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JAPANESE FRIENDSHIP GARDEN

PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 201978899 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE A23 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M) · www.japanesefriendshipgarden.org
revenue
$1.6M
expenses
$1.2M
net assets
$1.3M
employees
58
volunteers
300
program ratio
58%
mission · from form 990

TO PROVIDE A BEAUTIFUL PLACE OF SERENITY, PEACE, EDUCATION, AND CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT. CORE VALUES AUTHENTICITY SHARING THE ESSENCE OF A JAPANESE GARDEN TRANQUILITY CREATING SPACE FOR SERENITY BEAUTY INSPIRING THROUGH NATURE AND ART EDUCATION BUILDING CULTURAL CONNECTIONS THROUGH ENGAGEMENT AND LEARNING TRADITION HONORING JAPANESE HISTORY AND CULTURE QUALITY ENSURING MINDFUL ATTENTION TO DETAIL COMMUNITY ENGAGING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AND PARTNERS HOSPITALITY/OMOTENASHI CARING DEEPLY FOR EVERY RELATIONSHIP

profile · synthesized from sources

The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix, Rohoen, is a 3.5-acre Japanese stroll garden featuring a tea garden and tea house. It serves the community by providing a tranquil space for visitors to experience Japanese culture and nature through its carefully designed landscape, which includes streams, a waterfall, and a koi pond. The garden promotes cultural exchange between Phoenix and its sister city, Himeji, Japan.

named programs · 2 · from sources

what they call their work

Chanoyu - Way of Tea
Offers participants an immersive experience in the Japanese tea ceremony, emphasizing mindfulness and cultural appreciation.
Docent-led Public Tours
Guided tours of the garden available for groups, focusing on the cultural and natural aspects of the garden.
activities · 4 groups

what they do

  • Japanese and Irish Cultural Experiences 7 activities
    • Hosting Japanese Cultural Workshops and Tea Tastings
      Offers private workshops exploring Japanese culture, including activities like ikebana, calligraphy, aikido, and shinrinyoku. Also conducts docent-led tea tastings on select Tuesdays to teach the basics of Chanoyu and Japanese casual tea, offering sencha, genmaicha, hojicha, and Japanese sweets served on authentic dishware in the tea house.
    • Hosting Japanese Cultural Workshops and Tea Tastings
      Offers private workshops exploring Japanese culture, including activities like ikebana, calligraphy, aikido, and shinrinyoku. Also conducts docent-led tea tastings on select Tuesdays to teach the basics of Chanoyu and Japanese casual tea, serving various Japanese teas and sweets in the tea house.
    • Hosting Japanese Tea Ceremonies and Tastings
      Offers docent-led tea tastings on select Tuesdays to teach the basics of Chanoyu and Japanese casual tea. Provides tours of the "Musoan" tea house, featuring Japanese seasonal art displays and an introduction to modern Japanese tea culture and history, and conducts Japanese casual tea tasting services with various teas and sweets.
    • Offering Cultural Workshops
      Offers private workshops that explore Japanese culture, including activities like ikebana, calligraphy, aikido, and shinrinyoku.
    • Providing Guided Tours and Educational Programs
      Offers docent-led private tours, school tours, and private group tours (45 minutes to 1 hour long) that provide educational content on Japanese garden design, Japanese culture, and arts. This includes tours of the "Musoan" tea house and the Roji, educating guests on the garden's design and its role in Japanese tea culture and history.
    • Providing Guided Tours and Educational Programs
      Offers docent-led private tours, school tours, and private group tours (45 minutes to 1 hour long) that include educational content on Japanese garden design, culture, and arts. Also provides private guided docent tours combined with hands-on cultural activities lasting approximately 90 minutes.
    • Providing Guided Tours and Educational Programs
      Offers docent-led private tours, school tours, and private group tours (45 minutes to 1 hour long) focusing on Japanese garden design, culture, and arts. This includes guided tours of the "Musoan" tea house and the Roji, educating guests on the garden's design and its role in Japanese tea culture and history.
  • Event and Facility Parking Management 4 activities
    • Providing Visitor Accessibility and Amenities
      Provides free on-site and adjacent street parking, as well as accessibility via public transit. Maintains wheelchair and motorized scooter accessible parking, restrooms, facilities, and paved pathways for visitors.
    • Providing Visitor Accessibility and Amenities
      Provides free parking on-site and on adjacent streets, including a dedicated lot, and is accessible via public transit. The garden also maintains wheelchair and motorized scooter accessible parking, restrooms, facilities, and paved pathways for visitors.
    • Providing Visitor Accessibility and Amenities
      Provides free on-site and adjacent street parking, wheelchair and motorized scooter accessible parking, restrooms, facilities, and paved pathways. The garden is also accessible via public transit, located 0.3 miles from the Central and Roosevelt Light Rail stop.
    • Providing Visitor Accessibility and Amenities
      Provides free on-site and adjacent street parking, as well as accessibility via public transit. The garden also maintains wheelchair and motorized scooter accessible parking, restrooms, facilities, and paved pathways for visitors.
  • Community Garden Events & Tours 2 activities
    • Operating a Volunteer Program
      Operates a volunteer program that allows community members to apply online to participate in garden activities.
    • Operating a Volunteer Program
      Operates a volunteer program that allows community members to apply online to participate in garden activities.
  • Uncategorized 6 activities
    • Facilitating Photoshoots
      Offers after-hours photoshoot reservations for individuals or groups (maximum 10 people) using the garden as a backdrop for photography. Photoshoots are conducted exclusively during non-public hours with staff supervision to ensure garden etiquette and on-site guidance.
    • Facilitating Photoshoots
      Offers after-hours photoshoot reservations for individuals or groups using the garden as a backdrop for photography, with a maximum group size of 10 people. Photoshoots are conducted exclusively during non-public hours with staff supervision to ensure garden etiquette and guidance.
    • Facilitating Photoshoots in the Garden
      Offers after-hours photoshoot reservations for individuals or groups (maximum 10 people) using the garden as a backdrop for photography. Photoshoots are conducted during non-public hours with staff supervision to ensure garden etiquette and protection of the grounds.
    • Operating and Maintaining a Japanese Stroll Garden
      Operates and maintains a 3.5-acre authentic Japanese Stroll Garden, Rohoen, featuring a tea garden, tea house, over 1,500 tons of hand-picked rock, stone foot bridges, lanterns, more than 85 varieties of plants, flowing streams, a 14-foot waterfall, and a koi pond with over 300 colorful Koi fish, located at 1125 N. 3rd Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85003.
    • Operating and Maintaining a Japanese Stroll Garden
      Operates and maintains a 3.5-acre authentic Japanese Stroll Garden, Rohoen, featuring a tea garden, tea house, various Japanese plants, stone footbridges, lanterns, a 14-foot waterfall, and a koi pond with over 300 koi fish. The garden is located at 1125 N. 3rd Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85003.
    • Operating and Maintaining a Japanese Stroll Garden
      Operates and maintains a 3.5-acre authentic Japanese Stroll Garden, Rohoen, featuring a tea garden, tea house, various Japanese plants, stone footbridges, lanterns, a 14-foot waterfall, and a koi pond with over 300 koi fish. The garden is located at 1125 N. 3rd Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85003.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$1.56M
Contributions & grants$150K10%
Program service revenue$1.16M75%
Investment income$2980%
Other revenue$240K
expenses
Total expenses$1.21M
Program expenses58%
Admin / overhead38%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$791K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.32M
Cash$1.11M
Investments$0
Liabilities$68K
Net assets$1.26M
Liquid reserves11.0 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +26.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
CELINA COLEMAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $62K
board members · 15
  • BETH COLE — BOARD MEMBER
  • CAMILLE KING — BOARD MEMBER
  • CHRISTINE LINDLEY — BOARD MEMBER
  • CONNIE LORDS — TREASURER
  • DOUG BRUHNKE — BOARD MEMBER
  • JANICE SHIMOKUBO — BOARD MEMBER
  • JARED SHINTAKU — BOARD MEMBER
  • JEREMY CREWS — BOARD MEMBER
  • KIYOKO GOLDHART — BOARD MEMBER
  • KIYOKO TOYAMA — PRESIDENT
  • MELISSA SANDERSON — BOARD MEMBER
  • NORIO TSUCHIYA — VICE PRESIDENT
  • PAULA WEST — SECRETARY
  • RICARDO TABBILOS — BOARD MEMBER
  • SAMUEL LOWRY — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 7

who they work with

  • City of Phoenix Government — Implements a zero-tolerance drone policy.
  • Himeji Partner — Sister City of Phoenix, with whom the Garden shares a cultural vision; Himeji became a Phoenix Sister City in November 1976.
  • Irish Cultural Center Partner — Located directly behind the Irish Cultural Center, indicating a geographic and potentially collaborative relationship.
  • Margaret T. Hance Park Partner — Encourages guests to use the park next door for picnics.
  • Valley of the Sun Koi Club Partner — Recommends this organization as an alternative recipient for koi donations.
  • Volunteer Coordinator Partner — Staff role responsible for managing volunteer inquiries and placements
  • info@jfgphx.org Partner — Contact email for photoshoot inquiries and coordination.