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Friends of Robinson Gardens Inc

EIN 95-3797323 · Beverly Hills, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood87 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE VIRGINIA ROBINSON GARDENS IS A UNIQUE HISTORIC ESTATE, A CULTURAL JEWEL THAT TRANSPORTS THE VISITOR BACK TO THE BIRTHPLACE OF BEVERLY HILLS. BUILT IN 1911, IT WAS ONCE THE RESIDENCE OF RETAIL GIANTS VIRGINIA AND HARRY ROBINSON. THE FRIENDS OF ROBINSON GARDENS VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND RESOURCES TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE BEAUTIFUL SIX-ACRE PROPERTY, WHICH CONTAINS FIVE BREATHTAKING DISPLAY GARDENS, MANSION AND POOL PAVILION, AND TO FULFILL MRS. ROBINSON'S INTENTION, EXPRESSED THROUGH HER WILL AND GIFT OF THE ESTATE TO THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, THAT HER ESTATE BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR ITS ENJOYMENT AND EDUCATION. THE FRIENDS ALSO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL CLASSES FOR THE COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL CHILDREN'S TOURS WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME AREAS.

Income
$759,856
Spending
$668,036
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
24.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
2
Volunteers
70
Highest pay
$49,000, treasurer

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.1 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 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 46% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 20 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $239,872 spent. RESTORATION - THE ORGANIZATION RAISES MONEY FOR THE RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE VIRGINIA ROBINSON GARDENS ESTATE. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR THAT ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, THE ORGANIZATION FUNDED THE REUPHOLSTERY OF THE CHAIRS IN THE DINING ROOM AND THE ARMCHAIRS AND SOFA IN THE LIBRARY, THE REPAIRS TO SEVERAL HISTORIC BALUSTRADES AND WALLS ALONG THE GREAT LAWN, AND THE RESTORATION OF THE MARBLE IONIC COLUMN SIDE TABLES IN THE BILLIARD ROOM AND THE MARBLE FIREPLACE IN THE LIBRARY. THE WOOD BASEBOARDS OF THE FRENCH DOORS TO THE BACK TERRAZZO TERRACE WERE REFINISHED, STAINED, AND SEALED. DAMAGED BY A WINDSTORM IN JANUARY 2025, THE PINK CANDELABRA IN THE LOGGIA WAS (MIRACULOUSLY) RESTORED BY A SPECIALTY CRAFTSMAN. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED UNDERWRITING FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE FERN GARDEN NEXT TO THE WATERFALL IN THE KING PALM FOREST AS WELL AS SEVERAL VISITS BY A LANDSCAPING COMPANY TO AUGMENT THE WORK OF THE COUNTY GARDENERS IN THE CUTTING ROSE GARDEN, THE ITALIAN TERRACE GARDEN, AND THE KING PALM FOREST. ANNUAL TREE TRIMMING AND SERVICING OF WATER FEATURES THROUGHOUT THE ESTATE, REPLACEMENT OF THE KITCHEN FAUCET IN THE MAIN HOUSE, INSTALLATION OF A NEW AUTOMATIC EARTHQUAKE SHUT-OFF VALVE FOR THE MAIN HOUSE, NEW LOCKS INSTALLED BY A SPECIALTY LOCKSMITH, AND NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL AND OTHER SMALL REPAIR PROJECTS WERE ALSO FINANCED BY THE ORGANIZATION.
  2. $155,851 spent. MEMBERSHIP - THE ORGANIZATION IS A DUES-BASED MEMBERSHIP WITH SIX LEVELS OF INCREASINGLY HIGHER DUES REQUIREMENTS AND BENEFITS. THERE ARE EVENTS FOR ALL MEMBERS, INCLUDING AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON. THE HIGHER-LEVEL MEMBERS RECEIVE INVITATIONS TO SPECIAL TOURS AND LECTURES, OUT-OF-TOWN MUSEUMS, HISTORIC ESTATES, AND BOTANICAL GARDENS, AND AN ANNUAL THANK-YOU DINNER.
  3. $133,991 spent. CHILDREN'S OUTREACH PROGRAMS - DURING THE 2024 - 2025 SCHOOL YEAR, WHICH CORRESPONDS TO THE ORGANIZATION'S FISCAL YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION DELIVERED 6,000 UNITS OF ITS CHILDREN'S SCIENCE PROGRAM TO STUDENTS IN THE THIRD AND FOURTH GRADES, PRIMARILY IN TITLE ONE SCHOOLS AND GROUP HOMES. THIS WAS AN INCREASE OF 2,000 UNITS OVER THE PRIOR YEAR. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF THREE MODULES: NUTRITION AND HEALTHY YOU, PLANTS AND OUR WORLD, AND THE ECOSYSTEM OF A POND & DEVELOPMENT OF THE FROG. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECEIVED BY STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WHO LOVE THE INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES AND BRIGHTLY COLORED GRAPHICS AND VIDEOS.
  4. $48,894 spent. EDUCATION LECTURES AND OTHER PUBLIC PROGRAMMING- IN COORDINATION WITH THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES THE COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE AT ROBINSON GARDENS. PROGRAMS INCLUDE ART INSTRUCTION, HOW-TO GARDENING CLASSES, HEALTH & WELLNESS TOPICS, AND LECTURES ON LANDSCAPE DESIGN, INTERIOR DESIGN, THE ARTS, JEWELRY, AND THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THERE IS ALSO A WELL-ATTENDED BOOK CLUB WHICH MEETS EVERY OTHER MONTH. PROGRAMMING ON DURING THE WEEK AND ON SATURDAYS HAS BECOME VERY POPULAR. INTRODUCTORY BOTANICAL WATERCOLOR, YOGA, AND HAPPINESS CLASSES WERE PARTICULARLY WELL-ATTENDED.

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 March 1983.

    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.

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.