Descanso Gardens Foundation
Donations deductibleDescanso Gardens Foundation's network
28 people11 organisationsi28 people and 11 organisations on this map.The large node is the subject of this page. Solid lines are what the register itself records (28). Violet dotted lines (12) are likely: the same full name sits on the current board of another organisation in the same register and region. Form 990 filings give names without a person identifier; SEC insider filings carry a CIK. It may be a different person.The board
28 listediTime on the board is observed from the annual filings: the IRS files no appointment date, so the bar counts years from the first filing the person appears on - a lower bound, not a filed start date. Names are exactly as filed. The IRS publishes no person identifier, so this edition does not yet link a person across organisations in the tables. The network map shows same-name matches as likely links only, never as confirmed.Time served and departures are observed across annual filings. Observed time served is a lower bound - a member may have joined before the first year on record. The organisation reported 28 voting members of its governing body on its latest Form 990 Part VI, which matches the board listed here.| Name | Role as filed | Since | On the board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Schwartz Chair | Chair | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Ann Murphy | Board Member | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| ARA Aslanian | Board Member | 2024 | 2 yrs |
| Blythe Haaga Parker | Board Member | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Christy Hobart | Board Member | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| Clarissa Weirick | Board Member | 2020 | 6 yrs |
| Darcy Coleman | Board Member | 2022 | 4 yrs |
| Diane Binney | Board Member | 2022 | 4 yrs |
| Dr Dimple Bhasin | Board Member | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| Hope Tschopik Schneider | Board Member | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| Ian McCarthy | Board Member | 2024 | 2 yrs |
| Jacob Tujian | Board Member | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| James Levin | Board Member | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Jane Haderlein | Board Member | 2025 | 1 yr |
| Juliann Rooke | (Ex Officio) Chief Executive Officer | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Karl Swaidan | Board Member | 2022 | 4 yrs |
| Laura Furey | Board Member | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Laura Olhasso | Board Member | 2025 | 1 yr |
| Linda Segal | Board Member | 2022 | 4 yrs |
| Lovell Holder | Company secretary | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Marie Queen | Treasurer | 2022 | 4 yrs |
| Milene Apanian | Board Member | 2022 | 4 yrs |
| Paige Farmer | Board Member | 2025 | 1 yr |
| Patsy Pinney | Board Member | 2022 | 4 yrs |
| Sandra Mays | Vice Chair | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Scott Sugino | Board Member | 2025 | 1 yr |
| Wendy Lees | Board Member | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| William Choi | Board Member | 2025 | 1 yr |
Officers and senior leadership
8 listediNamed in Part VII as officers, key employees or highest-compensated staff - not board members, shown for completeness.| Name | Title as filed | On the filings |
|---|---|---|
| David Bare Director of | Horticulture and Garden Operations | 2024 |
| David Stork | COO (Thru 12/02/2022) | since 2021 |
| EMI Yoshimura | Coao | since 2023 |
| EMI Yoshimura - Chief | Operations and Admin Officer | 2025 |
| Jenina Garrett | CFO (Thru 4/2023) | since 2018 |
| Jennifer Errico | Director of Communications | since 2024 |
| Marina Erlfe - Director | Of Education and Exhibitions | 2025 |
| Somer Sherwood-White | Chief Advancement Officer | since 2023 |
Pay and hours
year to 31 December 2025iFrom Part VII of the Form 990: compensation reported for each officer, director, trustee, key employee and highest-paid staff member, and the average hours a week they report. Most board members are unpaid; a blank means nothing was reported. Pay from related organisations is shown separately.| Name | Title as filed | Hours a week | Pay from the organisation | Related organisations | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juliann Rooke | (Ex Officio) Chief Executive Officer | 40 | $310k | $51k | |
| Somer Sherwood-White | Chief Advancement Officer | 40 | $180k | $17k | |
| Emi Yoshimura - Chief | Operations and Admin Officer | 40 | $151k | $30k | |
| Marina Erlfe - Director | Of Education and Exhibitions | 40 | $107k | $11k | |
| Jennifer Errico | Director of Communications | 40 | $103k | $4k | |
| Brad Schwartz | Chair | 2 | $0 | ||
| Sandra Mays | Vice Chair | 1 | $0 | ||
| Marie Queen | Treasurer | 1 | $0 | ||
| Lovell Holder | Secretary | 1 | $0 | ||
| Milene Apanian | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| Ara Aslanian | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| Dr Dimple Bhasin | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| Diane Binney | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| William Choi | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| Darcy Coleman | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| Paige Farmer | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| Laura Furey | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| Blythe Haaga Parker | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| Jane Haderlein | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| Christy Hobart | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| Wendy Lees | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| James Levin | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| Ian McCarthy | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| Ann Murphy | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| Laura Olhasso | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| Patsy Pinney | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| Linda Segal | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| Hope Tschopik Schneider | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| Scott Sugino | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| Karl Swaidan | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| Jacob Tujian | Board Member | 1 | $0 | ||
| Clarissa Weirick | Board Member | 1 | $0 |
About
- Legal name
- Descanso Gardens Foundation
- EIN
- 952511202
- Address
- 1418 Descanso Dr, La Canada FLT, CA, 91011-3102
- State
- California
- 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. (as filed on the Form 990)
- Activity (NTEE)
- C410 Environment
- IRS classification
- 501(c)03 (tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) where shown)
- Classified purpose
- Environment
- Size band
- 8 (IRS master file code)
- Formed
- 1960
- Principal officer
- Juliann Rooke (as named on the Form 990)
- IRS ruling date
- 1 May 1962
- Status
- Code 01 (unconditional exemption)
- Form 990 filings on record
- 8, latest 2025
- IRS Publication 78
- PC (contributions deductible)
Most connected
Longest observed on the filings
≥8years on the filingsBrad Schwartz
≥8years on the filingsAnn Murphy
≥8years on the filingsBlythe Haaga Parker
≥8years on the filingsJames Levin
Latest return
year to 31 December 2025iFigures from the newest Form 990 or 990-EZ in the IRS e-file releases of 2025 and 2026, for the year ending 31 December 2025. US dollars, as filed.- Total assets
- $27.3m
- Total liabilities
- $8.7m
- Net assets or fund balances
- $18.6m
- Contributions and grants received
- $5.3m
- Program service revenue
- $9.8m
- Grants and similar paid out
- $11k
- Employees
- 111
- Volunteers
- 417
Filed finances
1 yeariTotals as filed on the IRS Form 990 (revenue and expenses), by tax year.| Tax year | Total revenue | Total expenses | Surplus or deficit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $16.9m | $16.7m | $191k |
As filed on the IRS Form 990. US dollars.
Grants paid
1 listediFrom Schedule I of the Form 990: grants and assistance to organisations in the United States, largest first (up to 25). Schedule I is filed only by organisations that gave more than $5,000 to any one recipient.| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California School of the Arts San Gabriel Valley | Donation was made as part of a partnership arrangement for the school to perform at enchanted | $11k |