Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Garden Court Inc

EIN 35-1265691 · South Bend, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GARDEN COURT, INC. WAS ORGANIZED AS AN INDIANA NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION TO OWN AND OPERATE TWO APARTMENT PROJECTS FOR LOW-INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS IN PLYMOUTH, INDIANA. THE EAST PROJECT HAS 60 UNITS AND THE WEST PROJECT HAS 46 UNITS. THE CORPORATION'S MORTGAGE LOANS WERE PROVIDED THROUGH THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, UNDER SECTION 515 OF THE HOUSING ACT OF 1949. DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2019, THE CORPORATION BEGAN CONSTRUCTION ON AN 18-UNIT COMMUNITY FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES LOCATED IN PLYMOUTH, INDIANA. SERENITY PLACE WAS PLACED IN SERVICE IN MARCH 2022 AND OPERATIONS COMMENCED THEREAFTER.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-37.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 59%
Employees
0
Volunteers
11

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (housing, $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 83% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 June 30, 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)
  1. $884,614 spent. GARDEN COURT, INC. WAS ORGANIZED AS AN INDIANA NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION TO OWN AND OPERATE TWO APARTMENT PROJECTS FOR LOW-INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS IN PLYMOUTH, INDIANA. THE EAST PROJECT HAS 60 UNITS AND THE WEST PROJECT HAS 46 UNITS. THE CORPORATION'S MORTGAGE LOANS WERE PROVIDED THROUGH THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, UNDER SECTION 515 OF THE HOUSING ACT OF 1949. DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2019, THE CORPORATION BEGAN CONSTRUCTION ON AN 18-UNIT COMMUNITY FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES LOCATED IN PLYMOUTH, INDIANA. SERENITY PLACE WAS PLACED IN SERVICE IN MARCH 2022 AND OPERATIONS COMMENCED THEREAFTER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 2025.

    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 October 1972.

    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.