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Garden Club of Virginia Inc

EIN 54-0591220 · Richmond, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GCV RESTORES & PRESERVES HISTORIC GARDENS AND LANDSCAPES IN VIRGINIA, PROMOTES CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES, INSPIRES KNOWLEDGE & APPRECIATION OF HORTICULTURE & FLORAL DESIGN, AND PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ITS MEMBERS & THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
81.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 65%
Employees
9
Volunteers
3,369
Highest pay
$131,167, executive di

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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 81.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 21 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

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $473,167 spent. TO FULFILL ITS MISSION, THE GARDEN CLUB OF VIRGINIA (GCV) SUPPORTS AND ADVANCES THE EFFORTS OF ITS 48 MEMBER CLUBS, 3,400 INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS AND APPROVED EXTERNAL ENTITIES. THE CLUBS HOST HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK IN VIRGINIA, THE OLDEST AND LARGEST STATEWIDE HOME AND GARDEN TOUR IN THE NATION. PROCEEDS FROM HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK TOURS BENEFIT THE RESTORATION OF HISTORIC PUBLIC LANDSCAPES AND GARDENS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND FUND A FELLOWSHIP IN HISTORIC LANDSCAPE RESTORATION.
  2. $334,009 spent. SINCE 1929, THE GARDEN CLUB OF VIRGINIA HAS COMPLETED LANDSCAPE RESTORATION PROJECTS AT MORE THAN 50 HISTORIC AND CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT, PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE GARDENS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH, HELPING PRESERVE SITES THAT REFLECT OUR RICH HERITAGE AND HISTORIC PUBLIC LANDSCAPES. IN JANUARY 2024, THE GCV CONTRACTED WITH A NEW LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AND BEGAN DESIGN WORK WITH SEVERAL RESTORATION SITES. WE PROVIDED AND OVERSAW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW PLANTING PLAN AT UNIVERSITY CHAPEL, WASHINGTON & LEE (LEXINGTON), AND ARE DEVELOPING A REIMAGINED LANDSCAPE THAT WILL SHOWCASE NATIVE PLANTS AT THE KENT-VALENTINE HOUSE (RICHMOND). IN A CONTINUING EFFORT TO BUILD A COMPREHENSIVE RECORD OF HISTORIC GARDENS IN VIRGINIA, THE GCV OFFERS RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS WORKING TOWARDS AN MLA OR EQUIVALENT DEGREE. THE FELLOWSHIPS PROMOTE RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION OF HISTORIC PUBLIC AND PRIVATE VIRGINIA GARDENS. IN 2024, A FELLOWSHIP WAS COMPLETED AT THE STATE ARBORETUM AT BLANDY (BOYCE). SINCE 1929, THE GARDEN CLUB OF VIRGINIA HAS COMPLETED LANDSCAPE RESTORATION PROJECTS AT MORE THAN 50 HISTORIC AND CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT, PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE GARDENS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH, HELPING PRESERVE SITES THAT REFLECT OUR RICH HERITAGE AND HISTORIC PUBLIC LANDSCAPES. IN JANUARY 2024, THE GCV CONTRACTED WITH A NEW LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AND BEGAN DESIGN WORK WITH SEVERAL RESTORATION SITES. WE PROVIDED AND OVERSAW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW PLANTING PLAN AT UNIVERSITY CHAPEL, WASHINGTON & LEE (LEXINGTON), AND ARE DEVELOPING A REIMAGINED LANDSCAPE THAT WILL SHOWCASE NATIVE PLANTS AT THE KENT-VALENTINE HOUSE (RICHMOND). IN A CONTINUING EFFORT TO BUILD A COMPREHENSIVE RECORD OF HISTORIC GARDENS IN VIRGINIA, THE GCV OFFERS RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS WORKING TOWARDS AN MLA OR EQUIVALENT DEGREE. THE FELLOWSHIPS PROMOTE RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION OF HISTORIC PUBLIC AND PRIVATE VIRGINIA GARDENS. IN 2024, A FELLOWSHIP WAS COMPLETED AT THE STATE ARBORETUM AT BLANDY (BOYCE).
  3. $261,606 spent. AS PART OF ITS EDUCATIONAL MISSION, GCV HOSTED FORUMS AND WEBINARS ON CONSERVATION ISSUES, HORTICULTURE, FLORAL DESIGN, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND GARDENING. IT ALSO SPONSORED FELLOWSHIPS IN CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND PROVIDED COMPETITIVE GRANT AWARDS TO MEMBER CLUBS FOR COMMUNITY CONSERVATION AND BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS. THROUGH ITS ANNUAL AWARDS PROGRAM, GCV ALSO RECOGNIZED OUTSTANDING CONSERVATION WORK IN GOVERNMENT, EDUCATION, AND AMONG PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS WHOSE EXTRAORDINARY WORK ADVANCES THE MISSION OF THE GCV.
  4. $43,286 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE PUBLICATION OF 'THE JOURNAL', SALES OF GARDENING AND CONSERVATION BOOKS, AND OTHER EVENTS.
  5. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE PUBLICATION OF 'THE JOURNAL', SALES OF GARDENING AND CONSERVATION BOOKS, AND OTHER EVENTS.

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 September 1939.

    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.

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