Friends of the National Arboretum Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
See Schedule O.
- Income
- $3.1 million
- Spending
- $2.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- -0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 59%
- Employees
- 27
- Volunteers
- 168
- Highest pay
- $200,376, executive director
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
Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 23 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 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 (4)
- $998,431 spent. Washington Youth Garden: FONA operates the Washington Youth Garden, a one-acre urban farm on the USNA grounds. The Washington Youth Garden is open to the public daily as a living, interactive program space that welcomes thousands of visitors each year. As a working urban demonstration farm, FONA grows over 7,000 pounds of food a year, which is donated to the community. USNA supports the Washington Youth Garden by providing mulch, access to water, and use of the greenhouses. The Washington Youth Garden (WYG) serves as the home base for the following programs: School Garden support: Friends of the National Arboretum supports local teachers and schools in growing and maintaining sustainable gardens integrated in the school community that serve as an outdoor science classroom, a living nutrition lab, and a creative space to get in touch with nature. We offer a week-long Summer Institute for teachers, followed by in-depth assistance to a cohort of eight schools during the school year. We will also co-teach standards-aligned, garden-based lessons so that educators develop confidence in delivering interactive, outdoor lessons. High School Internships: Our Green Ambassadors paid high school internship program brings 12 Title 1 high school students to the Washington Youth Garden for a 6-weeks of skills, leadership and community development. Utilizing food as a gateway to understand our human connection with the land, interns master basic farming, carpentry and cooking, and develop their soft skills through teamwork, communication exercises, and other professional coaching. Funding for WYG comes primarily from grant awards and contracts received from foundations, and government agencies. Individual contributions are also solicited and received. All funding and contributions awarded to or received by WYG are classified by FONA as restricted funds and used only to support the WYG programs. FONA also sponsors a variety of programs for the community, including 5Ks, garden fairs, and nature hikes.
- $589,497 spent. Projects and activities: FONA holds numerous temporary and permanently restricted funds given for various purposes to benefit the U.S. National Arboretum. Every year, in consultation with the Arboretum leadership and staff, FONA releases funds from these restricted assets or general operating funds to the Arboretum to achieve a designated purpose. FONA then works with the Arboretum staff, often over a multi-year period, to ensure that the donors objective for each project or activity is fulfilled in a timely and cost-effective manner. For example, in recent years, FONA has collaborated with the Arboretum on the following projects and activities: -Updating the Arboretums Master Plan and identifying follow-on campaigns and related activities. -Cleanup and restoration as well as ongoing monitoring of Springhouse Run along with monitoring of Hickey Run, two crucial watercourses that traverse the Arboretum, emptying into the Anacostia River and ultimately into the Chesapeake Bay. -Completion of the Flowering Tree Walk, a universal access walkway providing magnificent views of the Arboretums great meadow and Capitol Columns. -Preservation and maintenance of the Arboretums heritage collections, which include the azalea, boxwood, and associated collections; and for general support of all the Arboretum gardens and collections, including funding for interpretive signage. -Funding support for many internships, including: those working in the azalea, boxwood, Asia valley, introduction garden, and other heritage collections and on research. -Luncheon and plant sales as well as promotional support for the annual Lahr Native Plant Symposium. -Evaluating opportunities to support repair of the Capitol Columns and fund their care in perpetuity.
- $253,809 spent. Annual Garden Fair and Plant Sale Event: The Garden Fair is held in early spring and typically attracts 10,000 people to the grounds of the Arboretum. Traditionally, the National Arboretum curators serve as plant experts providing advice for novice as well as experienced gardeners.
- $58,817 spent. Membership and outreach: FONA runs an active outreach program designed to broaden and expand the visibility of, and to provide public support for, the Arboretum locally, nationally, and internationally, as well as to increase the Arboretums visitor base. For example, FONA hosts numerous public programs such as forest bathing, yoga classes, family programs, and community events. FONA also partners with other Arboretum stakeholders, interest groups, and community organizations for the betterment of the Arboretum. FONA staff and board members continually reach out to the media, government officials, community leaders, and industry associations, and maintain ongoing relationships with these and other key decision-makers and influential organizations and citizens. FONA also maintains an active public presence via its website and through social media such as Facebook and Instagram. In addition, FONA runs a membership program to recruit and serve 1,000+ members and supporters each year with member events and activities, volunteer opportunities, and weekly enewsletter with updates on Arboretum News, and other member benefits.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1982.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.