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Garden Club of South Carolina Inc

EIN 23-7005531 · Columbia, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GCSC IS A FORCE FOR GOOD THAT PROMOTES ALL ASPECTS OF GARDENING, FOCUSING ON PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION OF HISTORIC GARDENS, CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES, EDUCATION OF MEMBERS AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, CIVIC BEAUTIFICATION, HORTICULTURE AND FLORAL DESIGN.

Income
$206,880
Spending
$118,091
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
33.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 44%
Employees
0
Volunteers
101

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 33.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 43% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 (2)
  1. $72,333 spent. GCSC EDUCATES ADULT AND YOUTH MEMBERS THROUGH CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDING GARDEN STUDY, HORTICULTURE, FLORAL DESIGN, LANDSCAPE DESIGN, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, AND BY SPONSORING FOUR SCHOOLS: GARDEN STUDY SCHOOL, FLOWER SHOW SCHOOL, LANDSCAPE DESIGN SCHOOL, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES SCHOOL. GCSC PROMOTES THE NATIONAL GARDEN CLUB OBJECTIVES OF GARDENING, CIVIC BEAUTIFICATION, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP THROUGH CLUB AND COUNCIL ENGAGEMENT, STATEWIDE EDUCATION, GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, AWARDS PROGRAMS AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CLUBS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO UNITE AS A FORCE FOR GOOD. GCSC MAINTAINS AN HISTORIC MEMORIAL GARDEN AT 1111 LINCOLN ST, COLUMBIA, SC, A HISTORIC GARDEN ADJACENT TO THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION DESIGNED BY LOUTREL BRIGGS, THAT HOUSES A VETERAN'S HONOR BRICK WALKWAY. GCSC SPONSORS YOUTH INVOLVEMENT THROUGH POETRY, ESSAY, SMOKY BEAR AND WOODSY OWL NATIONAL AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, CAMP WILDWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP CAMP, ARBOR DAY AND EARTH DAY SCHOOL PROGRAMS, YOUTH FLORAL DESIGN AND RECYCLED SCULPTURE CONTESTS.
  2. $18,000 spent. GCSC SPONSORS 5 CATEGORIES OF SCHOLARSHIP: BABS BARNETTE ENVIRONMENTAL SCHOLARSHIP, HESSIE MORRAH HORTICULTURE SCHOLARSHIP, REBA WALL YOUTH CAMPER LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP, PRESIDENT'S SCHOLARSHIP FOR GENERAL STUDY. GCSC OFFERS BLUE AND GOLD STAR MARKER GRANTS FOR CLUBS WHO WISH TO INSTALL, ADOPT OR BEAUTIFY HIGHWAY AND BYWAY MARKERS THAT HONOR VETERANS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 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 April 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 2011.

    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.