY SEASON). WITH 1.2 MILES OF TRAILS WINDING THROUGH 48 ACRES, VISITORS ENJOY THE BUZZ OF SUNNY POLLINATOR PLANTINGS, SHADED WOODLANDS WITH SWEEPS OF SPRING EPHEMERAL WILDFLOWERS, AND AN EXPANSIVE CANOPY OF MATURE OAKS AND TULIP POPLARS. VISITORS TO THE GARDENS ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND OBSERVE THE IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES PAIRED WITH GOOD DESIGN THROUGH OUR UNIQUE APPROACH TO ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE. THE GARDENS INCLUDE AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF AZALEAS AND RHODODENDRONS GROWN ALONGSIDE PLANTS NATIVE TO THE NORTHEAST REGION WITH OVER 8,400 PLANTS IN THE COLLECTIONS REPRESENTING 2,000+ TAXA (OR SPECIES). OUR PLANT COLLECTION CONTRIBUTES TO A CONTINENT-WIDE INITIATIVE TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE GENETIC MATERIAL OF THESE PLANTS FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE VISITOR ENJOYMENT, PLUS FOR PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH AND PLANT BREEDING EFFORTS.

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 June 1998.

    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.