The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc

Ladew Topiary Gardens reports a deficit in 2023 after several years of revenue exceeding expenses, maintaining substantial assets.

EIN: 132782826 · Monkton, MD · Updated: 2026-03-28

$6.8MRevenue

$26.5MAssets

85/100Mission Score (Excellent)

Is The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc Legit?

Some Concerns

GoodFiling Consistency

ExcellentSpending Efficiency

GoodTransparency

1 FoundRed Flags

Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →

The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.

About The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc

The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc (EIN: 132782826) is a nonprofit organization based in Monkton, MD. The organization reported total revenue of $6.8M and total assets of $26.5M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.

AI Transparency Report

The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc demonstrates generally sound financial health, with assets consistently exceeding liabilities across all reported periods. For instance, in 2023, assets were $23,074,158 against liabilities of $250,342, indicating a strong balance sheet. The organization has shown a fluctuating but overall positive trend in revenue, with a notable peak of $4,370,601 in 2021. However, the latest filing (2023) shows expenses ($3,363,154) exceeding revenue ($2,757,944), resulting in a deficit for that year, which warrants monitoring.

Spending efficiency appears reasonable, though specific program, administrative, and fundraising breakdowns are not provided in the summary data. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests a commitment to minimizing overhead in this area, which is a positive indicator for donor confidence. The organization's long history of 12 filings demonstrates a consistent commitment to IRS reporting requirements, contributing to its transparency.

Overall, while the recent deficit in 2023 is a point to observe, the organization's substantial asset base and historical financial management suggest a stable operation. The lack of reported officer compensation is a significant strength in terms of financial transparency and efficiency.

Mission Effectiveness Score

NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc with a Mission Score of 85 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: 15%
programs: 75%
fundraising: 10%

According to IRS 990 filings, The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.

Executive Compensation Analysis

The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no compensation is paid to officers, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size with assets exceeding $20 million.

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 Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc's IRS 990 filings:

Latest filing (2023) shows expenses ($3,363,154) exceeding revenue ($2,757,944), resulting in a deficit.

Strengths

The following positive indicators were identified for The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc:

Strong and growing asset base, reaching $26,514,840 (latest available asset figure) and consistently exceeding liabilities.
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all 12 filings, indicating high efficiency in this area.
Long history of consistent IRS 990 filings (12 filings), demonstrating transparency and compliance.
Significant revenue generation, with several years exceeding $3 million and a peak of over $4.3 million in 2021.

Frequently Asked Questions about The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc

Is The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc (EIN: 132782826) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.

How does The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc spend its money?

The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.

Are donations to The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc tax-deductible?

The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 132782826). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.

Is The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc a good charity?

Based on the available data, the organization appears to be a good charity. It maintains a strong asset base ($23,074,158 in 2023), consistently files its IRS 990s, and reports 0% officer compensation, suggesting a focus on mission over executive pay. While there was a deficit in 2023, its long-term financial health seems robust.

Why did the organization report a deficit in 2023?

In 2023, the organization's expenses ($3,363,154) exceeded its revenue ($2,757,944) by $605,210. The specific reasons for this deficit are not detailed in the provided summary data but could be due to increased operational costs, one-time projects, or a temporary dip in donations/earned income.

How has the organization's financial health changed over time?

The organization has generally grown its assets from $17,243,550 in 2014 to $23,074,158 in 2023, demonstrating long-term financial stability. Revenue and expenses have fluctuated, with several years showing healthy surpluses (e.g., 2022, 2021, 2020) and a recent deficit in 2023.

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc showing financial trends over 12 years of public records:

Over 12 years of IRS 990 filings (2012–2023), The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc's revenue has declined by 15.7%, moving from $3.3M to $2.8M. Total assets increased by 74% over the same period, from $13.3M to $23.1M. Total functional expenses rose by 92%, from $1.8M to $3.4M. In its most recent filing year (2023), The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc reported a deficit of $605K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $250K in liabilities against $23.1M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 1.1%), resulting in net assets of $22.8M.

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Liabilities	Officer Comp.	PDF
2023	$2.8M	$3.4M	$23.1M	$250K	—	—
2022	$4.0M	$2.9M	$23.0M	$248K	—	View 990
2021	$4.4M	$2.6M	$26.8M	$252K	—	View 990
2020	$3.2M	$2.3M	$21.2M	$151K	—	—
2019	$2.6M	$2.6M	$20.3M	$436K	—	View 990
2018	$4.0M	$2.5M	$19.7M	$665K	—	View 990
2017	$2.7M	$2.5M	$20.1M	$1.2M	—	—
2016	$2.7M	$2.2M	$17.6M	$348K	—	View 990
2015	$2.6M	$2.1M	$17.1M	$185K	—	View 990
2014	$3.3M	$2.0M	$17.2M	$175K	—	View 990
2013	$3.3M	$1.8M	$15.7M	$126K	—	View 990
2012	$3.3M	$1.8M	$13.3M	$139K	—	View 990

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

2023: Revenue of $2.8M, expenses of $3.4M, and assets of $23.1M (revenue -30.8% year-over-year).
2022: Revenue of $4.0M, expenses of $2.9M, and assets of $23.0M (revenue -8.8% year-over-year).
2021: Revenue of $4.4M, expenses of $2.6M, and assets of $26.8M (revenue +34.9% year-over-year).
2020: Revenue of $3.2M, expenses of $2.3M, and assets of $21.2M (revenue +22.7% year-over-year).
2019: Revenue of $2.6M, expenses of $2.6M, and assets of $20.3M (revenue -33.2% year-over-year).
2018: Revenue of $4.0M, expenses of $2.5M, and assets of $19.7M (revenue +45.8% year-over-year).
2017: Revenue of $2.7M, expenses of $2.5M, and assets of $20.1M (revenue +1.4% year-over-year).
2016: Revenue of $2.7M, expenses of $2.2M, and assets of $17.6M (revenue +3.7% year-over-year).
2015: Revenue of $2.6M, expenses of $2.1M, and assets of $17.1M (revenue -20.9% year-over-year).
2014: Revenue of $3.3M, expenses of $2.0M, and assets of $17.2M (revenue -0.2% year-over-year).
2013: Revenue of $3.3M, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $15.7M (revenue +-0.0% year-over-year).
2012: Revenue of $3.3M, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $13.3M.

Data Sources and Methodology

This transparency report for The Trustees Of The Ladew Topiary Gardens Inc 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.