Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Reeves-Reed Arboretum

EIN 23-7335987 · Summit, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE REEVES-REED ARBORETUM SEEKS TO ENGAGE, EDUCATE AND ENRICH ITS VISITORS SO THEY MAY BECOME BETTER STEWARDS OF NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. WE ACHIEVE THIS MISSION THROUGH THE CARE AND UTILIZATION OF AN HISTORIC ESTATE AND GARDENS.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
13.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
24
Volunteers
1,970

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 28% 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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, 2024, 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. $574,483 spent. HORTICULTUREREEVES-REED ARBORETUM IS A 13.5 ACRE ESTATE. IT WAS SELECTED TO BE PUT ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN 1993 AND ON THE NJ REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN 1993 AS WELL. TODAY THE ESTATE IS A SUBURBAN ARBORETUM, PUBLIC GARDEN, AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER.THE MAIN HOUSE (WISNER HOUSE) WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1889. IT WAS DESIGNED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL FIRM OF BABB COOK AND WILLARD AND IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE COLONIAL REVIVAL STYLE HOUSE. THIS STYLE HOUSE IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ARCHITECTURE THAT WAS PREDOMINANT IN THE NORTHEAST DURING THIS PERIOD.THE FORMAL GARDENS ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE 1920S ERA OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE. A FORMAL ROSE GARDEN, AZALEA AND RHODODENDRON, PERENNIAL BORDERS AND ROCK GARDENS COMPRISE THE FORMAL AREAS. SOME OF THE AREAS ARE HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE, AND IN 2017 AND 2020; THE ARBORETUM COMPLETED PHASE ONE AND TWO OF A MULTI-PHASED ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT. BEYOND THE FORMAL GARDENS, MANY EDUCATIONAL GARDEN AREAS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TO TEACH THE PUBLIC ABOUT PLANTS THAT ARE USED HORTICULTURALLY, AS WELL AS NATIVE SPECIES THAT HAVE BEEN REINTRODUCED INTO THE GARDEN. THE COLLECTIONS ARE APPROPRIATELY IDENTIFIED AND SIGNAGE IS UTILIZED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC. THERE IS A 672 SQUARE FOOT GREENHOUSE THAT HOUSES COLLECTIONS OF ORCHIDS, CACTI, CARNIVOROUS PLANTS, AND SUCCULENTS. IT IS ALSO USED AS A CLASSROOM. THERE IS ALSO A 300 SQUARE FOOT HOOP HOUSE THAT IS USED FOR PROPAGATION AND THE OVERWINTERING OF TROPICAL PLANTS USED IN THE DISPLAY GARDENS.FOR 10 MONTHS OF THE YEAR THE GLACIAL BOWL TO THE SOUTH OF THE MAIN HOUSE IS A CERTIFIED NATIVE WILDLIFE HABITAT THAT HAS BEEN PLANTED TO ATTRACT SONG BIRDS, BEES AND BUTTERFLIES. WILDFLOWERS AND FERNS HAVE BEEN PLANTED TO DEMONSTRATE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF NATIVE LANDSCAPING. WE MANAGE 6 ACRES OF NATIVE HARDWOOD FOREST AS AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL TO TEACH THE MANY SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN WHO COME TO THE ARBORETUM.
  2. $395,412 spent. EDUCATIONEDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED IN THE MARY REINHART STACKHOUSE EDUCATION CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS INCLUDING:HANDS TO NATURE, A FIELD TRIP PROGRAM FOR NEWARK, ELIZABETH AND PLAINFIELD ELEMENTARY AGE STUDENTS;NATURED-THEMED BIRTHDAY PARTIES; A SERIES OF NATURE PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES;A SERIES OF SUMMER CAMP OPTIONS INCLUDING: ELEPHANT TREE NATURE CAMP FOR AGES 4-8; THEATRE AND FINE ARTS CAMPS WITH A FOCUS ON NATURE AND THE NATURAL WORLD (AGES 4 TO 11); AND COOKING CAMPS FOR AGES 5-10 WITH A FOCUS ON HEALTHY EATING.SQUARE FOOT GARDENING WORKSHOPS.HEALTH AND WELLNESS WORKSHOPS INCLUDING YOGA AND FOREST BATHING.INTERPRATIVE SIGNAGE HAS BEEN INSTALLED THAT DESCRIBES THE HISTORY OF THE PROPERTY AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE FROM A LANDSCAPE DESIGN.AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS, LECTURES, AND EVENTS FOCUSING ON SUSTAINABILITY, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TREES.
  3. $184,217 spent. PUBLIC RELATIONSTHE ARBORETUM GROUNDS ARE OPEN FROM 9:00 AM TO 4:00 PM FROM NOVEMBER 1 THROUGH MARCH 31, AND FROM 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM FROM APRIL 1 THROUGH OCTOBER 31 FOR PUBLIC ENJOYMENT AND STUDY WITHOUT AN ADMISSION CHARGE. THE ARBORETUM ALSO HOSTS TWO MAJOR GALLERY EXHIBITIS PER YEAR, ALIGNING WITH THE MISSION OF THE INSTITUTION, PROVIDING THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THEIR CURRICULUM, AND DRAWING ON ARTWORKS FROM NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ARTISTS. IN 2021, RRA WELCOMED OVER 100,000 VISITORS TO THE GROUNDS, AND HAS SUSTAINED THAT GROWTH.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 April 1974.

    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.