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Nonprofit · EIN 52-1257712

FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM INC

Tax-exempt · WASHINGTON, DC 20002

Financials

$2.8M$2.5M2023$3.1M$2.9M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM INC by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2024990$3,080,993$2,938,067$142,926$4,407,403$247,271$4,160,132
December 31, 2023990$2,805,135$2,453,192$351,943$4,333,419$363,311$3,970,108
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$2,493,300
of which government grants
$679,675
Membership dues
$77,636
Program service revenue
$237,687
Investment income
$221,734
Net rental income
$172,496
Net gain from sales of assets
$4,532
Net income from fundraising events
-$45,570
Other revenue
$128,272

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$123,949
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$177,672
Other salaries and wages
$1,117,370
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$1,578,599
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$2,227
Accounting fees
$131,606
Travel
$36,769
Depreciation
$10,450
Program services (functional)
$1,900,554
Management and general (functional)
$677,028
Fundraising (functional)
$360,485

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$4,333,419
Total assets, end of year
$4,407,403
Total liabilities, end of year
$247,271
Net assets, end of year
$4,160,132
Land, buildings and equipment
$11,362
Publicly traded securities
$2,884,373
Net assets without donor restrictions
-$21,959
Net assets with donor restrictions
$4,182,091
Gross receipts
$3,183,511
Employees
27
Volunteers
168
Year formed
1982
State of legal domicile
DC

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
Craven RandExecutive Director
Officer
40$177,672$22,704
Catherine KerkamDir PhilanthropyCommunication
Key employee
40$130,346$22,685
Michael StevensDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Robert BartlettDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Zandra ChestnutDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Melinda PetersDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Elizabeth M DuganDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Chandler GouleDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Jennifer HatcherDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Anne MacMillanDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Bill MatuszeskiDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Eric MichaelDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Vaughn PerryDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Melissa PfliegerDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Lucy S RhameDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
10 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Catherine RobbinsDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Keith SellarsDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Barbara SheaDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Louis SladeDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Peggy StrandDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Tuckie WestfallDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Martha Van DaleBoard Chair
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0
Virginia KrommVice Chair
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0
John DillardSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0
Amy A TitusTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 28 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
Craven RandExecutive Director
Officer
40$157,500$17,809
Catherine KerkamDir PhilanthropyCommunicati
Highest-paid employee
40$106,994$19,280
Lucy S RhameDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Catherine RobbinsDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Keith SellarsDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Eric MichaelDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Vaughn PerryDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Melissa PfliegerDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Amy A TitusDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Nzinga TullDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Tuckie WestfallDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Barbara SheaDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Louis SladeDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Peggy StrandDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
John F CooneyDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Elizabeth M DuganDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Zandra ChestnutDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Robert BartlettDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Mark BuscainoDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Bill MatuszeskiDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Paul MeyerDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Anne MacMillanDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Chandler GouleDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Jennifer HatcherDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Martha Van DaleVice Chair
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
Michael StevensBoard Chair
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
John DillardSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
Virginia KrommTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
3501 NEW YORK AVE NE, WASHINGTON, DC 20002-1958
In care of
% CRAVEN RAND
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
Martha Van Dale, 3501 New York Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002
Signed the 990
CRAVEN RAND, Executive Director
Phone
(202) 544-8733
Return prepared by
Mullins PC

Mission

See Schedule O.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Program accomplishments

  • Washington Youth Garden: FONA operates the Washington Youth Garden, a one-acre urban farm on the USNA grounds. The Washington Youth Garden is open to the public daily as a living, interactive program space that welcomes thousands of visitors each year. As a working urban demonstration farm, FONA grows over 7,000 pounds of food a year, which is donated to the community. USNA supports the Washington Youth Garden by providing mulch, access to water, and use of the greenhouses. The Washington Youth Garden (WYG) serves as the home base for the following programs: School Garden support: Friends of the National Arboretum supports local teachers and schools in growing and maintaining sustainable gardens integrated in the school community that serve as an outdoor science classroom, a living nutrition lab, and a creative space to get in touch with nature. We offer a week-long Summer Institute for teachers, followed by in-depth assistance to a cohort of eight schools during the school year. We will also co-teach standards-aligned, garden-based lessons so that educators develop confidence in delivering interactive, outdoor lessons. High School Internships: Our Green Ambassadors paid high school internship program brings 12 Title 1 high school students to the Washington Youth Garden for a 6-weeks of skills, leadership and community development. Utilizing food as a gateway to understand our human connection with the land, interns master basic farming, carpentry and cooking, and develop their soft skills through teamwork, communication exercises, and other professional coaching. Funding for WYG comes primarily from grant awards and contracts received from foundations, and government agencies. Individual contributions are also solicited and received. All funding and contributions awarded to or received by WYG are classified by FONA as restricted funds and used only to support the WYG programs. FONA also sponsors a variety of programs for the community, including 5Ks, garden fairs, and nature hikes.
    Expenses $998,431 · grants $5,031
  • Projects and activities: FONA holds numerous temporary and permanently restricted funds given for various purposes to benefit the U.S. National Arboretum. Every year, in consultation with the Arboretum leadership and staff, FONA releases funds from these restricted assets or general operating funds to the Arboretum to achieve a designated purpose. FONA then works with the Arboretum staff, often over a multi-year period, to ensure that the donors objective for each project or activity is fulfilled in a timely and cost-effective manner. For example, in recent years, FONA has collaborated with the Arboretum on the following projects and activities: -Updating the Arboretums Master Plan and identifying follow-on campaigns and related activities. -Cleanup and restoration as well as ongoing monitoring of Springhouse Run along with monitoring of Hickey Run, two crucial watercourses that traverse the Arboretum, emptying into the Anacostia River and ultimately into the Chesapeake Bay. -Completion of the Flowering Tree Walk, a universal access walkway providing magnificent views of the Arboretums great meadow and Capitol Columns. -Preservation and maintenance of the Arboretums heritage collections, which include the azalea, boxwood, and associated collections; and for general support of all the Arboretum gardens and collections, including funding for interpretive signage. -Funding support for many internships, including: those working in the azalea, boxwood, Asia valley, introduction garden, and other heritage collections and on research. -Luncheon and plant sales as well as promotional support for the annual Lahr Native Plant Symposium. -Evaluating opportunities to support repair of the Capitol Columns and fund their care in perpetuity.
    Expenses $589,497 · grants $118,918
  • Annual Garden Fair and Plant Sale Event: The Garden Fair is held in early spring and typically attracts 10,000 people to the grounds of the Arboretum. Traditionally, the National Arboretum curators serve as plant experts providing advice for novice as well as experienced gardeners.
    Expenses $253,809
  • Membership and outreach: FONA runs an active outreach program designed to broaden and expand the visibility of, and to provide public support for, the Arboretum locally, nationally, and internationally, as well as to increase the Arboretums visitor base. For example, FONA hosts numerous public programs such as forest bathing, yoga classes, family programs, and community events. FONA also partners with other Arboretum stakeholders, interest groups, and community organizations for the betterment of the Arboretum. FONA staff and board members continually reach out to the media, government officials, community leaders, and industry associations, and maintain ongoing relationships with these and other key decision-makers and influential organizations and citizens. FONA also maintains an active public presence via its website and through social media such as Facebook and Instagram. In addition, FONA runs a membership program to recruit and serve 1,000+ members and supporters each year with member events and activities, volunteer opportunities, and weekly enewsletter with updates on Arboretum News, and other member benefits.
    Expenses $58,817

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026Not on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
52-1257712
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1982
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Environment (C114)
Assets (IRS master file)
$4,407,403
Income (IRS master file)
$3,183,511

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2024$3,080,993$2,938,067$4,407,403IRS
990December 2023$2,805,135$2,453,192$4,333,419XML
990December 2022$2,177,583$2,122,670$3,631,875IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990December 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 52-1257712).

Questions about FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM INC

What is the EIN of FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM INC?
The employer identification number (EIN) of FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM INC is 52-1257712.
Is FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM INC tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1982.
Are donations to FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM INC tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM INC file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM INC due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM INC last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
Who is the principal officer of FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM INC?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names Martha Van Dale.
Who are the officers and directors of FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM INC?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 25 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $177,672 (Craven Rand, Executive Director).
How much revenue does FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM INC have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $3,080,993, expenses of $2,938,067 and total assets of $4,407,403 at year end.

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