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Portland Garden Club

EIN 93-0427037 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

STIMULATE THE KNOWLEDGE & LOVE OF GARDENING, TO AID IN THE PROTECTION OF NATIVE TREES, PLANTS & BIRDS, TO ENCOURAGE CIVIC BEAUTY, AND TO IMPROVE & PROTECT THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH PROGRAMS AND ACTION IN THE FIELDS OF CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION.

Income
$378,974
Spending
$444,217
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
1
Volunteers
324

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

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 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 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    41 of 41 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 May 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 (2)
  1. $333,307 spent. THE PORTLAND GARDEN CLUB IS A VOLUNTEER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION COMPRISED OF 333 MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE PORTLAND, OREGON AREA. THE CLUB ACTIVELY MAINTAINS THE CLUBHOUSE AND SURROUNDING GARDENS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO HOLD EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND MONTHLY SPEAKER SERIES FOR THE COMMUNITY. BOOKS & SUBSCRIPTIONS ON PLANTS/GARDENS AND CONSERVATION ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. PGC MEMBERS PASSIONATELY DEVOTE OUR ENERGIES AND EXPERTISE TO A WIDE ARRAY OF PROJECTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR FLOWER SHOWS, MONTHLY SPEAKER PROGRAMS, AND FUNDING THROUGH GRANTS, ALONG WITH OUR HANDS-ON WORK PARTIES IN COMMUNITY GARDENS, HELP US TO FULFILL OUR MISSION.
  2. $88,605 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH GRANTS TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, OPERATING IN THE PORTLAND METRO AREA, WHOSE PURPOSE IS SIMILAR TO THE MISSION OF THE PORTLAND GARDEN CLUB TO FURTHER CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, AND BEAUTIFICATION. THE PORTLAND GARDEN CLUB AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS ANNUALLY TO STUDENTS IN OREGON COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES WHO ARE STUDYING IN THE FIELDS OF BOTANY OR BOTANY RELATED FIELDS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 November 6, 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 May 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 March 1958.

    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 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.