Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATIN EXISTS TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT ORCHID CULTIVATION AND PRESERVATION THROUGH EDUCATION AND RESEARCH. THE SPONSORED ANNUAL ORCHID SHOW FEATURES EXHIBITS AND EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS AND IS THE LARGEST EAST OF CALIFORNA WITH ATTENDANCE BETWEEN 5,000 AND 6,000. MONTHLY MEMBER MEETINGS AND VISITS TO FLORIDA ORCHID GROWERES EDUCATE MEMBERS WITH PAID SPEAKERS AND EXPERTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. SOCIETY MEMBERS ALSO PARTICIPATE IN NATIVE SPECIES PRESERVATION EFFORS ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LAND. THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINS A PRIVATE LIBRARY WITH RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS.
- Income
- $151,080
- Spending
- $156,665
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 20.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 65%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 50
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 88 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 20.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 50 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 (1)
- $121,245 spent. THE FT. LAUDERDALE ORCHID SOCIETY, INC. SPONSORS AN ANNUAL ORCHID SHOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC OVER A THREE DAY WEEKEND IN JANUARY WITH APPROXIMATELY 12,000 SQUARE FEET OF DISPLAY AREA AND CLASSROOMS SHOWING VARIOUS WAYS OF PRESENTING AND GROWING ORCHIDS. PRIZES AND AWARDS ARE GIVEN BY JUDGES FROM THE AMERICAN ORCHID SOCIETY. MEMBER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH SPEAKERS SPECIALIZING IN TYPES OF ORCHID SPECIES, GROWING HABITS, CULTIVATION AND DISEASE PREVENTION. SALE OF PLANTS AND BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS DURING MEETINGS. AN ANNUAL AUCTION IS HELD EACH YEAR IN OCTOBER FEATURING PLANTS DONATED BY GROUWERS AND MEMBERS. BUS EXCURSIONS (RAMBLES) TO GROWERS, NURSERIES, BOTANICAL GARDENS AND NATURE CENTERS IN SOUTH FLORIDA GIVE MEMBERS OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE AND PURCHASE VARIOUS SPECIES OF ORCHIDS. THE FT. LAUDERDALE ORCHID SOCIETY, INC. SPONSORS AN ANNUAL ORCHID SHOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC OVER A THREE DAY WEEKEND IN JANUARY WITH APPROXIMATELY 12,000 SQUARE FEET OF DISPLAY AREA AND CLASSROOMS SHOWING VARIOUS WAYS OF PRESENTING AND GROWING ORCHIDS. PRIZES AND AWARDS ARE GIVEN BY JUDGES FROM THE AMERICAN ORCHID SOCIETY. MEMBER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH SPEAKERS SPECIALIZING IN TYPES OF ORCHID SPECIES, GROWING HABITS, CULTIVATION AND DISEASE PREVENTION. SALE OF PLANTS AND BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS DURING MEETINGS. AN ANNUAL AUCTION IS HELD EACH YEAR IN OCTOBER FEATURING PLANTS DONATED BY GROUWERS AND MEMBERS. BUS EXCURSIONS (RAMBLES) TO GROWERS, NURSERIES, BOTANICAL GARDENS AND NATURE CENTERS IN SOUTH FLORIDA GIVE MEMBERS OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE AND PURCHASE VARIOUS SPECIES OF ORCHIDS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1982.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.