Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Friends of Tucsons Birthplace Inc

EIN 27-1326401 · Tucson, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE, HONOR, PROTECT, RESTORE & PROMOTE THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF TUCSON'S BIRTHPLACE. THIS INCLUDES MISSION GARDEN, A LIVING AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM THAT SEEKS TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO CONNECT TO THIS LAND BY RECLAIMING AGRICULTURAL TRADITIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN A CHANGING WORLD. MISSION GARDEN HONORS HISTORY AND REVITALIZES CULTURAL PRACTICES TO INFORM AND ENSURE AN ADAPTABLE, SUSTAINABLE, HEALTHY FUTURE. MISSION GARDEN PROVIDES WORKSHOPS AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO RAISE AWARENESS OF DESERT ADAPTED HERITAGE TREES, CROPS & EDIBLE PLANTS.

Income
$808,539
Spending
$838,852
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
13
Volunteers
0

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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 45% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $656,635 spent. CELEBRATING AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD TRADITIONS- AGAVE HERITAGE FESTIVAL, PUEBLO DE MAIZ, DIA DE SAN JUAN MENLO PARK COMMUNITY FESTIVAL, SAN YSIDRO WHEAT FESTIVAL, INDIGENOUS WINTER SOLSTICE TRADITIONS, RARAMURI RANCHERIA ESTABLISHED.EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND WORKSHOPS-HERB WALKS, TOHONO O'ODHAM AGRICULTURAL DAYS, ARCHAEOLOGY DAY, PROPOGATION WORKSHOPS, TREE CARE WORKSHOPS, AGAVE ROASTING DEMONSTRATION, TASTING HISTORY: MONTHLY INFORMATIVE, INTERACTIVE PUBLIC SESSIONS ENTITLED TASTING HISTORY FEATURING CROPS, PLANTS, WEEDS, RECIPES, TASTINGS, DEMONSTRATIONS OF WHAT IS CURRENTLY IN HARVEST, CHINESE VEGETABLE COOKING WORKSHOP, TOHONO O'ODHAM BASKETRY WORKSHOP, MEXICAN MEDICINE MAKING WORKSHOP, BIRD WALKS, TRIP TO OAXACA AND THE JARDIN ETNOBOTANICO, NATIVE AMERICAN ART FAIR, DRAGONFLY DAY, SEED SWAP WITH PIMA COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, SUMMER SUNSETS SPECIAL HOURS AND PROGRAMSOUTREACH AND COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS- TUCSON UNESCO CITY OF GATRONOMY, COMMUNITY FOOD BANK, ARIZONA SONORA DESERT MUSEUM, ARIZONA STATE MUSEUM, SAN XAVIER CO-OP, TOHONO O'ODHAM COMMUNITY COLLEGE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION, ISKASHITAA REFUGEE NETWORK, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE- DE ANZA TRAIL, IRONWOOD TREE EXPERIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, AMERICORPS. SAN AUGUSTIN FARMER'S MARKET, SANTA CRUZ VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA, MURAL PROJECT, PASCUA YAQUI TRIBE, HUALAPAI TRIBEAWARDS & GRANTS-TUCSON PIMA COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION HISTORIC PRESERVATION AWARD FOR THE CELEBRATION OF TRADITIONAL TOHONO O'ODHAM AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AT MISSION GARDEN, THE STONEWALL FUND AT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, SOUTHWESTERN FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION, COLONIAL DAMES OF AMERICA PRESERVATION AND EDUCATION OF TUCSON REGION'S AGRICULTURAL HERITAGEPRESS-FOTB MISSION GARDEN SAW AN INCREASE IN MEDIA COVERAGE THAT INLCUDED ARTICLES IN THE NEW YORK TIMES AND BOSTON GLOBE. FOR A FULL LISTING, INCLUDING VIDEO COVERAGE SEE HTTPS://WWW.MISSIONGARDEN.ORG/MEDIA-PRESSGARDEN ACTIVITIES- FOTB MISSION GARDEN IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY WTH EXTENDED HOURS IN THE WINTER. TOURS ARE OFFERED THURSDAYS AND SATURDAYS AND SPECIAL TOURS CAN BE ACCOMODATED WITH ADVANCE NOTICE. APPROXIMATELY 17 SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS WERE HELD SERVICING 624 STUDENTS FROM MULTICULTURAL CLASSROOMS.

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 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 2024.

    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 April 2010.

    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.