Descanso Gardens Foundation
Descanso Gardens Foundation reported $17.2 million in revenue and $17.8 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $84.98 went to program services, $9.78 to management and general costs and $5.24 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 57.1% of the total. Government grants made up 9.8%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $361,645 ((EX OFFICIO) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 82% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $18MFor context, the median across 371 covered environment charities: $85.82 programs, $10.80 management, $3.38 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $17MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 85.0% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.8% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.2% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.18 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 30.7% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 9.8% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 57.1% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $361,645 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.03% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 12.5 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 27 of 28 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseStewardship of a historically significant site; public horticulture and collections management; experiential nature-based programs for children and families; opportunity for volunteerism; environmental stewardship and preservation; and leadership by example toward more sustainable land management and water conservation practices. In 2025, Descanso Gardens welcomed nearly 1,013,000 visitors to the gardens. Descanso is a member-supported garden: in 2025, around 31,870 households supported descanso's mission through paid annual memberships. Descanso Gardens is accredited by the american alliance…
Highest reported compensation
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (EX OFFICIO) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $310,325 | $0 | $51,320 | $361,645 |
| CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $180,064 | $0 | $17,410 | $197,474 |
| OPERATIONS AND ADMIN OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $150,648 | $0 | $30,151 | $180,799 |
| OF EDUCATION AND EXHIBITIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $106,577 | $0 | $10,573 | $117,150 |
| DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $103,491 | $0 | $4,229 | $107,720 |
5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Descanso Gardens Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $641K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b28 · 27 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5111
- Volunteers Part I, line 6417
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| TOM FRUIN STUDIO LLC Equipment rentals | $148,150 |
| SODEXO LIVE Food and beverage services | $118,280 |
| COZO INDUSTRIES LLC Equipment rentals | $101,650 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
2 private foundations reported grants to Descanso Gardens Foundation totaling $2,032 on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Descanso Gardens Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Descanso Gardens Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Descanso Gardens Foundation spent in 2025, $84.98 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Questions people ask
How much of Descanso Gardens Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Descanso Gardens Foundation reported that 85.0% of its $17.8 million in expenses went to program services, 9.8% to management and general and 5.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Descanso Gardens Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Descanso Gardens Foundation reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $361,645, for the role of (EX OFFICIO) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Descanso Gardens Foundation get its money?
Of $17.2 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 30.7% came from contributions and grants (including 9.8% from government grants) and 57.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Descanso Gardens Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 95-2511202 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202621619349301417 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202501929349301535 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202412509349300211 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202302199349301390 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202221749349301452 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202122079349300242 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202041849349301814 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 95-2511202: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.