Tucson Botanical Gardens
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TUCSON BOTANICAL GARDENS CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH PLANTS AND NATURE THROUGH ART, SCIENCE, HISTORY AND CULTURE.
- Income
- $6.2 million
- Spending
- $3.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 11.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 55%
- Employees
- 60
- Volunteers
- 160
- Highest pay
- $208,318, ceo/presiden
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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 59% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (5)
- $1.3 million spent. IN 2025, TUCSON BOTANICAL GARDENS (TBG) PLACED 4TH IN USA TODAY'S TOP 10 BEST BOTANICAL GARDENS FOR THE 3RD YEAR. FOR YEARS TBG HAS BEEN AWARDED THE BEST BOTANICAL GARDEN IN TUCSON BY THE COMMUNITY. WITH OVER 7,000 PLANTS AND 17 SPECIFIC GARDENS, TBG IS THE ONLY PUBLIC GARDEN THAT BOASTS A PLANT & PESTICIDE CARE PROGRAM THAT IS 100% ORGANIC. TBG ATTRACTS OVER 175,000 GUESTS A YEAR, HAS OVER 6,000 MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS, PROGRAMS, 4 GALLERIES, CURATES A LIVE TROPICAL BUTTERFLY & ORCHID EXHIBIT, AS WELL AS MANAGES GIFT SHOPS AND EDNA'S CAF.
- $808,704 spent. TBG OFFERS CLASSES, WORKSHOPS & LECTURES TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES & BACKGROUNDS. IN ADDITION TO ADULT AND CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, TBG MANAGES THE ONLY FORMALIZED HORTICULTURAL THERAPY PROGRAM WORKING WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. ADDITIONALLY, TBG OFFERS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT HIGHLIGHT TOPICS OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INTEREST TO THE COMMUNITY. AN ANNUAL LECTURE SERIES IS PROVIDED TO BROADEN THE IMPACT OF THE ONSITE EXHIBITS AS WELL AS TOUR GUIDES.
- $714,439 spent. SPECIAL EXHIBITS: A TUCSON FAMILY TRADITION, THE 3RD YEAR OF THE HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOW, LIGHTSUP WAS A SUCCESS AND ATTRACTS PEOPLE FROM ACROSS ARIZONA AND BEYOND. IN THE FALL THE FIESTA DE LOS ANIMALES WAS INSTALLED AS THE INITIAL PHASE OF THE FRIDA'S GARDEN EXHIBIT. OTHER EXHIBITS FEAUTURED THE WORK OF TOM COLLAZO, JOHN BENEDICT, QUILT FOR A CAUSE, SUSAN ELLENBOGEN, LUCY MASTERMAN, AMERIND FOUNDATION'S INDIGENOUS ART IN AN ABUNDANT LAND, THE MEXICAN CONSUL'S CHILDREN'S ART SHOW THIS IS MY MEXICO, AND THE CURIOUS ALLIES ASBA 5TH TRIENNIAL SHOW.
- $142,380 spent. TUCSON BOTANICAL GARDENS HOSTS WEDDINGS AND OTHER PRIVATE EVENTS AS PART OF OUR PROGRAM OFFERINGS.
- TUCSON BOTANICAL GARDENS HOSTS WEDDINGS AND OTHER PRIVATE EVENTS AS PART OF OUR PROGRAM OFFERINGS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1970.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.