Garden Academy
Garden Academy consistently operates with modest surpluses and reports no officer compensation.
EIN: 200462154 · West Orange, NJ · NTEE: B26 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Garden Academy Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Garden Academy directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Garden Academy
Garden Academy (EIN: 200462154) is a nonprofit organization based in West Orange, NJ, classified under NTEE code B26. The organization reported total revenue of $4.6M and total assets of $3.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Garden Academy's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Garden Academy with a Mission Score of 88 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Garden Academy allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Garden Academy consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size ($4.5M+ revenue) and suggests either a fully volunteer executive leadership or compensation structured in a way not reported under this specific line item on the 990.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Garden Academy's IRS 990 filings:
- Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in provided data prevents precise efficiency analysis.
- Consistent 0% officer compensation for an organization of this size is highly unusual and may indicate compensation is reported under other categories, potentially obscuring true executive costs.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Garden Academy:
- Consistent operational surpluses, with revenue generally exceeding expenses (e.g., $4,577,718 revenue vs. $4,562,067 expenses in 2023).
- Steady growth in assets, from $2,324,323 in 2014 to $3,089,721 in 2023, indicating financial stability.
- Remarkable consistency in reporting 0% officer compensation across all filings, suggesting a strong commitment to directing funds to mission or a unique compensation structure.
- Long and consistent IRS 990 filing history (13 filings), demonstrating transparency and compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions about Garden Academy
Is Garden Academy a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Garden Academy (EIN: 200462154) some concerns. Mission Score: 88/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Garden Academy spend its money?
Garden Academy directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Garden Academy tax-deductible?
Garden Academy is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 200462154). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Garden Academy a good charity?
Based on the available IRS 990 data, Garden Academy appears to be a well-managed charity with consistent financial stability, modest operational surpluses, and a notable absence of reported officer compensation, which are positive indicators for donors.
How does Garden Academy manage its executive compensation?
The IRS 990 filings consistently show 0% officer compensation, which is highly unusual for an organization of this scale. This suggests either a volunteer executive team or that executive compensation is reported under different expense categories, warranting further inquiry for full transparency.
What is Garden Academy's financial trend over the past decade?
Garden Academy has shown consistent revenue growth, from $3,013,790 in 2014 to $4,577,718 in 2023, with expenses generally tracking closely, resulting in modest operational surpluses in most years. Assets have also grown steadily, indicating financial health.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Garden Academy showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Garden Academy's revenue has grown by 64.8%, moving from $2.8M to $4.6M. Total assets increased by 235.4% over the same period, from $921K to $3.1M. Total functional expenses rose by 66.9%, from $2.7M to $4.6M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Garden Academy reported a surplus of $16K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $1.3M in liabilities against $3.1M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 43.4%), resulting in net assets of $1.7M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $4.6M | $4.6M | $3.1M | $1.3M | — | — |
| 2022 | $4.4M | $4.4M | $3.2M | $1.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $4.5M | $4.4M | $3.1M | $1.4M | — | — |
| 2020 | $4.4M | $4.5M | $3.9M | $2.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $4.2M | $4.1M | $3.1M | $1.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $4.1M | $4.2M | $3.4M | $1.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $3.8M | $3.6M | $3.1M | $1.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $3.5M | $3.5M | $2.9M | $1.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $3.7M | $3.4M | $2.9M | $1.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $3.0M | $3.1M | $2.3M | $1.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $3.0M | $3.0M | $1.2M | $74K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $3.2M | $2.9M | $1.3M | $221K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $2.8M | $2.7M | $921K | $116K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $4.6M, expenses of $4.6M, and assets of $3.1M (revenue +3.0% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $4.4M, expenses of $4.4M, and assets of $3.2M (revenue -1.2% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $4.5M, expenses of $4.4M, and assets of $3.1M (revenue +1.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $4.4M, expenses of $4.5M, and assets of $3.9M (revenue +6.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $4.2M, expenses of $4.1M, and assets of $3.1M (revenue +1.3% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $4.1M, expenses of $4.2M, and assets of $3.4M (revenue +8.6% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $3.8M, expenses of $3.6M, and assets of $3.1M (revenue +7.8% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $3.5M, expenses of $3.5M, and assets of $2.9M (revenue -4.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $3.7M, expenses of $3.4M, and assets of $2.9M (revenue +21.5% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $3.0M, expenses of $3.1M, and assets of $2.3M (revenue +0.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $3.0M, expenses of $3.0M, and assets of $1.2M (revenue -7.0% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $3.2M, expenses of $2.9M, and assets of $1.3M (revenue +16.4% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $2.8M, expenses of $2.7M, and assets of $921K.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Garden Academy is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.