Nonprofit · EIN 95-2511202
DESCANSO GARDENS FOUNDATION
Tax-exempt · LA CANADA FLT, CA 91011
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $17,208,622 | $17,843,245 | -$634,623 | $27,307,341 | $8,665,640 | $18,641,701 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $16,854,161 | $16,663,490 | $190,671 | $26,652,667 | $7,634,090 | $19,018,577 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $17,462,988 | $15,171,771 | $2,291,217 | $25,501,809 | $6,954,369 | $18,547,440 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $5,276,564
- of which government grants
- $1,679,368
- Membership dues
- $3,181,700
- Program service revenue
- $9,833,743
- Investment income
- $179,259
- Net rental income
- $324,277
- Net income from fundraising events
- $25,684
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $1,293,349
- Other revenue
- $1,919,056
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $10,700
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $641,000
- Other salaries and wages
- $4,465,245
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $5,990,528
- Professional fundraising fees
- $60,000
- Accounting fees
- $50,743
- Occupancy
- $1,299,160
- Travel
- $18,716
- Depreciation
- $1,603,564
- Program services (functional)
- $15,162,955
- Management and general (functional)
- $1,745,410
- Fundraising (functional)
- $934,880
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $26,652,667
- Total assets, end of year
- $27,307,341
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $8,665,640
- Net assets, end of year
- $18,641,701
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $16,591,265
- Publicly traded securities
- $3,098,006
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $17,546,316
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $1,095,385
- Gross receipts
- $21,909,224
- Employees
- 111
- Volunteers
- 417
- Year formed
- 1960
- State of legal domicile
- CA
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, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JULIANN ROOKE | (EX OFFICIO) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $310,325 | $51,320 |
| SOMER SHERWOOD-WHITE | CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER Officer | 40 | $180,064 | $17,410 |
| EMI YOSHIMURA - CHIEF | OPERATIONS AND ADMIN OFFICER Officer | 40 | $150,648 | $30,151 |
| MARINA ERLFE - DIRECTOR | OF EDUCATION AND EXHIBITIONS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $106,577 | $10,573 |
| JENNIFER ERRICO | DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $103,491 | $4,229 |
| BRAD SCHWARTZ | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SANDRA MAYS | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARIE QUEEN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LOVELL HOLDER | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MILENE APANIAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ARA ASLANIAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DR DIMPLE BHASIN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DIANE BINNEY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| WILLIAM CHOI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DARCY COLEMAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
17 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAIGE FARMER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| LAURA FUREY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BLYTHE HAAGA PARKER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JANE HADERLEIN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CHRISTY HOBART | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| WENDY LEES | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JAMES LEVIN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| IAN MCCARTHY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ANN MURPHY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| LAURA OLHASSO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| PATSY PINNEY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| LINDA SEGAL | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| HOPE TSCHOPIK SCHNEIDER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SCOTT SUGINO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KARL SWAIDAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JACOB TUJIAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CLARISSA WEIRICK | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 32 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JULIANN ROOKE | (EX OFFICIO) CEO Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $283,343 | $22,545 |
| SOMER SHERWOOD-WHITE | CAO Officer | 40 | $165,574 | $13,528 |
| EMI YOSHIMURA | COAO Officer | 40 | $142,484 | $13,106 |
| DAVID BARE DIRECTOR OF | HORTICULTURE AND GARDEN OPERATIONS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $114,615 | $12,608 |
| JENNIFER ERRICO | DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $100,227 | $12,093 |
| BRAD SCHWARTZ | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| SANDRA MAYS | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| LOVELL HOLDER | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| MARIE QUEEN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| MILENE APANIAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| ARA ASLANIAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| DR DIMPLE BHASIN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| DIANE BINNEY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| DARCY COLEMAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN DANGONA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRISTY HOBART | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| LAURA FUREY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| LOLA JAMES KELLY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| BEN LOGAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| ANN MURPHY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| BLYTHE HAAGA PARKER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| PATSY PINNEY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES LEVIN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVEN ROSEN MD | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| DONALD VOSS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| LINDA SEGAL | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| KARL SWAIDAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| HOPE TSCHOPIK SCHNEIDER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| WENDY LEES | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| IAN MCCARTHY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| CLARISSA WEIRICK | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| JACOB TUJIAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 29 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JULIANN ROOKE | CEO Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $273,890 | $11,963 |
| SOMER SHERWOOD-WHITE | CAO (FROM 8/2023) Officer | 40 | $129,462 | $12,252 |
| EMI YOSHIMURA | COA (FROM 10/2023) Officer | 40 | $102,828 | $11,597 |
| JENINA GARRETT | CFO (THRU 4/2023) Officer | 40 | $102,334 | $6,597 |
| DONALD VOSS | BOARD CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| SANDRA MAYS | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| LAURA FUREY | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES LEVIN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| MILENE APANIAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| DR DIMPLE BHASIN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| DIANE BINNEY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| DARCY COLEMAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN DANGONA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRISTY HOBART | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| LOLA JAMES KELLY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| BEN LOGAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| ANN MURPHY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| BLYTHE HAAGA PARKER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| PATSY PINNEY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVEN ROSEN MD | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| LINDA SEGAL | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| KARL SWAIDAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| HOPE TSCHOPIK SCHNEIDER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| JACOB TUJIAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| CLARISSA WEIRICK | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| KAY LINDEN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| LOVELL HOLDER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| BRAD SCHWARTZ | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| MARIE QUEEN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1418 DESCANSO DR, LA CANADA FLT, CA 91011-3102
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- JULIANN ROOKE, 1418 DESCANSO DRIVE, LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, CA 91011
- Signed the 990
- JULIANN ROOKE, CEO
- Phone
- (818) 949-4290
- Website
- WWW.DESCANSOGARDENS.ORG
- Return prepared by
- BAKER TILLY ADVISORY GROUP LP
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 95-2511202 or by the name DESCANSO GARDENS FOUNDATION.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
TO PRACTICE EXEMPLARY STEWARDSHIP OF THE GARDENS, OFFERING PEOPLE AN EXPERIENCE CLOSE TO NATURE AND CULTIVATING UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURAL WORLD AND PEOPLE'S PLACE IN IT THROUGH INSPIRATION, EDUCATION, AND EXAMPLE.
Program accomplishments
- STEWARDSHIP 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 OF MUSEUMS.Expenses $15,162,955 · grants $10,700 · revenue $11,127,092
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 year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 95-2511202
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1962
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Environment (C410)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $27,307,341
- Income (IRS master file)
- $21,909,224
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $17,208,622 | $17,843,245 | $27,307,341 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2025 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $16,854,161 | $16,663,490 | $26,652,667 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $17,462,988 | $15,171,771 | $25,501,809 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2022 | $16,704,728 | $13,160,520 | $20,705,100 | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 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 95-2511202).
Questions about DESCANSO GARDENS FOUNDATION
- What is the EIN of DESCANSO GARDENS FOUNDATION?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of DESCANSO GARDENS FOUNDATION is 95-2511202.
- Is DESCANSO GARDENS FOUNDATION tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1962.
- Are donations to DESCANSO GARDENS FOUNDATION tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does DESCANSO GARDENS FOUNDATION 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 DESCANSO GARDENS FOUNDATION due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did DESCANSO GARDENS FOUNDATION last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of DESCANSO GARDENS FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names JULIANN ROOKE.
- Who are the officers and directors of DESCANSO GARDENS FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 32 people; 5 received compensation from the organization, the highest $310,325 (JULIANN ROOKE, (EX OFFICIO) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER).
- How much revenue does DESCANSO GARDENS FOUNDATION have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $17,208,622, expenses of $17,843,245 and total assets of $27,307,341 at year end.
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