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Bok Tower Gardens Inc

EIN 23-1352009 · Lake Wales, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE A BETTER AND MORE BEAUTIFUL WORLD BY SHARING EDWARD BOK'S LEGACY.

Income
$9.5 million
Spending
$8.5 million
Spent on programs
51%
Reserves
82.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 36%
Employees
122
Volunteers
194
Highest pay
$278,294, president

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

Financial health

Good: 88 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 82.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    51% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 September 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 (3)
  1. $3.7 million spent. BOK TOWER GARDENS OPERATES A 470+ ACRE PUBLIC GARDEN DESIGNED BY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED JR, OFFERING VISITORS AND MEMBERS ENVIRONMENTAL, NATURAL, ART AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMMING. THE GARDENS HOSTED MUSIC CONCERTS, ART EXHIBITS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR ALL AGES, WITH A TOTAL VISITATION OF 268,307 VISITORS IN 2025.
  2. $468,079 spent. BOK TOWER GARDENS HOSTED A SERIES OF INTIMATE EVENING CONCERTS AND PRESENTED OUTDOOR/HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITS ACCENTING THE DAILY VISITATION EXPERIENCE.
  3. $217,972 spent. THE RARE PLANT CONSERVATION PROGRAM AT BOK TOWER GARDENS INTEGRATED BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH, CURATED A COLLECTION OF RARE PLANT SPECIES NATIVE TO CENTRAL AND NORTH FLORIDA; RESCUED RARE PLANT POPULATIONS FROM DEVELOPMENT SITES; PERFORMED CONSERVATION EDUCATION FOR THE PUBLIC AND WITH ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, INTRODUCED NEW POPULATIONS ONTO PROTECTED LANDS, RESTORED CRITICAL HABITATS, AND MET FEDERAL RECOVERY OBJECTIVES FOR LISTED PLANT SPECIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 September 2025.

    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 January 2009.

    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.

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.