Descanso Gardens Foundation

Analysis

Descanso Gardens Foundation is a registered charity in United States, based in LA Canada FLT, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in May 1962, 64 years ago. Its declared purposes cover environment, which this site groups under environment and conservation. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (gross receipts test) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Descanso Gardens Foundation reported income of $17.5m and spending of $15.2m, spending 87% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $9.5m to $17.5m (+85%), an average of +16% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 112%. Over the whole period it spent 84% of the income it received.

Among 10,430 United States charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, Descanso Gardens Foundation sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile, and in the 97th percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Vermont Land Trust Inc ($17.4m), Massachusetts Service Alliance Inc ($17.5m) and Des Plaines Wetlands Conservancy Inc ($17.4m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 37% and program service revenue 55% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $509k (3.4% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $3.4m. It paid $83k in professional fundraising fees. At year end it held assets of $25.5m against liabilities of $7.0m, net assets of $18.5m. It reported 120 employees.