2016-02-04T14:26:45-06:00 2015-06-30 BKD LLP 14241 DALLAS PARKWAY SUITE 1100 DALLAS TX 75254 990 2014-07-01 205946552 Real School Gardens % NAMRATA MAGUIRE REAL 2026212375 5520 Connecticut Avenue NW 200 Washington DC 20015 JEANNE MCCARTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 2026212375 2016-02-15 true Jeanette Verrelli P00742631 9727028262 2014 2016-04-25 22:37:26Z X JEANNE MCCARTY 5520 CONNECTICUT AVE NW 200 WASHINGTON DC 20015 1844633 false X WWW.REALSCHOOLGARDENS.ORG X 2007 TX WE CREATE LEARNING GARDENS THAT GROW SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS. 8 7 16 2000 0 1154253 1688377 158795 154687 2030 837 -7178 732 1307900 1844633 0 0 0 0 978289 914755 0 0 240261 520669 543285 1498958 1458040 -191058 386593 907023 1333323 39139 78846 867884 1254477 X WE CREATE LEARNING GARDENS THAT GROW SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS. REAL SCHOOL GARDENS PARTNERS WITH COMPANIES TO BUILD LEARNING GARDENS IN LOW-INCOME ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO TRAINS TEACHERS HOW TO USE GARDENS TO IMPROVE BOTH ACADEMICS AND HEALTH. REAL SCHOOL GARDENS NOW SERVES 100 SCHOOLS, HAS TRAINED MORE THAN 4,000 TEACHERS, AND HAS GIVEN 100,000 STUDENTS ACCESS TO A RICH LEARNING GARDEN PROGRAM TO HELP THEM SUCCEED ACADEMICALLY AND PERSONALLY. false false 424910 15500 WE CREATE LEARNING GARDENS THAT GROW SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS. REAL SCHOOL GARDENS PARTNERS WITH COMPANIES TO BUILD LEARNING GARDENS IN LOW-INCOME ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND TRAINS TEACHERS EXTENSIVELY ON HOW TO USE GARDENS TO IMPROVE ACADEMICS AND HEALTH. REAL SCHOOL GARDENS NOW SERVES 100 SCHOOLS, HAS TRAINED MORE THAN 4,000 TEACHERS, AND HAS GIVEN 100,000 STUDENTS ACCESS TO A RICH LEARNING GARDEN PROGRAM TO HELP THEM SUCCEED ACADEMICALLY AND PERSONALLY. COMMUNITY DESIGN - REAL SCHOOL GARDEN 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 200-300 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, 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. REAL SCHOOL GARDENS HELD BIG DIGS IN SEVEN SCHOOLS LAST YEAR, WITH ALMOST 2,000 VOLUNTEERS PLANTING HUNDREDS OF VEGETABLES, HERBS, PERENNIALS, AND TREES, AND BRINGING IN MORE THAN 120 YARDS OF SOIL, AND ALMOST 200 SEATING BOULDERS. OUR VOLUNTEERS CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS, ONE BOULDER AT A TIME. 498011 139187 TEACHER TRAINING - REAL SCHOOL GARDENS PROVIDES A RANGE OF TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM OPTIONS TO FIT EVERY SCHOOL'S NEEDS. WE OFFER ALL SCHOOLS CONTINUING EDUCATION TO TEACHERS IN OUR ON-SITE, HANDS-ON DEMONSTRATION SESSIONS IN A STANDARDS-BASED CURRICULUM DESIGNED TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN SCIENCE, MATH, READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS. BEFORE THE GARDEN IS INSTALLED, TEACHERS RECEIVE LESSON PLANS ALIGNED WITH ACADEMIC STANDARDS, SO THEY'RE READY TO START USING THE GARDEN ON DAY ONE. REAL SCHOOL GARDENS THEN SENDS OUR CERTIFIED TEACHER-TRAINERS OUT TO THE SCHOOLS TO DEMONSTRATE LESSONS LINKED TO THEIR CORE CURRICULUM. SCHOOLS THAT PARTNERED WITH REAL SCHOOL GARDENS FOR ONE OF OUR "BIG DIG" EVENTS, RECEIVE THREE YEARS OF TRAINING REACHING MORE THAN 60% OF THEIR TEACHERS. REAL SCHOOL GARDENS ALSO CREATES CUSTOM TRAINING PACKAGES FOR OTHER EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS, SUCH AS SCHOOLS WITH EXISTING GARDENS, DISTRICTS WITH REGION-WIDE PROGRAMATIC GOALS, AND NONPROFITS LOOKING TO INCREASE THEIR EDUCATIONAL IMPACT. NINETY PERCENT OF TEACHERS SAY THAT REAL SCHOOL GARDEN TRAININGS ARE DIRECTLY ALIGNED WITH CURRENT ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND OUR LESSONS ARE EASY TO IMPLEMENT WITH STUDENTS. SCHOOLS THAT ALREADY HAVE A LEARNING GARDEN MAY ALSO BENEFIT FROM OUR CURRICULUM AND OUR PROVEN TEACHER TRAINING SERVICES. REAL SCHOOL GARDENS TRAINED MORE THAN 931 TEACHERS THIS YEAR. IN ADDITION TO OUR ON-SITE LESSON DEMONSTRATIONS, WE ALSO HELD 21 OFF-SITE TRAINING SESSIONS FOR TEACHERS FROM MULTIPLE SCHOOLS. LEARNING GARDEN USAGE - LIKE ALL GOOD EDUCATORS, WE KNOW THAT ATTENDANCE IS CRITICAL FOR SUCCESS, SO WE CAREFULLY TRACK HOW MANY TEACHERS AND STUDENTS USE THE GARDENS WE HELP CREATE. OUR MOST RECENT GROUP OF SCHOOLS IN THE REAL SCHOOL GARDEN PROGRAM SAW 58% OF THEIR TEACHERS USING THE GARDENS TO TEACH, AND 97% OF OUR GARDENS ARE WELL-USED AND WELL-MAINTAINED. IN FACT, GARDENS THAT HAVE BEEN IN OUR NETWORK FOR 10 YEARS ARE STILL GROWING STRONG. EVERGREEN SUPPORT - REAL SCHOOL GARDENS PRODUCES LIFE-LONG RESULTS BECAUSE WE INVEST HEAVILY IN LONG-TERM TEACHER TRAINING AND LEARNING GARDEN SUPPORT. OUR SCHOOL PARTNERS ELECT ONE OR MORE GARDEN COORDINATORS TO SERVE AS THE SCHOOL'S POINT OF CONTACT AND LEAD THE OUTDOOR LEARNING PROGRAM. AFTER ALL THE OTHER TEACHERS FINISH OUR RIGOROUS THREE-YEAR TRAINING PROGRAM, IT'S THE GARDEN COORDINATOR'S JOB TO ENSURE THE GARDEN IS IN TIP-TOP SHAPE, IS WELL-USED, AND CONTINUES TO THRIVE. THEY RECEIVE A SMALL YEARLY STIPEND, GET NEW PLANTS AND GARDEN SUPPLIES, PARTICIPATE IN CONTINUING EDUCATION SESSIONS, MEET WITH EXPERTS AND MENTORS, CONNECT WITH A NETWORK OF PEERS, APPLY FOR GARDEN ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS, AND HOST CORPORATE VOLUNTEERS. 179830 ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING - IN ADDITION TO BUILDING LEARNING GARDENS AND TRAINING TEACHERS, WE ALSO OFFER A RANGE OF COMMUNITY PROJECTS TO FURTHER ENRICH STUDENTS' LEARNING EXPERIENCE. THESE INCLUDE: SEED TO TABLE EXPERIENCES - DEPENDING ON FUNDING AVAILABILITY, REAL SCHOOL GARDENS HOLDS FORMAL DINNERS IN WHICH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS PLANT AND GROW VEGETABLES AND HERBS, THEN PROFESSIONAL CHEFS SHOW KIDS HOW TO COOK EVERYTHING FOR A BIG COMMUNITY DINNER. THIS SEED TO TABLE PROCESS CONNECTS CHILDREN TO THE FOOD THEY EAT, ENCOURAGING THEM TO COOK THEIR OWN MEALS AND EVEN GROW THEIR OWN NUTRITIOUS AND DELICIOUS FOOD. CHILDREN WHO NEVER DREAMED OF EATING TURNIPS, GREEN BEANS, AND LETTUCE TAKE PRIDE IN HARVESTING VEGETABLES FOR A FUN COMMUNITY DINNER. NUTRITION INFUSED CURRICULUMS - REAL SCHOOL GARDENS ALSO OFFERS SCHOOL PARTNERS SEASONAL PROGRAMS IN WHICH CHILDREN GROW SPECIFIC CROPS AND TEACHERS 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. 1102751 true true false false false false false false false false true false 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 22 0 true 16 true false false false false false false false false false false X 8 7 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 FRED THOMPSON DIRECTOR 2.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 ROBERT MENZI BOARD CO-CHAIR/TREASURER 2.0 0.0 X X 0 0 0 KELLY GARRETT DIRECTOR 2.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 KAREN DIELMAN DIRECTOR 2.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 JULIE NEIMAT BOARD CO-CHAIR 2.0 0.0 X X 0 0 0 SHALLY STANLEY DIRECTOR 2.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 CAROLYN WALSH VICE CHAIR 2.0 0.0 X X 0 0 0 JEANNE MCCARTY CEO/BOARD SECRETARY 40.0 0.0 X X 128400 0 280 DELAINE EASTIN DIRECTOR 2.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 JEFF CROSS DIR. OF FIN/OP TERM: 12/31/14 40.0 0.0 X 82500 0 5920 NAMRATA MAGUIRE DIR. OF FIN/OP START: 4/1/15 40.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 210900 0 6200 1 false false false 0 X 153766 9173 47670 1477768 6821 1688377 TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 900099 154687 154687 154687 837 837 0 0 0 0 0 0 9173 0 0 0 MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE 900099 732 732 732 732 732 1844633 154687 1569 0 0 0 0 193338 146226 15253 31859 0 573579 433812 45251 94516 19543 14781 1542 3220 53122 40178 4191 8753 75173 56855 5931 12387 0 0 22446 16976 1771 3699 0 0 0 133612 101054 10541 22017 14041 10619 1108 2314 44167 33405 3484 7278 32262 24401 2545 5316 0 41909 31697 3306 6906 37795 28585 2982 6228 0 1310 991 103 216 0 0 19978 15110 1576 3292 6656 5034 525 1097 Books and Journals 2394 1811 189 394 Garden Materials 108465 82035 8557 17873 Education Programming 64340 48661 5076 10603 RECRUITMENT 7000 5294 552 1154 6910 5226 545 1139 1458040 1102751 115028 240261 20708 237199 358304 577196 431312 412014 50300 72754 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9569 12145 292133 270118 36830 22015 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 907023 1333323 39139 78846 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 39139 78846 X 355199 498842 512685 755635 0 0 867884 1254477 907023 1333323 386593 X false true X true false X 1198804 1692892 1339673 1154253 1688377 7073999 0 0 1198804 1692892 1339673 1154253 1688377 7073999 2507433 4566566 3345 2936 2286 2030 837 11434 0 18600 2796 1882 5821 732 29831 7115264 489585 0.64180 0.51419 X 0.00000 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 292133 270118 22015 22015 1986333 142500 -800 141700 1844633 1844633 1599740 142500 142500 1457240 800 800 1458040 SCHEDULE D, PART XI, LINE 2D RECONCILIATION OF REVENUE PER AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WITH RETURN: UNCOLLECTED PROGRAM FEES $(800) SCHEDULE D, PART XII, LINE 4B RECONCILIATION OF EXPENSE PER AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WITH RETURN: UNCOLLECTED PROGRAM FEES $ 800 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 8B AUTHORITY TO ACT ON BEHALF OF GOVERNING BODY: THERE ARE 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 OPERATIONS AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. THE DOCUMENT IS REFINED, IF NECESSARY, AND THEN PROVIDED TO THE TREASURER FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT. THE DOCUMENT IS REFINED, IF NECESSARY, AND 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 AND OPERATIONS 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, LINES 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 AND OPERATIONS 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 AND OPERATIONS. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS 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 2015 BY THE BOARD CO-CHAIR, JULIE NEIMAT. 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 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 $ NONE 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.