Garden Center Services
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ADVANCING LIVES OF CONNECTION, CONTRIBUTION AND MEANING FOR PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND THE INDIVIDUALS THAT SUPPORT THEM.
- Income
- $10.6 million
- Spending
- $10.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 2.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 52%
- Employees
- 159
- Volunteers
- 127
- Highest pay
- $205,444, chief executive officer/president
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
Fair: 68 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $5.4 million spent. GARDEN CENTER SERVICES' CILA PROGRAM PROVIDES ELEVEN SMALL FAMILY-SIZED HOMES IN THE CHICAGO SUBURBS TO OVER FIFTY INDIVIDUALS ALLOWING THEM TO EXERCISE CHOICE, PARTICIPATE IN MAINSTREAM COMMUNITY LIFE AND SHARE IN OVERALL HOUSEHOLD DUTIES. GARDEN CENTER SERVICES CILA PROGRAM RECOGNIZES THAT THERE IS NOT A "ONE SIZE FITS ALL" LIVING ARRANGEMENT FOR THE INDIVIDUALS SERVED. FOR THIS REASON, GARDEN CENTER SERVICES PROVIDES A VARIETY OF HOUSING OPTIONS INCLUDING SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES, APARTMENTS AND A TOWNHOME.GARDEN CENTER SERVICES' CILA PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WITH DAILY LIVING SKILLS FROM OUR HIGHLY QUALIFIED STAFF AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. SUCH ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PARTICIPATING IN SPECIAL OLYMPIC PROGRAMS, SPORTING EVENTS, PARK DISTRICT ACTIVITIES, VACATIONING WITH FRIENDS, GOING SHOPPING AND VOLUNTEERING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THEY RESIDE.OUR QUALIFIED STAFF IS AVAILABLE 24/7 TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE, DIRECTION, AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE RESIDENTS, WHILE SUPPORTING THEM TO FULFILL THEIR DAILY LIVING SKILLS AND REACH THEIR INDIVIDUAL GOALS WITH CONFIDENCE. THROUGH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, THE INDIVIDUALS WE SERVE FIND ACCEPTANCE, LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP, WHICH FOSTERS A GROWING SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE.
- $2.6 million spent. COMMUNITY DAY PROGRAMS GARDEN CENTER SERVICES OPERATES OUR COMMUNITY DAY PROGRAM WHICH IS A UNIQUELY CRAFTED EXPERIENCE DESIGNED TO NURTURE THE MIND, BODY AND SOUL OF EACH INDIVIDUAL THAT ENTERS OUR DOOR. WITH A COMMITMENT TO PERSONALIZED ATTENTION, OUR PROGRAM CATERS TO ABOUT 100 PARTICIPANTS, OFFERING A DIVERSE RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL, AND SOCIAL EXPERIENCES. WE PRIORITIZE INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION, ENSURING THAT EACH PARTICIPANT RECEIVES TAILORED GOALS AND SUPPORT TO MAXIMIZE THEIR PERSONAL GROWTH.IN ADDITION TO THE ENRICHING ACTIVITIES WITHIN OUR CENTER, THE COMMUNITY DAY PROGRAM EXTENDS ITS IMPACT BY ACTIVELY ASSISTING PARTICIPANTS TO FIND MEANINGFUL PAID WORK OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS VARIOUS LOCAL BUSINESSES. OVER THE PAST YEAR, SUCH BUSINESSES INCLUDED A CAR WASH, A CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, THE LOCAL PARK DISTRICT, AND VARIOUS FAST-FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS. GARDEN CENTER SERVICES TAKES PRIDE IN FOSTERING COMMUNITY INTEGRATION. OUR AIM IS TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS IN ACHIEVING MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT AND ENHANCING THEIR WELL-BEING. OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBLY ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR PARTICIPANTS. PARTICIPANTS HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO HELP WITH PROJECTS SUCH AS THE COOK COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE CLEANUPS, AND MEALS ON WHEELS.GARDEN CENTER SERVICES IS DEDICATED TO THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE AND CONTINUES TO RECEIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THRU THE NATIONAL EXPANSION OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES NETWORK (NEON). THIS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP ENABLES US TO ENHANCE SERVICE OFFERINGS AND OPPORTUNITIES. GARDEN CENTER SERVICES ALSO OPERATES THE SECOND CHANCE THRIFT SHOPPE WHICH IS LOCATED IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. THE SHOP PROVIDES TRAINING AND INTEGRATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPANTS. THE THRIFT SHOPPE OFFERS A VARIETY OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS, CLOTHING, COLLECTIBLES, AND FURNITURE AT BARGAIN PRICES. OVER THIRTY VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATE IN STAFFING THE STORE AND RAISING PROCEEDS THAT SUPPORT THE PROGRAMS OF GARDEN CENTER SERVICES. VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME. DONATIONS OF NEW AND GENTLY USED GOODS ARE ACCEPTED ON THURSDAYS AND SATURDAYS.
- $1.4 million spent. GARDEN CENTER SERVICES OPERATES AN INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITY FOR ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES (ICF/ID). THIS HOME IS LICENSED BY THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHCARE AND FAMILY SERVICES (PUBLIC HEALTH) AND PROVIDES 24-HOUR RESIDENTIAL CARE TO THE 15 INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE WITHIN THE HOME. SPECIFICALLY TRAINED STAFF ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WITH DAILY LIVING AND INDEPENDENT LIFE SKILLS, WHILE ALSO PROMOTING INDEPENDENCE IN THESE SKILL AREAS. INDIVIDUALS IN THE HOME HAVE THEIR OWN BEDROOMS AND MAY HAVE THEIR OWN BATHROOM OR SHARE A JACK-AND-JILL STYLE BATHROOM WITH THEIR NEIGHBOR. THE SUPPORTED INDIVIDUALS ARE ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, OFTEN PARTICIPATING IN PARK DISTRICT ACTIVITIES, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, SPORTING EVENTS, AND LOCAL FESTIVITIES. MOST RESIDENTS HAVE LIVED AT THE ICF FOR OVER A DECADE, AND COUPLED WITH LONG TERM STAFF CAREGIVERS, MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS AND FRIENDSHIPS HAVE FORMED OVER THE YEARS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1958.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.