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COMMUNITY GARDENS OF TUCSON INC

Tucson, AZ · EIN 860981116 · Form 990EZ · FY2022 · NTEE K20 · Food, Agriculture & Nutrition · Small ($100K-$1M) · communitygardensoftucson.org
revenue
$136K
expenses
$197K
net assets
$35K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

Our mission is to build community gardens where Tucsonans grow food, work and learn together, and nurture well-being in our communities.

profile · synthesized from sources

Community Gardens of Tucson builds and supports community gardens where residents can grow food, learn organic gardening methods, and foster community well-being. The organization operates 21 garden locations across Tucson, offering plots for individuals and collaborating with schools and community centers.

named programs · 5 · from sources

what they call their work

Community Events
Hosts community events such as poetry slams, arts and crafts, and porch concerts at garden locations.
Community Garden Plots
Provides individual garden plots for members to grow food using organic gardening methods at 21 locations across Tucson.
Composting Systems
Maintains active composting systems in various gardens, sometimes in collaboration with programs like Foodcycle At Home.
Pollinator Gardens
Establishes and maintains pollinator gardens, often in collaboration with organizations like the Audubon Society.
School Garden Programs
Collaborates with schools like Doolen Middle School, The Gregory School, and Mary Meredith K-12 School to provide garden plots for students as part of their classwork.
activities · 4 clusters

what they do

  • Garden-Based Education Programs 5 activities
    • Gardening workshops and educational support
      Offers hands-on classes and workshops for families and individuals on composting, water conservation, organic gardening, and other sustainable practices, supplemented by newsletters, website resources, and on-site guidance.
    • Operating Community Gardens
      Operates 21 community gardens across Tucson, providing individual garden plots for rent, including accessible raised-bed options, equipped with drip irrigation systems. These gardens offer secure, fenced common areas, shared tools, composting facilities, and access to resources like compost, mulch, and seeds.
    • Operation of 21 community gardens
      Manages and maintains 21 community gardens across Tucson, providing secure, fenced spaces with individual garden plots, shared tools, composting systems, irrigation, and communal areas. Each garden includes features such as fruit trees, pollinator gardens, and composting infrastructure.
    • Providing Gardening Education and Support
      Offers hands-on gardening classes and workshops on topics such as composting, water conservation, and organic gardening for families and youth. Provides gardening advice and educational support through garden meetings, information sessions, and online resources, with assistance from Site Coordinators and staff.
    • Provision of individual garden plots
      Offers rentable garden plots (typically 3'x20') with drip irrigation, including accessible raised-bed options, at 21 community garden sites. Provides plot fee assistance and orientation support to ensure accessibility.
  • Community Garden Events & Tours 2 activities
    • Community engagement and events
      Organizes community-building events such as potlucks, volunteer days, and gardening celebrations at garden sites to foster social connection and stewardship.
    • Organizing Community Events
      Organizes community events such as potlucks, volunteer opportunities, and gardening celebrations to foster community engagement within the gardens.
  • Community Garden Development and Maintenance 2 activities
    • Developing New Community Gardens
      Develops new community gardens by partnering with neighborhoods, churches, government agencies, and private entities, and provides technical assistance for their construction.
    • Technical assistance for garden development
      Provides guidance and support for constructing new community gardens in collaboration with neighborhoods, schools, churches, and public agencies.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Offering Gardening Scholarships and Plot Fee Assistance
      Provides gardening scholarships and plot fee assistance to individuals and families through the Adopt a Garden program and a dedicated Plot Fee Assistance program for those unable to afford the full cost.
    • Youth and school-based garden education programs
      Engages over 600 elementary and high school students annually through hands-on gardening activities integrated with classroom learning, offered at school-located gardens such as Doolen, Gregory School, and Ventana Vista.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2022

the money

revenue
Total revenue$136K
Contributions & grants$87K64%
Program service revenue$48K35%
Investment income$120%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$197K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$36K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$35K
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue -17.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

board members · 3
  • Dwayne Arnsipger — Director
  • John Brown — Director
  • T Friedrich — Director
relationships · 23

who they work with

  • Audubon Society Partner — Helped establish a pollinator garden at Chaverim Garden in 2020.
  • Audubon Society of Southern Arizona Partner — Partnered to plant a pollinator garden at New Spirit Garden in 2020 and replanted in 2025.
  • Chaverim Synagogue Partner — Hosts Chaverim Garden.
  • City of Tucson Partner — Collaborates for compost needs through their Foodcycle At Home program at Highland Vista Garden.
  • Doolen Middle School Partner — Hosts Doolen Garden, with some plots used by students and teachers.
  • Doris J. Thompson Park Partner — Hosts Doris J. Thompson Garden.
  • Homer Davis Elementary School Partner — Hosts Homer Davis Garden, with part of the garden used by students for educational experience.
  • Jewish Community Center Partner — Hosts Shay Shay Garden.
  • Kha Dang Park Partner — Hosts GD2 Garden.
  • Kroger Partner — Supports the Adopt a Garden program through the Zero Hunger Zero Waste Initiative, enabling gardening scholarships and fee assistance.
  • Mary Meredith K-12 School Partner — Hosts Mary Meredith Garden.
  • McCormick Park Partner — Hosts McCormick Garden.
  • New Spirit Lutheran Church Partner — Hosts New Spirit Garden and partnered to plant a small orchard.
  • Rincon Mountain Presbyterian Church Partner — Hosts Rincon Mountain Garden.
  • Sunrise Drive Elementary School Partner — Hosts Sunrise Garden, where community gardeners and students work in partnership.
  • Sustainable Tucson Partner — Collaborated to build a native pollinator garden at Presidio Garden.
  • The Gregory School Partner — Hosts Gregory School Garden, with part of the garden used by students for classwork.
  • The Saint Germain Foundation Partner — Hosts Keeling Garden.
  • Ventana Vista Elementary School Partner — Hosts Ventana Vista Garden, with some plots used by students and teachers for education.
  • churches Partner — Partner in developing and building new community gardens
  • government agencies Partner — Partner in developing and building new community gardens
  • neighborhoods Partner — Partner in developing and building new community gardens
  • private entities Partner — Partner in developing and building new community gardens