Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Woodland Arboretum Foundation

EIN 31-1309373 · Dayton, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 24% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

WOODLAND ARBORETUM FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO MEETING THE PUBLIC'S NEED FOR NATURAL RECREATION SPACE, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND ASSISTING THE CEMETERY WITH THE SELECTION, PLANTING AND CARE OF ARBORICULTURE AND HORTICULTURAL FEATURES. THE FOUNDATION ALSO ASSISTS IN PROVIDING A CULTURAL WORKSHOP FOR VOLUNTEERS INTERESTED IN CONTRIBUTING TO THE NATURAL BEAUTY AND VALUE OF DAYTON'S URBAN ENVIRONMENT, PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS, AND SERVING AS AN URBAN FIELD STATION FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND GEOLOGICAL STUDY.

Income
$453,725
Spending
$103,076
Spent on programs
24%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 69%
Employees
0
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$220,758, pres/ceo woodland cemetery

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 77% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    24% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $24,327 spent. POST PANDEMIC IN 2021, WOODLAND REINSTITUTED IN PERSON EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND TOURS TO COMPLIMENT VIRTUAL TOURS THAT WERE IMPLEMENTED IN 2020 FOR THE PUBLIC. A TOTAL OF 212 IN PERSON TOURS OR PRESENTATIONS WERE CONDUCTED AS WELL AT THE OPTION FOR WALKING THE GROUNDS OF THE CEMETERY AND DOING A SELF-GUIDED TOUR. SPECIFIC PROJECTS INCLUDED A TREE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM TO REMOVE DEAD OR FAILING TREES, PLANTING OF NEW TREES, PLACEMENT OF HORTICULTURAL DISPLAYS THROUGHOUT THE CEMETERY, AND RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION OF SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC STRUCTURES.

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 November 6, 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 March 1991.

    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 November 4, 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.