The Garden Club Of America
The Garden Club Of America shows consistent asset growth and no reported officer compensation, with a notable $0 expense anomaly in 2018.
EIN: 131626773 · New York, NY · NTEE: C420 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $12.2M |
| Total Expenses | $4.4M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| Net Assets | $52.9M |
| Transparency Score | 90/100 |
Is The Garden Club Of America Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
The Garden Club Of America directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About The Garden Club Of America
The Garden Club Of America (EIN: 131626773) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code C420. The organization reported total revenue of $12.2M and total assets of $61.1M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of The Garden Club Of America's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
The Garden Club Of America is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 72 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 0.6%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $4.6M |
| Total Expenses | $4.4M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$211K |
| Total Assets | $56.4M |
| Total Liabilities | $3.5M |
| Net Assets | $52.9M |
| Operating Margin | 4.6% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 6.2% |
| Months of Reserves | 152.9 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, The Garden Club Of America reported a surplus of $211K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 152.9 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 6.2% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), The Garden Club Of America's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.6%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +0.3% | +26.1% | +10.3% |
| 2022 | -29.2% | +13.9% | -15.2% |
| 2021 | -18.5% | -34.0% | +27.7% |
| 2020 | +5.7% | -8.1% | +6.3% |
| 2019 | -40.3% | — | +9.6% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1954 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates The Garden Club Of America with a Mission Score of 90 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, The Garden Club Of America 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.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $211K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 6.2%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that the organization's leadership is entirely volunteer-based, which significantly reduces administrative overhead and maximizes resources for programmatic activities.
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 The Garden Club Of America's IRS 990 filings:
- Unexplained $0 expenses reported in 201806 filing, which could indicate a reporting error or unusual financial event.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for The Garden Club Of America:
- Consistent asset growth over the past decade, from $30,620,401 in 201606 to $61,105,116 currently.
- No reported officer compensation, indicating a volunteer-led executive structure and high efficiency in administrative costs.
- Generally positive net income in most recent years, demonstrating financial sustainability (e.g., $211,457 surplus in 202306).
- Relatively low liabilities compared to assets, suggesting strong financial stability.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Garden Club Of America
Is The Garden Club Of America a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, The Garden Club Of America (EIN: 131626773) some concerns. Mission Score: 90/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does The Garden Club Of America spend its money?
The Garden Club Of America directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to The Garden Club Of America tax-deductible?
The Garden Club Of America is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 131626773). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of The Garden Club Of America's spending goes to programs?
The Garden Club Of America directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does The Garden Club Of America compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 90/100 (Excellent), The Garden Club Of America is above average for NTEE category C420 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is The Garden Club Of America located?
The Garden Club Of America is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 131626773. It is classified under NTEE code C420.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does The Garden Club Of America have?
The Garden Club Of America has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $12.2M in total revenue.
Why were expenses reported as $0 in the 201806 filing period?
The 201806 filing shows $12,704,258 in revenue but $0 in expenses. This is highly unusual and could indicate a data entry error, a specific accounting event, or a period where expenses were deferred or covered by a separate entity not reflected in this specific filing. Further clarification from the organization's detailed 990 form for that period would be necessary.
How does the organization sustain its operations with 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation suggests that the organization's executive leadership is composed entirely of volunteers. This model can be highly efficient, allowing more funds to be directed towards programs, but it relies heavily on dedicated volunteer commitment.
What caused the significant increase in assets from $51,161,418 in 202206 to $60,320,258 in 202106, followed by a decrease to $56,440,415 in 202306?
The asset fluctuations, particularly the jump in 202106 and subsequent decline, could be due to investment performance, significant donations, or specific capital expenditures and depreciation. A detailed review of the balance sheets for those periods would provide more insight.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for The Garden Club Of America showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), The Garden Club Of America's revenue has grown by 7.3%, moving from $4.3M to $4.6M. Total assets increased by 98.2% over the same period, from $28.5M to $56.4M. Total functional expenses rose by 27%, from $3.5M to $4.4M. In its most recent filing year (2023), The Garden Club Of America reported a surplus of $211K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $3.5M in liabilities against $56.4M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 6.2%), resulting in net assets of $52.9M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $4.6M | $4.4M | $56.4M | $3.5M | — | — |
| 2022 | $4.6M | $3.5M | $51.2M | $765K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $6.5M | $3.1M | $60.3M | $760K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $8.0M | $4.7M | $47.2M | $784K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $7.6M | $5.1M | $44.4M | $1.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $12.7M | $0 | $40.6M | $2.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $5.0M | $4.2M | $35.4M | $1.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $4.3M | $4.2M | $30.6M | $222K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $3.7M | $3.9M | $32.0M | $309K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $7.3M | $4.0M | $32.4M | $136K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $4.4M | $4.2M | $29.4M | $224K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $3.7M | $3.5M | $27.5M | $365K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $4.3M | $3.5M | $28.5M | $475K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $4.6M, expenses of $4.4M, and assets of $56.4M (revenue +0.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $4.6M, expenses of $3.5M, and assets of $51.2M (revenue -29.2% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $6.5M, expenses of $3.1M, and assets of $60.3M (revenue -18.5% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $8.0M, expenses of $4.7M, and assets of $47.2M (revenue +5.7% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $7.6M, expenses of $5.1M, and assets of $44.4M (revenue -40.3% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $12.7M, expenses of $0, and assets of $40.6M (revenue +155.9% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $5.0M, expenses of $4.2M, and assets of $35.4M (revenue +16.3% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $4.3M, expenses of $4.2M, and assets of $30.6M (revenue +14.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $3.7M, expenses of $3.9M, and assets of $32.0M (revenue -49.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $7.3M, expenses of $4.0M, and assets of $32.4M (revenue +65.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $4.4M, expenses of $4.2M, and assets of $29.4M (revenue +18.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $3.7M, expenses of $3.5M, and assets of $27.5M (revenue -13.5% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $4.3M, expenses of $3.5M, and assets of $28.5M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for The Garden Club Of America:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for The Garden Club Of America 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.