Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Friends of Brookside Gardens Inc

EIN 52-1930539 · Silver Spring, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FRIENDS OF BROOKSIDE GARDENS RAISES FUNDS TO EXPAND THE ABILITY OF BROOKSIDE GARDENS TO SUSTAIN THE GARDEN AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY OUTREACH. THIS INCLUDES SUPPORT FOR ONGOING ACTIVITIES AND GRANTS FOR SPECIFIC GARDEN PROJECTS.

Income
$168,371
Spending
$225,707
Reserves
26 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 42%

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

Financial health

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 26.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 34% of income.

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

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending March 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 (1)
  1. $204,344 spent. FOBG GRANTS PROVIDED BROOKSIDE GARDENS WITH SEASONAL GARDENING STAFF, NEW PLANTS, AND A NEW NATIVE AZALEA GARDEN. FOBG GRANTS PROVIDED HORTICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION. WITH FOBG SUPPORT, BROOKSIDE GARDENS WAS ABLE TO HIRE TWO HORTICULTURAL INTERNS; HOLD THE GREEN MATTERS SYMPOSIUM FOR PROFESSIONAL HORTICULTURALISTS AND GARDENERS; PRESENT FALL AND SPRING LECTURE SERIES AND HOST A GREENFEST COMMUNITY EVENT TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. FOBG GRANTS PROVIDED BROOKSIDE GARDENS WITH GRANTS FOR OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY BUILDING. BROOKSIDE HELD A CHILDREN'S DAY FILLED WITH GARDENING AND NATURE ACTIVITIES. DURING THE SUMMER BROOKSIDE GARDENS HAD AN OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES. DURING THE WINTER BROOKSIDE GARDENS HOSTED A MINIATURE RAILROAD DISPLAY ILLUSTRATING MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY.THIS PAST YEAR, FOBG PROVIDED A GRANT FOR A MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, AN AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT ACCESSIBLE VIEWING PLATFORM IN THE GUDE GARDEN.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending March 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 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 March 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 December 1996.

    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.