THE GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

THE GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA

EIN 13-1626773 · Environment (C420)

What they do

THE PURPOSE of THE GARDEN CLUB of AMERICA is to STIMULATE THE KNOWLEDGE and LOVE of GARDENING, to SHARE THE ADVANTAGES of ASSOCIATION BY MEANS of EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, CORRESPONDENCE, and PUBLICATIONS, and to RESTORE, IMPROVE, and PROTECT THE QUALITY of THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS and ACTION IN THE FIELDS of CONSERVATION and CIVIC IMPROVEMENT.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $71.80 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders13 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

53.59%of revenue went to mission work71.8% of expenses · Program services

3.69%of revenue went to fundraising5.0% of expenses

$74.59spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

17.30%of revenue went to management and office costs23.2% of expenses

$11.95in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

30.1%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $242,360 for JENNIFER BARNETTE (CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$7,369,737

Mission workProgram services$3,949,79353.59% of revenue71.8% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$1,275,29517.30% of revenue23.2% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$272,2013.69% of revenue5.0% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$1,872,44825.41% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$5,497,28974.59% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 71.8% mission · 23.2% management · 5.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 74.59% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 72.2% mission · 23.0% management · 4.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 74.11% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 70.9% mission · 24.1% management · 5.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 95.44% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 67.9% mission · 27.1% management · 5.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 75.88% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 62.0% mission · 32.7% management · 5.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 47.22% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 75.3% mission · 21.3% management · 3.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 58.34% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 75.5% mission · 21.7% management · 2.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 67.07% of revenue

2016Expense mix: 79.0% mission · 20.4% management · 0.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 83.78% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$7,369,737

Expenses$5,497,289

Annual surplus $1,872,448 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$3,949,793 · 71.8% of expenses

Management and office costs$1,275,295 · 23.2% of expenses

Fundraising$272,201 · 5.0% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$7,369,737

Expenses$5,497,289

Assets$65,702,198

Income$8,802,902

Contributions$2,214,669

Mission work (program services)$3,949,793

Fundraising$272,201

Grants given$971,840

Average grant$12,958

Management and general$1,275,295

Stocks and bonds$51,392,307

Accounting fees$39,247

Investing fees$193,208

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

JENNIFER BARNETTECHIEF OPERATING OFFICER · 50 hrs/week $242,360Base $209,134 · Other $33,226

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (13)

JENNIFER BARNETTECHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

ABBY COFFINVICE PRESIDENT

BETSY HUFFMANVICE PRESIDENT

CAYCE MCALISTERVICE PRESIDENT

CELINE LILLIECORRESPONDING SECRETARY

CINDY WILLISVICE PRESIDENT

ELIZABETH MEYERVICE PRESIDENT

JANICE FERGUSTREASURER

LISA GADSDENVICE PRESIDENT

MARGARET COSTANVICE PRESIDENT

MARILYN DONAHUEPRESIDENT

MARY HARMANVICE PRESIDENT

POLLY GLOTZBACHRECORDING SECRETARY

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1954
Location: 14 EAST 60TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10022-1006
County: New York
In care of: MARY HARMAN
Primary officer: MARY HARMAN, PRESIDENT

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailgca@gcamerica.org Phone(212) 753-8287

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: LUTZ AND CARR CPAS LLP
NTEE classification: Environment (C420)
Grant-giving organization: Yes