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Brooklyn Botanic Garden Corporation

EIN 11-2417338 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$36.2 million
Spending
$29.4 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
44.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
328
Volunteers
750
Highest pay
$393,327, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 44.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    36 of 36 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $5.8 million spent. MAINTENANCE: THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT AT THE GARDEN OVERSEES THE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL BUILDINGS AND OUTDOOR HARDSCAPE INFRASTRUCTURE. THE GARDEN'S INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE INCLUDES CUSTODIAL SERVICES, FLEET & GROUNDS EQUIPMENT SERVICES, IRRIGATION, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, HEATING, GEOTHERMAL, AND PHONE SYSTEMS. INTERDEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION AND CONTRACTOR MANAGEMENT FOR NEW CAPITAL AND RENOVATION PROJECTS IS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT, AS IS SUPPORT FOR PRIVATE FUNCTIONS AND PUBLIC EVENTS.
  2. $5.3 million spent. HORTICULTURE: THE FOUNDATION OF THE GARDEN IS ITS WORLD CLASS HORTICULTURE COLLECTION FEATURING MORE THAN 10,000 PLANT SPECIES AND CULTIVARS ON 52 ACRES. THE GARDEN PROTECTS, PRESERVES AND CATALOGS ITS LIVING COLLECTIONS FOR THE BEAUTY THEY OFFER THE PUBLIC AND FOR THEIR HORTICULTURAL, SCIENTIFIC, ECOLOGICAL AND EDUCATIONAL MERIT. SOME OF THE GARDEN'S RARE AND WORLD-CLASS LIVING PLANT COLLECTIONS INCLUDE BONSAI, ORCHIDS, TROPICAL PLANTS, CACTI & SUCCULENTS, WARM-TEMPERATE REGION PLANTS, CHERRIES, MAGNOLIAS, WATER LILIES AND NATIVE FLORA COLLECTION. NESTLED IN THE HEART OF ONE OF THE DENSEST URBAN SETTINGS IN NORTH AMERICA, THESE COLLECTIONS ARE LAID OUT IN THE ICONIC LANDSCAPE DISPLAY GARDENS, MANY OF WHICH WERE THE FIRST OF THEIR KIND, INCLUDING THE HISTORIC JAPANESE GARDEN, ROCK GARDEN, FRAGRANCE GARDEN, ROSE GARDEN, AND SHAKESPEARE GARDEN. THE GARDEN'S LIVING COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT INCLUDES RECORDING AND KEEPING DETAILED ACCESSION, ACQUISITION AND DISSEMINATION RECORDS ALIGNING WITH THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND PUBLIC INTERPRETATION, LABELS AND SIGNAGE. THE GARDEN WELCOMES APPROXIMATELY 850,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY.
  3. $4.9 million spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS: MORE THAN 150,000 CHILDREN AND ADULTS ARE SERVED THROUGH A CONTINUUM OF PROGRAMS AIMED TO TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT THE SCIENCE AND CARE OF PLANTS, AROUSE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE FRAGILITY OF OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, AND HELP THE PEOPLE OF ALL OUR DIVERSE URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS AND THEIR DAILY LIVES THROUGH THE CULTIVATION AND ENJOYMENT OF PLANTS. PROGRAMS RANGE FROM SUPPLEMENTAL SCIENCE EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO LECTURES INTO CONTACT WITH THE BEAUTY AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF NATURE AS A VITAL FIRST STEP TO NOT ONLY IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF ALL OUR LIVES, BUT TO HELP INSPIRE CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS.
  4. $8.4 million spent. SECURITY, PROGRAM ENHANCEMENT, MEMBERSHIP, ADMISSIONS, AND PUBLICATIONS.SECURITY:SECURITY ENSURES THAT OUR GARDEN AND ITS LIVING COLLECTIONS ARE PROTECTED AND THAT OUR VISITORS' ENVIRONMENT IS SAFE.PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS:COMBINING RECREATION WITH HORTICULTURAL AND ECOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION AND EDUCATION, THE GARDEN PRODUCES A VARIETY OF SEASONAL PUBLIC PROGRAMS THAT HIGHLIGHT THE COLLECTIONS AND THE SEASON AND CELEBRATE THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF BROOKLYN. IN THE SPRING, THE GARDEN HONORS THE JAPANESE TRADITION OF HANAMI: CELEBRATING THE CHERRY BLOSSOM SEASON WITH DANCE, MUSIC, AND PERFORMANCE. THE GARDEN CELEBRATES SUMMER AND FALL WITH PROGRAMMED EVENINGS, HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL ARTISTS AND BROOKLYN CULTURE. IN ADDITION, THE GARDEN ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE OF ITSVISITORS AND PATRONS WITH VARIOUS EXHIBITIONS AND A COMPREHENSIVE VISITOR SERVICES PROGRAM.MEMBERSHIP:MEMBERSHIP ENHANCES THE GARDEN VISITOR EXPERIENCE BY PROVIDING YEAR-ROUND ACCESS TO THE GARDEN, SPECIALTY AFTER-HOURS GARDEN EVENTS, BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN CORPORATION 11-2417338AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM AVAILS VISITORS OF VARIOUS GARDEN AND COMMUNITY DISCOUNTS.ADMISSIONS:THE GARDEN IS COMMITTED TO MAKING ITS EXHIBITIONS, PROGRAMS, AND COLLECTIONS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL WHO VISIT. TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY, THE GARDEN MAINTAINS A COMMUNITY TICKET PROGRAM, WHERE A PORTION OF EACH DAYS' TICKETS ARE SET ASIDE FOR THOSE WHO NEED THEM. IN ADDITION TO THECOMMUNITY TICKET PROGRAM, THE GARDEN PARTICIPATES IN VARIOUS COMPLIMENTARY OR REDUCED PRICED ADMISSION PROGRAMS.PUBLICATIONS:THE DIGITAL AND PRINT MEDIA DEPARTMENT CREATES ORIGINAL, MISSION-DRIVEN MEDIA THAT INFORMS THE PUBLIC ABOUT PLANTS, ECOLOGY, AND HORTICULTURE. PRODUCTS INCLUDE GARDEN GUIDES TO A BETTER PLANET, EDITORIAL SERVICES FOR ALL OF THE GARDEN'S INTERPRETATION AND PRINTED MATERIAL, AS WELL ASCOLLECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF PHOTOS DOCUMENTING THE GARDEN'S COLLECTIONS. THE DEPARTMENT ALSO MANAGES THE GARDEN'S WEBSITE, BBG.ORG, THAT OFFERS GARDENING ARTICLES, A NATURE BLOG, HISTORIC IMAGES OF THE COLLECTIONS, AND RICH RESEARCH RESOURCES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1977.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 2026.

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