2016-11-15T13:07:14-06:00 2016-06-30 BKD LLP 14241 DALLAS PARKWAY SUITE 1100 DALLAS TX 75254 990 2015-07-01 205946552 Real School Gardens % NAMRATA MAGUIRE REAL 2026212375 5520 Connecticut Avenue NW Suite 20 Washington DC 20015 JEANNE MCCARTY CEO 2016-11-15 true Jeanette Verrelli P00742631 9727028262 2015 2017-02-10 21:41:12Z JEANNE MCCARTY 5520 CONNECTICUT AVE NW 200 WASHINGTON DC 20015 4296021 false X WWW.REALSCHOOLGARDENS.ORG X 2007 TX WE BUILD OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS/LEARNING GARDENS IN LOW-INCOME ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND TRAIN TEACHERS TO USE THEM AS TOOLS TO IMPROVE EXPERIENTIAL INSTRUCTION. 11 10 19 2000 0 1688377 4160755 154687 133400 837 1594 732 272 1844633 4296021 0 0 0 0 914755 1253746 0 0 373567 543285 797118 1458040 2050864 386593 2245157 1333323 3607114 78846 105688 1254477 3501426 X WE CREATE LEARNING GARDENS THAT GROW SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS. REAL SCHOOL GARDENS PARTNERS WITH LOW-INCOME ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO BUILD OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS THAT ARE USED FOR EXPERIENTIAL INSTRUCTION. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO TRAINS TEACHERS HOW TO USE OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS AND GARDENS TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND HEALTH. SCHOOL PARTNERS REPORT INCREASES IN STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS, AND TEACHER JOB SATISFACTION, CRITICAL MEASURES OF LONG TERM SUCCESS IN LOW-INCOME SCHOOLS. REAL SCHOOL GARDENS HAS MORE THAN 126 PARTNER SCHOOLS IN TEXAS, MARYLAND, VIRGINIA, AND WASHINGTON D.C., AND HAS RECENTLY LAUNCHED A NEW REGION IN THE CAROLINAS. THE NONPROFIT IS IN THE FIRST PHASE OF A NATIONAL GROWTH PLAN TO EXPAND TO A TOTAL OF SIX REGIONS AND 15 CITIES BY 2020. THE NONPROFIT WILL REACH 225,000 STUDENTS AND 15,000 TEACHERS EVERY DAY, GIVING STUDENTS ACCESS TO THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE. false false 726356 17500 OUTDOOR CLASSROOM DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION: REAL SCHOOL GARDENS BUILDS LEARNING GARDENS IN LOW-INCOME ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND TRAINS TEACHERS EXTENSIVELY ON HOW TO USE GARDENS TO IMPROVE ACADEMICS AND HEALTH. IN 2016 WE: - BUILT 10 OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS - ENHANCED 8 LEARNING GARDENS - SERVED 122 SCHOOL PARTNERS IN THIS PAST YEAR, OUR SUPPORTERS ALSO WITNESSED TWO HUGE MILESTONES FOR OUR SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS: - 100TH OUTDOOR CLASSROOM BUILD IN TEXAS - 1ST OUTDOOR CLASSROOM BUILD IN MARYLAND AND WASHINGTON, DC OUR OUTDOOR CLASSROOM DESIGN AND BUILD PROGRAM HAS TWO DISTINCT PHASES: COMMUNITY DESIGN - REAL SCHOOL GARDENS DESIGN EXPERTS WORK WITH SCHOOL STAFF, PARENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, OUR CORPORATE FUNDING PARTNERS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE KIDS THEMSELVES TO DESIGN A LEARNING GARDEN THAT'S FUNCTIONAL, BEAUTIFUL, AND TAILORED TO EACH SCHOOL'S SPECIFIC NEEDS. CHILDREN HELP DESIGN THEIR DREAM GARDENS BY MEASURING OUT THE SPACE, PLOTTING THEIR DESIGNS OUT TO SCALE ON GRAPH PAPER, OR EVEN MAKING 3D MODELS. AFTER THE CHILDREN VOTE ON THEIR FAVORITES, OUR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT WORKS WITH ALL OUR PROJECT PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT EACH GARDEN IS UNIQUELY TAILORED TO THE TEACHERS' NEEDS. BY INVOLVING EVERYONE WHO WILL BE USING AND CARING FOR THE GARDEN EARLY ON, THIS INCLUSIVE DESIGN PROCESS GENERATES A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP AND PRIDE. EVERYONE INVOLVED HAS A STAKE IN THE SUCCESS OF THE GARDEN, AND BECOMES INVESTED IN ITS USE, CARE AND MAINTENANCE. THE BIG DIG! - ONCE THE DESIGN IS FINALIZED, IT'S TIME TO BUILD THE LEARNING GARDEN DURING OUR BIG DIG EVENT! ON THE DAY OF THE BIG DIG, BETWEEN 100-300 VOLUNTEERS INCLUDING FUNDING PARTNERS, KIDS, THEIR PARENTS AND TEACHERS GET TO WORK, INSTALLING THE LEARNING GARDEN IN JUST ONE DAY. OUR BIG DIGS PROVIDE A TURNKEY DAY OF COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS, AND REAL SCHOOL GARDENS TAKES CARE OF ALL THE PREPARATIONS, LAYING OUT THE PLANS AND MATERIALS AND PROVIDING THE EXPERTISE TO ENSURE THE DAY GOES SMOOTHLY AND THE GARDEN IS BUILT TO LAST FOR YEARS TO COME. IN ADDITION TO PLANTING VEGETABLES AND PERENNIALS, REAL SCHOOL GARDENS ENSURES THE SPACE IS TRANSFORMED INTO AN EFFECTIVE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM AND LIVING LABORATORY BY INSTALLING SHADE STRUCTURES, SEATING AREAS, WHITEBOARDS, PAVED PATHWAYS, WEATHER STATIONS, AND RAIN COLLECTION SYSTEMS. VOLUNTEERS OF EVERY AGE CONTRIBUTE VALUABLE WORK ON TEAM PROJECTS, TRANSFORMING A WASTED SPACE INTO A BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN A SINGLE DAY. NOT ONLY IS THE BIG DIG A FULFILLING DAY OF VOLUNTEERISM, BUT THE LEARNING GARDENS CREATED PRODUCE REAL LONG-TERM RESULTS FOR LOW-INCOME SCHOOLS. 539733 115900 PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR TEACHERS: REAL SCHOOL GARDENS PROVIDES A RANGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM OPTIONS TO FIT EVERY SCHOOL'S NEEDS. IN 2016 WE: - TRAINED 1,161 TEACHERS, AND - REACHED 67,000 STUDENTS EVERY DAY WE OFFER ALL SCHOOLS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS IN OUR ON-SITE, HANDS-ON SESSIONS IN A STANDARDS-BASED CURRICULUM DESIGNED TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN SCIENCE, MATH, READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS. ONCE SCHOOLS HAVE A WORKING OUTDOOR CLASSROOM, WHETHER WE BUILT IT OR NOT, REAL SCHOOL GARDENS SENDS OUR INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES OUT TO THE SCHOOLS TO DEMONSTRATE LESSONS LINKED TO THEIR CURRICULUM AND THEIR LOCAL STANDARDS. TO DATE WEVE SEEN THE FOLLOWING MEASURES OF SUCCESS: - LOOKING ACROSS SEVEN DIFFERENT MEASURES, THE REAL SCHOOL GARDENS PROGRAM INCREASES TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS IN SCHOOLS. - 94% OF TEACHERS REPORTED THAT THE REAL SCHOOL GARDENS PROGRAM "WAS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO INCREASED ENGAGEMENT IN LEARNING FOR MY STUDENTS." - MORE THAN 90% OF EDUCATORS AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED THAT THE TRAINING "CONNECTED DIRECTLY AND EXPLICITLY WITH THE STATE CURRICULUM STANDARDS I AM ACCOUNTABLE TOTHAT THEY WOULD "BE ABLE TO APPLY THE CONTENT OF THIS (TRAINING) TO MY REGULAR WORK RIGHT AWAY." - THE REAL SCHOOL GARDENS PROGRAM IMPROVES TEACHER JOB SATISFACTION. - AFTER COMPLETING JUST ONE YEAR OF THE REAL SCHOOL GARDEN PROGRAM, MORE THAN HALF THE TEACHERS "USE THE LEARNING GARDEN SO MUCH, IT'S LIKE A SECOND CLASSROOM." ONCE OUR MULTI-YEAR TRAINING PROGRAM CONCLUDES, SCHOOL PARTNERS MAY PARTICIPATE IN OUR EVERGREEN PROGRAM AND RECEIVE ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND SUPPORT. OUR FOCUS ON THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM PROGRAM ENSURES THAT 97% OF OUR GARDENS ARE WELL-USED AND WELL-MAINTAINED LONG TERM. IN FACT, GARDENS THAT HAVE BEEN IN OUR NETWORK FOR 10 YEARS ARE STILL GROWING STRONG. 259529 COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND PROGRAMMING: IN ADDITION TO REACHING OUT TO SCHOOLS, EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATORS, AND FUNDING PARTNERS REGARDING THE BENEFITS THEY RECEIVE FROM OUR PROGRAMS, REAL SCHOOL GARDENS WORKS TO RAISE THE GENERAL PUBLICS AWARENESS AROUND THE IMPORTANCE OF DAILY HANDS-ON EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, IN-DEPTH INSTRUCTIONAL COACHING, AND PRACTICAL REAL-WORLD OUTDOOR TEACHING. ATTENDING NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES ON EDUCATION, NUTRITION, AND CHILDRENS EXPERIENCES WITH THE NATURAL WORLD HELPS ENSURE THAT THESE LARGER CONVERSATIONS ARE INFUSED WITH OUR PRACTICAL, ON THE GROUND EXPERIENCES, AND OUR BEST-PRACTICE TECHNIQUES THAT ENSURE HIGH-IMPACT IN CHALLENGING NEIGHBORHOODS, WHERE THESE PROGRAMS ARE NEEDED MOST. IN ADDITION TO CONFERENCES, WE WORK TO PLACE STORIES IN MEDIA OUTLETS THAT NOT ONLY ALERT GEOGRAPHIC COMMUNITIES ABOUT OUR WORK IN THEIR AREA, BUT WE ALSO INSPIRE AND INFORM EDUCATION DECISION MAKERS ABOUT OUR WORK AND THE RESULTS WEVE EXPERIENCED WITH OUR WORK BUILDING UP SCHOOLS EXISTING ASSETS. AS WE WORK TO SCALE THE ORGANIZATION FURTHER AND FASTER, OUR HOPE IS TO FORM PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS ALREADY IN PLACE NATION-WIDE. BY INCREASING OUR THOUGHT LEADERSHIP IN THIS SPACE, WE HOPE THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL INVEST IN TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT INCREASE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS IN HIGH NEED SCHOOLS TO INCREASE THE IMPACT OF THEIR SCHOOL GARDEN PROGRAMS. WE ALSO DEVELOP CURRICULUM RESOURCES AND PROGRAMMING THAT EMBEDS NUTRITION EDUCATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION INTO THE REGULAR SCHOOL DAY. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR OUR REAL SCHOOL GARDENS PARTNER SCHOOLS TO GROW SPECIFIC CROPS AND FOR THEIR TEACHERS TO RECEIVE MULTI-SUBJECT CURRICULUMS TO INFUSE NUTRITIONAL AWARENESS INTO ANY LESSON. FOR OUR LEAFY LEARNING PROGRAM, STUDENTS GROW KALE AND OTHER LEAFY GREENS AND THEN MAKE SMOOTHIES. FOR OUR SMART POTATOES PROGRAM, CHILDREN SPEND 100 DAYS GROWING POTATOES TO DONATE TO LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES. FOR BOTH PROGRAMS, STUDENTS GATHER DATA, MEASURE AND CALCULATE PLANT GROWTH, CHART AND PREDICT THEIR PROGRESS, STUDY THE HISTORY AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THESE CROPS, AND WRITE INFORMATIONAL AND PERSUASIVE ESSAYS ON NUTRITION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. 1525618 true true false false false false false false false false true true false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 26 0 true 19 true false false false false false false false false false false X 11 10 false true false false false false false true false false false true true true true true true true true false X NAMRATA MAGUIRE 2026212375 5520 CONNECTICUT AVENUE NW 200 WASHINGTON DC 20015 CAROLYN WALSH VICE CHAIR 2.0 0.0 X X 0 0 0 FRED THOMPSON DIRECTOR 2.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 JEANNE MCCARTY CEO/BOARD SECRETARY 40.0 0.0 X X 140950 0 5457 JULIE NEIMAT BOARD CO-CHAIR 2.0 0.0 X X 0 0 0 KAREN DIELMAN DIRECTOR 2.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 KELLY GARRETT DIRECTOR 2.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 ROBERT MENZI BOARD CO-CHAIR/TREASURER 2.0 0.0 X X 0 0 0 SHALLY STANLEY DIRECTOR 2.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 ARMANDO DE CASTRO DIRECTOR 2.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 HANK HARRIS DIRECTOR 2.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 DR ERNIE J SMITH DIRECTOR 2.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Namrata Maguire Dir. Finance/OP 15.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 140950 0 5457 1 false false false 0 150000 85704 3925051 14573 4160755 Teacher Training 900099 133400 133400 133400 1594 1594 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 All Other Misc Revenue 900099 272 272 272 272 272 4296021 133400 1866 0 0 0 0 155844 62338 46753 46753 0 897442 719183 32467 145792 23293 18782 767 3744 84128 63137 5857 15134 93039 69211 6881 16947 0 4488 3339 332 817 105783 78691 7824 19268 0 0 0 96904 72086 7167 17651 13135 9771 971 2393 51909 38615 3839 9455 28564 21248 2113 5203 0 58893 43810 4356 10727 35839 26660 2651 6528 0 1865 1387 138 340 13 10 1 2 0 16338 12154 1208 2976 4968 3696 367 905 Books and Journals 4684 3485 346 853 Garden Materials 290100 215803 21455 52842 Education Programming 70814 52678 5237 12899 . 0 12821 9534 949 2338 2050864 1525618 151679 373567 237199 162320 577196 123790 412014 2185594 72754 37182 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12145 17873 315107 286458 22015 28649 0 0 0 1051706 0 0 0 0 0 0 1333323 3607114 78846 105688 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 78846 105688 X 498842 1412925 755635 2088501 0 0 1254477 3501426 1333323 3607114 2245157 1792 X X false true X true false X 1692892 1339673 1154253 1688377 4160755 10035950 0 0 1692892 1339673 1154253 1688377 4160755 10035950 3641325 6394625 2936 2286 2030 837 1594 9683 0 2796 1882 5821 732 272 11503 10057136 556494 0.63583 0.64180 X 0.00000 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 315107 286458 28649 28649 U.S. TREASURY SECURITIES 1051706 F 1051706 4331713 1792 33900 35692 4296021 4296021 2084764 33900 33900 2050864 2050864 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 3 Delegation of control over management duties: THE DAILY MANAGEMENT OF THE ACCOUNTING AND FINANCES OF REAL SCHOOL GARDENS IS PERFORMED BY THE STAFF OF NEW LEAF CHANGE MANAGEMENT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF NAMRATA MAGUIRE. PER IRS GUIDANCE, NO COMPENSATION IS SHOWN ON THE FORM 990, PART VII FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR FOR THIS INDIVIDUAL: NAMRATA MAGUIRE $ 37,750 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 8B AUTHORITY TO ACT ON BEHALF OF GOVERNING BODY: For the 2016 fiscal year, THERE WERE NO COMMITTEES WITH AUTHORITY TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNING BODY. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B REVIEW OF FORM 990: THE FORM 990 IS INITIALLY REVIEWED BY THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. THE DOCUMENT IS REFINED THEN DISTRIBUTED TO THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT. THE FORM 990 IS THEN FINALIZED AND SUBMITTED TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C CONFLICT OF INTEREST: ALL NEW EMPLOYEES ARE BRIEFED ABOUT THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AS PART OF AN ORIENTATION ABOUT STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT FOR THE ORGANIZATION. THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY IS REVIEWED WITH ALL EMPLOYEES AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS EACH OCTOBER. AT THIS TIME, EACH DIRECTOR, OFFICER, AND EMPLOYEE IS ASKED TO ACKNOWLEDGE IN WRITING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE POLICY. IN ADDITION, EACH DIRECTOR, OFFICER AND EMPLOYEE IS ASKED TO COMPLETE A DISCLOSURE FORM THAT IDENTIFIES ANY RELATIONSHIPS, POSITIONS, OR CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MIGHT REPRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE SERVES AS THE COMPLIANCE OFFICER FOR THE ORGANIZATION, INVESTIGATING ANY REPORTED VIOLATIONS TO THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. FINDINGS ARE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AND APPROPRIATE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS ARE DETERMINED. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A & 15B COMPENSATION REVIEW: THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, LED BY THE BOARD CO-CHAIRS, ESTABLISHES COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AT REAL SCHOOL GARDENS. A COMPENSATION SURVEY OR STUDY IS USED DURING THIS PROCESS (I.E., PHILANTHROPY ROUNDTABLE'S COMPENSATION REPORT) TO DETERMINE A MARKET RANGE, AS IN BENCHMARKING WITH SELECT EDUCATION NON-PROFITS. COMPENSATION IS FINALIZED WITHIN THE MARKET RATE RANGE BASED ON EXPERIENCE, EARNINGS HISTORY, AND RESULTS THE SELECTED CANDIDATE DEMONSTRATED IN RECENT ROLES. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES THE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS PACKAGE FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR OF FINANCE. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR OF FINANCE ESTABLISHES COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS FOR OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES IN THE ORGANIZATION, BASED ON MARKET RATE RANGE, EXPERIENCE, EARNINGS HISTORY, AND RESULTS DEMONSTRATED BY THE CANDIDATE. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PRESENTS EMPLOYEE PROMOTION AND COMPENSATION RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THEIR INPUT. A review was conducted in 2016 by the board co-chair, Julie Neimat, and documented in the board's meeting minutes. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 AVAILABILITY OF DOCUMENTS: THE ORGANIZATION'S GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. THESE DOCUMENTS ARE PROVIDED EITHER ELECTRONICALLY OR VIA US MAIL, BASED ON THE PREFERENCE OF THE REQUESTOR. Form 990, Part XII, Line 2C OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE: THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR OVERSIGHT OF THE AUDIT AND SELECTION OF THE INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT. THIS PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.