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American Public Gardens Association

EIN 23-7110058 · Wilmington, DE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE CHAMPION AND ADVANCE PUBLIC GARDENS AS LEADERS, ADVOCATES, AND INNOVATORS IN THE CONSERVATION AND APPRECIATION OF PLANTS.

Income
$3.8 million
Spending
$3.6 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 60%
Employees
16
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$282,856, chief executive officer

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: 47 out of 100. Higher than 10% 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

    2 of 20

    It owes 91% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

    15 of 15 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 (3)
  1. $1.5 million spent. GRANT PROGRAMS: PLANT COLLECTIONS NETWORK (FORMERLY THE NAPCC) - COORDINATES A CONTINENT WIDE APPROACH TO PLANT GERMPLASM PRESERVATION, AND PROMOTES EXCELLENCE IN PLANT COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT. NATIONALLY ACCREDITED PLANT COLLECTIONS MAY SERVE AS REFERENCES FOR PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND CULTIVAR REGISTRATION, COLLECTION HOLDERS MAKE GERMPLASM AVAILABLE FOR TAXONOMIC STUDIES, EVALUATION, BREEDING, AND OTHER RESEARCH. PLANT PROTECTION PROGRAM - ENCOMPASSES A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES AND GARDENS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA) OFFERS SCOUTING RESOURCES, DIAGNOSTIC SUPPORT, AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO HELP PUBLIC GARDENS STOP SERIOUS PESTS AND DISEASES BY WORKING ON THE FRONT LINES OF EARLY DETECTION AND ENGAGING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS CITIZEN SCIENTISTS, AND THE PLANT HEROES YOUTH PROGRAM PROVIDES INNOVATIVE WAYS TO EDUCATE YOUNG LEARNERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANTS AND ENGAGE THEM IN PROTECTING FOREST HEALTH. RESOURCES THAT ENGAGE PUBLIC GARDENS IN FOREST HEALTH PROTECTION AND PLANT CONSERVATION. THE SENTINEL PLANT NETWORK (WITH OVER 220 MEMBER GARDENS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA) OFFERS SCOUTING RESOURCES, DIAGNOSTIC SUPPORT, AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO HELP PUBLIC GARDENS STOP SERIOUS PESTS AND DISEASES BY WORKING ON THE FRONT LINES OF EARLY DETECTION AND ENGAGING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS CITIZEN SCIENTISTS, AND THE PLANT HEROES YOUTH PROGRAM PROVIDES INNOVATIVE WAYS TO EDUCATE YOUNG LEARNERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANTS AND ENGAGE THEM IN PROTECTING FOREST HEALTH. THE ASSOCIATION'S DISASTER READINESS INITIATIVE WORKS TO ESTABLISH PUBLIC GARDENS AS CORNERSTONES OF RESILIENT, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES. THE INITIATIVE BUILDS CAPACITY AND ENHANCES THE ABILITY TO EXTOL HOW PUBLIC GARDENS CAN PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO LOCAL AND GLOBAL CHALLENGES. AMERICAN PUBLIC GARDENS ASSOCIATION IS PARTNERING WITH THE UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE'S FOREST HEALTH PROTECTION TO ESTABLISH LIVING GENE BANKS OF US AT-RISK TREE SPECIES, BY COLLECTING SEED FROM ACROSS ITS NATIVE RANGE TO CAPTURE BROAD GENETIC DIVERSITY THEN DISTRIBUTING PROPAGULES TO PUBLIC GARDENS FOR SAFEGUARDING IN EX SITU COLLECTIONS. EFFORTS FOCUS ON TAXA NATIVE TO US FORESTS WHICH CANNOT BE CONSERVED THROUGH TRADITIONAL SEEDBANKING METHODS. THE CURRENT PARTNERSHIP BEGAN IN 2015, AND ANNUALLY AWARDS MATCHING FUNDS ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS TO ASSOCIATION MEMBERS TO SUPPORT SCOUTING AND COLLECTING TRIPS, PROPAGATION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF PROPAGULES. IN 2020, THE U.S. BOTANIC GARDEN AND THE ASSOCIATION INITIATED THE URBAN AGRICULTURE RESILIENCE PROGRAM. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED FINANCIAL AWARDS TO 80 URBAN AGRICULTURE PROJECTS NATIONWIDE, PROMOTING PUBLIC GARDEN PARTICIPATION IN COLLABORATIONS THAT COMBINE FOOD GROWING AND EDUCATION WHILE ADDRESSING FOOD SECURITY CHALLENGES FACING COMMUNITIES.
  2. $746,524 spent. ANNUAL CONFERENCE - CONSISTS OF THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOCUSING ON THEMES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE AND EXCHANGE OF KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION
  3. $240,787 spent. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - CONSISTS OF VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON SEMINARS TO INCREASE THE KNOWLEDGE OF PUBLIC GARDEN PROFESSIONALS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1971.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.