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San Gabriel Valley Cactus and Succulent Society

EIN 95-3924634 · Arcadia, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE KNOWLEDGE, STUDY AND INTEREST IN CACTI AND SUCCULENT PLANTS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, PUBLIC EXHIBITS AND PLANT SALES

Income
$362,267
Spending
$356,543
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
0
Volunteers
55

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

Financial health

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 December 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 (7)
  1. $250,517 spent. SGCSS PUTS ON THE INTER-CITY SHOW AND SALE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST CACTI AND SUCCULENT PLANT EXHIBITIONS. WE ALSO HAVE PLANT SALES BY OVER 20 VENDORS. WE HAVE EDUCATIONAL WALKS AND TALKS THROUGH OUT THE DAY ON BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. OUR SHOW AND SALE IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND IS HELD EVERY AUGUST. WE HAVE A VERY POPULAR GENERAL INFORMATION TABLE WHERE WE ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT PLANTS AND OUR CLUB AND ALSO HAND OUT INFORMATION FLYERS.
  2. $58,270 spent. EVERY YEAR SGCSS PUTS ON ITS OWN WINTER SHOW AND SALE. IT INCLUDES CACTI AND SUCCULENT PLANT EXHIBITIONS BY SGCSS MEMBERS AND PLANT SALES BY VENDORS. THE WINTER SHOW AND SALE IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND IS HELD IN FEBRUARY EACH YEAR. WE HAVE A VERY POPULAR GENERAL INFORMATION TABLE WHERE WE ANSWER QUESTIONS AND HAND OUT FLYERS.
  3. $4,928 spent. SGCSS HAS MONTHLY MEETINGS JANUARY THROUGH NOVEMBER WITH ATTENDANCE BY APPROXIMATELY 75 MEMBERS EACH MONTH. THERE IS A PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER WHO GIVES A TALK/PRESENTATION ON A SPECIFIC PLANT GENUS OR PLANT LOCATION. WE ALSO HAVE A MINI SHOW/EXHIBITION FOR ONE FEATURED CACTI AND ONE SUCCULENT. WE HAVE DOOR PRIZES AND A FREEBIE TABLE WHERE PLANT TRIMMINGS OR UNWANTED PLANTS ARE ADOPTED BY OTHER MEMBERS. THERE IS ALSO A BREAK WHERE MEMBERS SOCIALIZE OVER REFRESHMENTS. PLANT VENDORS ARE ALSO THERE FOR SHOPPING BEFORE EACH MEETING AND DURING THE BREAK.
  4. $3,303 spent. STORAGE
  5. $31,640 spent. SALES TAX
  6. $3,367 spent. HOLIDAY PARTY & OTHER EVENTS
  7. $280 spent. EQUIPMENT & MISC

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2017 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2017.

    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 December 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 August 2021.

    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.