Passes our checks

Community Gardens of Tucson

EIN 86-0981116 · Tucson, AZ

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

What it says it does

Our mission is to build community gardens where Tucsonans grow food, work and learn together, and nurture well-being in our communities.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
28 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 7.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.
Spending floor
15 of 15
81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
10 of 11 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
10 of 10
Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5
Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15
Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$159,203 spent. In 2024, the Community Gardens of Tucson (CGT) provided 458 garden plots to 1358 community members, resulting in an estimated 49,439 pounds of food grown. CGT collaborated with five schools to provide 150 gardening education classes to children and families, reaching 600 kids. CGT hosted 17 skill-building workshops to support beginning and experienced gardeners, with over 100 participants attending. Our Food Resiliency Program, which extends free and sliding scale plot fee assistance to local residents, enabled 100 low income and food insecure families in Tucson to grow food. We held 30 volunteer workdays and attended 20 community events. We partnered with the Primavera Foundation and brought on 3 more gardens increasing gardening access providing more opportunities for local residents to grow their own food. We partnered with the City of Tucson to launch the Food cycle at Home Program which allows residents to drop off food scraps at designated garden sites for composting.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 June 2010.
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.