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The Greenwood Gardens & Nature

EIN 80-0038573 · Short Hills, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OPEN FOR VISITATION SINCE 2013, GREENWOOD GARDENS IS A 28-ACRE PUBLIC GARDEN WHOSE MISSION IS "CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH NATURE AND THE ARTS IN A HISTORIC GARDEN OASIS" THROUGH SELF-GUIDED AND GROUP TOURS, AND PROGRAMS IN HORTICULTURE, HISTORY, AND THE ARTS.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
14.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
19
Volunteers
63

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.3 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 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 55% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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, 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 (2)
  1. $1.3 million spent. GREENWOOD GARDENS IS GUIDED BY A NEW FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN WHOSE THREE KEY GOALS FOCUS ON RAISING GREENWOOD'S PROFILE AS A DESTINATION FOR NATURE, THE ARTS, AND HISTORY; INVESTING IN THE BEAUTY, HEALTH, AND SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR GARDENS AND HISTORIC BUILDINGS; AND INCREASING THE CONTRIBUTED SUPPORT THAT SUSTAINS GREENWOOD'S MISSION AND ACCESSIBILITY. GREENWOOD REACHED A MILESTONE IN VISITATION DURING THE 2024 SEASON, WELCOMING A RECORD 11,610 VISITORS WHO EXPERIENCED THE PEACE AND BEAUTY OF THIS HISTORIC GARDEN. OUR ROSTER OF PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, FIFTY IN TOTAL, WAS MET WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM INCLUDING FOUR SOLD-OUT PERFORMANCES OF OUR MUSIC AND DANCE IN THE GARDEN SERIES AS WERE OUR SPECIAL TOURS, WALKS, AND LECTURES.
  2. $419,549 spent. THE GARDEN LUNCHEON AT GREENWOOD, OUR ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EVENT TO BENEFIT THE GROW GREENWOOD FUND, WAS HELD ON JUNE 6, RAISING A RECORD $131,290. THE SOLD-OUT AFFAIR BROUGHT 160 SUPPORTERS TOGETHER TO ENJOY A CATERED LUNCHEON ON THE TENTED MAIN LAWN AND SILENT AUCTION FEATURING PAINTINGS, GARDEN TOOLS, JEWELRY, DINING EXPERIENCES, FASHION ACCESSORIES, AND MORE. LUNCHEON REMARKS BY SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER, LINDEN MILLER, INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED PUBLIC GARDEN DESIGNER AND ADVOCATE, WERE EXTREMELY WELL RECEIVED.

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

  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 2024.

    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 March 2020.

    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.