Garden of NeuroINSTITUTE

Governance

Who is accountable for the Garden, and how you can check.

The Garden of Neuro Institute, Inc. was incorporated as a New York nonprofit corporation on September 29, 2022, and the IRS granted our 501(c)(3) public charity ruling on September 29, 2023. We are governed by a volunteer board of directors, and no one on this page draws a salary from the Institute.

We publish this because an organization asking for money should make it easy to find out who is answerable for it.

Leadership

  • Susan M. BrearleyFounder and Executive Director

Board of directors

  • Susan M. BrearleyBoard Chair
  • Andrew RodwinBoard Member
  • Lisa Tomey-ZonneveldBoard Member
  • Nanci ArvizuBoard Member
  • Chyrel J. JacksonBoard Member
  • Solanyi UlloaBoard Member
  • Golnaz KoohkeshTreasurer
  • Stephanie WilsonBoard Member
  • Pascal Gambardella, Ph.D.Board Member
  • Andrew DiMeo, Ph.D.Board Member

Poet Laureates

  • Chyrel J. JacksonPoet Laureate, 2025–2026
  • Nolcha FoxPoet Laureate, 2024
  • Lisa Tomey-ZonneveldPoet Laureate, 2021–2022

Accountability

The documents a donor or a funder is entitled to see.

Tax status

Registered 501(c)(3) public charity. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. EIN 92-0552749.

Check us yourself

Our record is public and we would rather you looked. Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search all list us under our EIN.

How the board works

Directors serve two-year terms, staggered where possible, and may be re-elected without limit. They are elected by a majority of the directors then in office. The board meets formally at least once a year and stays in continuous contact through our Slack community. Directors serve without compensation.

Conflicts of interest

We maintain a conflict of interest policy consistent with IRS guidance for 501(c)(3) organizations. Every director and officer acknowledges it on election and again each year. Anyone with a material financial interest in a matter before the board must disclose it, recuse themselves from the vote, and is not counted toward quorum on it.

How we conduct ourselves

The Institute practices sociocratic decision making. Directors, volunteers and participants are held to the same four simple rules that govern every room we open.

Read our simple rules.

Questions about governance, or a request for documents, go to Susan.Brearley@GardenofNeuro.org.