Gardeners in Community Development
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Gardeners in Community Development (GICD) educates and empowers people to work together on food production community gardens and urban agriculture projects to benefit themselves and their community.
- Income
- $24,512
- Spending
- $10,098
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 77%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 150
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
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Independent board
0 of 251 of 2 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
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)
- $8,078 spent. Food Production and Distribution: Our garden projects are physically designed, and participants are trained, so that the amounts of vegetables grown exceed personal needs of the grower, in order that a significant portion of the yield can be donated to needy community members through sharing and food pantries, and also, that some can be sold to cover personal gardening expenses. Most participants, about 65 families, are themselves impoverished, live in neighborhoods with high levels of food insecurity, and about 35 of these are recent immigrants and refugees. Currently, in 3 food projects these growers tend their own plots, and annually over 150 volunteers provide necessary assistance. Three of these projects donated over 7,500 pounds to food pantries, benefiting up to 450 persons each week. Produce sales, and vegetable and herb starter plants grown by our volunteers at local farmers markets raised more than $15,000 that partially covered program and participants expenses.
- $1,009 spent. Sustainable Garden Systems: We use regenerative practices the conserve energy and matter, and continuously build healthy soil. Using deep mulches of chipped tree trimmings and straw, organic amendments, weed suppressing and soil building cover crops, disease resistant plants, and ecological diversity, has brought lasting success. The East Dallas Community Garden continues to thrive as a project for Cambodian market gardeners now in its 37th year. The Live Oak Community Garden, is doing well at 33 years, and Our Saviour gardens are successfully passing 20 years.
- $1,011 spent. Food Production Support and Education: We share our experience so that others can manage successful food projects. Much of this is through an open invitation for educational tours, and learning opportunities through hands-on volunteering, and providing education at a farmers market. Many of our 150 or so volunteers each year have never gardened before, and are eager to learn about soil, how to plant and harvest, what to grow, benefits of mulching, how to water, etc. This opportunity to learn, out in a real garden, attracts youth, small children, an folks that are beginning gardeners. During the past year over 60 people attended these work and learn sessions. During this past year we have mentored a group managing a greenhouse, and helped groups involved in donating to food pantries. We continued a mini-farm where refugee gardeners can observe best practices in soil management, weed control, crop selection, harvesting, and other appropriate practices in on-going real time. At our farmers market booth weekly we share production information about locally grown food, and sell best varieties of herbs and vegetables transplants.
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 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 October 13, 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 June 2025.
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 September 1994.
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 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.