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Queens Botanical Garden Society Inc

EIN 11-1635083 · Flushing, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

QUEENS BOTANICAL GARDEN IS AN URBAN OASIS WHERE PEOPLE, PLANTS AND CULTURES ARE CELEBRATED THROUGH INSPIRING GARDENS, INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND DEMONSTRATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.

Income
$6.7 million
Spending
$5.9 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 53%
Employees
114
Volunteers
2,264
Highest pay
$149,913, deputy director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $1.6 million spent. GROUNDS CARE AND SECURITY - RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UPKEEP AND SECURITY OF THIS 39-ACRE PUBLIC GARDEN AND LIVING MUSEUM, COMPRISING 18 ACRES OF FORMAL GARDENS AND 21 ACRES OF ARBORETUM. MAINTAINS MORE THAN 20 ORNAMENTAL AND EDUCATIONAL GARDENS INCLUDING: A HERB GARDEN, WOODLAND GARDEN, ROSE GARDEN, WEDDING GARDEN, OTHER PERENNIAL GARDENS AND SEASONAL DISPLAYS. ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES ARE IN PRACTICE THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY: WATER PERMEABLE PAVERS ARE IN PLACE THROUGHOUT THE GARDEN; BIOSWALES ABSORB EXCESS RAINWATER, HELPING TO EASE THE BURDEN ON NYC'S SEWER SYSTEM; GEOTHERMAL WELLS HEAT AND COOL THE LEED PLATINUM CERTIFIED VISITOR & ADMINISTRATION BUILDING; NATIVE PLANTINGS, INCLUDING THE GREEN ROOF, FEED LOCAL FAUNA AND MIGRATORY BIRDS. COMPOSTING TOILETS AND GRAY WATER SYSTEMS RESULT IN USING 82% LESS WATER, PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS HARNESS THE SUN'S ENERGY JUST AS PLANTS DO. ALL FEATURES MENTIONED SUPPORT THE GARDEN'S COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY.
  2. $1.7 million spent. EDUCATION - PROVIDES PROGRAMS, WORKSHOPS AND SPECIAL EVENTS THAT ADVANCE A DUAL MISSION OF SUSTAINABILITY AND CULTURAL EXPRESSION. IN FY25 QBG EDUCATORS WORKED WITH 22,947 SCHOOL CHILDREN AND 3,624 TEACHERS AND CHAPERONES THROUGH ONSITE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS, TOURS AND TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMS. EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOCUS ON STEAM LEARNING (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, MATH) TO TEACH URBAN CHILDREN ABOUT PLANTS, ECOSYSTEMS, TREES, AND BEES. QBG IS HOME TO ONE OF THE LARGEST COMPOSTING EDUCATION SITES IN THE CITY, AND FOCUSES ON OUTREACH TO VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS IN QUEENS. QBG ALSO HOSTS SEVERAL NATURE-BASED PROGRAMS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL-AGED YOUTH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, RANGING FROM ONE-TIME CLASSES TO MULTI-WEEK SESSIONS DURING OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIMES.
  3. $961,654 spent. VISITOR SERVICES - PROMOTES A POSITIVE VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND WELCOMED OVER 250,000 VISITORS ONSITE IN FY25. QBG SERVED 259,013 PEOPLE WHICH INCLUDES 10,487 REACHED THROUGH OUR OUTREACH AND VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS. THE VISITOR & ADMINISTRATION BUILDING HOUSES A VARIETY OF AMENITIES INCLUDING THE GIFT SHOP, FOOD SERVICE CONCESSIONS, QBG GALLERY, SPECIAL EVENT & FACILITY RENTALS AND QBG MEMBERSHIP HOSPITALITY. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, VISITOR SERVICES PROVIDES MEANINGFUL, WORKPLACE READINESS VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES FOR DOZENS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND COLLEGE INTERNS.PUBLIC PROGRAMS STAFF COORDINATE NEARLY 95 PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS FOR VISITORS IN A TYPICAL YEAR; PUBLIC PROGRAMS HIGHLIGHT THE CHANGES IN NATURE THROUGHOUT THE SEASONS, PLANT COLLECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE GARDEN, BEES AND HONEY, CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF PLANTS, VISUAL ARTS, PERFORMING ARTS AND GREEN / SUSTAINABLE LIVING.
  4. $319,121 spent. OUTREACH , VOLUNTEERS AND PLANNING/CAPITAL PROJECTS AND RESEARCH

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1948.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.