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North American Japanese Garden Association

EIN 45-3366145 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NORTH AMERICAN JAPANESE GARDEN ASSOCIATION (NAJGA) SEEKS TO ENSURE THE SUSTAINABILITY, ENDURING VALUE AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF JAPANESE GARDENS IN NORTH AMERICA FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. NAJGA CONNECTS AND SUPPORTS JAPANESE GARDENS AND SERVES AS A RESOURCE CENTER THROUGH INFORMATION SHARING AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC EDUCATION, CONFERENCES AND SYMPOSIA, RESEARCH AND SCHOLARLY ACTIVITY. NAJGA'S ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE PUBLICATION OF A BI- MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER, AN ANNUAL JOURNAL, A BIENNIAL CONFERENCE, AND REGIONAL WORKSHOPS. THESE ACTIVITIES FOCUS ON EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE HORTICULTURE, DESIGN, AND MAINTENANCE; HUMAN CULTURE; BUSINESS AND EDUCATION CULTURE OF JAPANESE GARDENS AND HOW THEY IMPACT THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.

Income
$314,474
Spending
$306,853
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
9.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
1

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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

    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 December 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 (2)
  1. $256,103 spent. PROGRAMS TO ENSURE THE SUSTAINABILITY, ENDURING VALUE AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF JAPANESE GARDENS IN NORTH AMERICA FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDED: INTERNATIONAL STUDY TOUR - NAJGA CONDUCTED A STUDY TOUR IN 2022 TO JAPAN. THIS TOUR OFFERED PARTICIPANTS UNIQUE ACCESS TO PUBLIC GARDENS AND ARCHITECTURE THROUGHOUT JAPAN. REGIONAL CONFERENCE - NAJGA CONDUCTED 2 REGIONAL CONFERENCES IN 2022 TO RICHMOND, VA TO MAYMONT'S JAPANESE GARDEN AND TO ROCKFORD ILLINOIS TO THE ANDERSON JAPANESE GARDENS. THESE CONFERENCESOFFERED PARTICIPANTS IMMERSIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES ON JAPANESE GARDENS AS WELL AS OTHER CULTURAL ARTS: KOKORO, TAI CHI, AND TEA CEREMONY. WEBINARS - NAJGA CONDUCTED A 14 WEEK WEBINAR SERIES TO UNCOVER THE HISTORY, DEVELOPMENT AND FUTURE OF PUBLIC JAPANESE GARDENS IN THE UNITED STATES. PROGRAMS TO ENSURE THE SUSTAINABILITY, ENDURING VALUE AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF JAPANESE GARDENS IN NORTH AMERICA FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDED: INTERNATIONAL STUDY TOUR - NAJGA CONDUCTED A STUDY TOUR IN 2022 TO JAPAN. THIS TOUR OFFERED PARTICIPANTS UNIQUE ACCESS TO PUBLIC GARDENS AND ARCHITECTURE THROUGHOUT JAPAN. REGIONAL CONFERENCE - NAJGA CONDUCTED 2 REGIONAL CONFERENCES IN 2022 TO RICHMOND, VA TO MAYMONT'S JAPANESE GARDEN AND TO ROCKFORD ILLINOIS TO THE ANDERSON JAPANESE GARDENS. THESE CONFERENCESOFFERED PARTICIPANTS IMMERSIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES ON JAPANESE GARDENS AS WELL AS OTHER CULTURAL ARTS: KOKORO, TAI CHI, AND TEA CEREMONY. WEBINARS - NAJGA CONDUCTED A 14 WEEK WEBINAR SERIES TO UNCOVER THE HISTORY, DEVELOPMENT AND FUTURE OF PUBLIC JAPANESE GARDENS IN THE UNITED STATES.
  2. $18,806 spent. JOURNAL- NAJGA PRODUCES AN ANNUAL PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL THAT INCLUDES ARTICLES ON JAPANESE GARDENS IN THE U.S. AND CANADA FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES. NAJGA ALSO OPERATES A WEBSITE AND PRODUCES A BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER. THESE THREE RESOURCES OFFER VALUABLE INFORMATION ABOUT JAPANESE GARDENS IN NORTH AMERICA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2013.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.