Cleveland Botanical Garden
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH THE WONDER, BEAUTY, AND VALUE OF TREES AND PLANTS, TO INSPIRE ACTION FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $9.2 million
- Spending
- $8.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 52%
- Reserves
- -21.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 59%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 600
- Highest pay
- $425,427, president&ceo
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
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 49% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 47% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1552% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 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 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 (1)
- $4.6 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE OTHE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN IS LOCATED ON 10 ACRES IN THE UNIVERSITY CIRCLE NEIGHBORHOOD OF CLEVELAND. THE GARDEN COMPRISES TWO INDOOR GLASSHOUSE BIOMES AND OUTDOOR GARDENS INCLUDING THE HERSHEY CHILDREN'S GARDEN, WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE CHILDREN IN THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND THEM. THE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN IS INTEGRATED WITH THE HOLDEN ARBORETUM AS HOLDEN FORESTS & GARDENS ("HF&G"). THE HOLDEN ARBORETUM IS LOCATED 25 MILES FROM THE GARDEN, IN KIRTLAND, OH. TOGETHER, THE INSTITUTIONS ARE ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS AND REPRESENT ONE OF THE LARGEST PUBLIC GARDENS IN THE COUNTRY. THE MISSION OF THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH THE WONDER, BEAUTY, AND VALUE OF TREES AND PLANTS, TO INSPIRE ACTION FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES. THE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN FULFILS THIS MISSION THROUGH CORE PROGRAMMING THAT FOCUSES ON HORTICULTURE AND CURATION, EDUCATION, EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH.IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 (FY25), HF&G BEGAN TO OPERATIONALIZE ITS 2025-2029 STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH IS BASED ON THE STRATEGIC PILLARS OF LANDSCAPES, INSPIRATION, KNOWLEDGE, COMMUNITY, AND EXCELLENCE. ADDITIONALLY, HF&G BEGAN TO ADVANCE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S TRANSFORMATIONAL SITE PLAN, COMPRISING KEY PROJECTS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT BOTH CAMPUSES ARE WELCOMING, YEAR-ROUND DESTINATIONS FOR ALL GUESTS THAT MODEL AND CATALYZE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. HF&G ALSO CONTINUED ITS CORE MISSION-FOCUSED PROGRAMS.HORTICULTURE & COLLECTIONS: THE HORTICULTURE & COLLECTIONS STAFF CULTIVATES, MAINTAINS, AND CARES FOR 5,500 PLANTS IN THE LIVING COLLECTION AT THE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN, ALONG WITH OVER 100 LIVE ANIMALS INCLUDING BIRDS, REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS, AND MAMMALS, AND THOUSANDS MORE INSECTS, THAT MAKE THEIR HOMES IN THE MADAGASCAR AND COSTA RICA GLASSHOUSES. THE TEAM STEWARDS 10 ACRES OF DEVELOPED AND CULTIVATED GARDENS, ENSURING THAT GUESTS ENJOY A SENSE OF WONDER AND BEAUTY EVERY TIME THEY VISIT. IN FY25, THE HORTICULTURE STAFF ADVANCED PHASED IMPROVEMENTS TO SEVERAL SIGNATURE GARDEN SPACES AND COMPLETED A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF THE CULTIVATED GARDEN SPACES TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE ENHANCEMENT AND ESTABLISH PRIORITIES FOR LONG-TERM INVESTMENT AND STEWARDSHIP. THE HORTICULTURE TEAM ALSO COLLABORATES CLOSELY WITH THE EXHIBITS & EXPERIENCES STAFF TO DELIVER SPECIAL EXHIBITS AND ANNUAL PRODUCTIONS SUCH AS THE GUEST FAVORITE ORCHIDS EXHIBIT AND THE WINTER SHOW, FROST. THE COLLECTIONS CURATION STAFF LAUNCHED FLORA-FINDER, THE CULMINATION OF A 2-YEAR, $246K GRANT FROM THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM & LIBRARY SERVICES MAKING PLANT RECORDS AND INFORMATION MORE ACCESSIBLE TO STAFF, INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS, AND THE PUBLIC. THE HORTICULTURE AND COLLECTIONS TEAM ALSO WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE EDUCATION STAFF TO SUPPORT BOTH FORMAL AND INFORMAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES, SUCH AS THE ANIMAL CARE TEAM'S CREATURE FEATURE PROGRAM, WHICH ENGAGED OVER 6,700 GUESTS IN FY25. EDUCATION: THE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR LEARNERS OF ALL AGES, FROM YOUTH AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS TO ADULT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION. SCHOOL-BASED OFFERINGS INCLUDE CLE4SCI, WHICH SERVES THIRD-GRADE CLASSROOMS IN THE CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND POWER OF PLANTS (POP), A LARGE-SCALE ASSEMBLY PROGRAM REACHING UP TO 250 STUDENTS WITH A PRESENTATION AND EXTENDED HANDS-ON LEARNING THROUGH SMALL-GROUP ACTIVITIES. IN FY25, MORE THAN 11,850 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THESE SCHOOL PROGRAMS. BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, THE EDUCATION TEAM LEADS EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING SPACES, INCLUDING THE HERSHEY CHILDREN'S GARDEN AND THE INDOOR, YEAR-ROUND HARRINGTON PERENNIAL PLAYSPACE. THESE DESTINATIONS SUPPORT HANDS-ON EXPLORATION THROUGH ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BUTTERFLY RELEASES, POND DIPPING, NATURE CRAFTING, AND PLANTING, ENGAGING OVER 13,200 FAMILY MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN FY25, THE BOTANICAL GARDEN HOSTED 6 SUMMER CAMPS SERVING 85 CAMPERS. EDUCATION PROGRAMS ALSO TARGET ADULTS AND EDUCATORS THROUGH VARIOUS CLASSES, PUBLIC EVENTS, AND TEACHING MATERIALS. A TOTAL OF 918 ADULTS TOOK PART IN COURSES COVERING SUBJECTS SUCH AS BOTANICAL ART, ORCHID CARE, AND THE HISTORY OF JAPANESE GARDENS. EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS: IN FY25, THE GARDEN SERVED OVER 182,000 TOTAL VISITORS, ENGAGING THEM IN THE WONDER AND BEAUTY OF PLANTS AND SHARING THEIR GREAT VALUE TO OUR COMMUNITIES. THE GARDEN CONTINUED ANNUAL, VISITOR-FAVORITE PRODUCTIONS INCLUDING ORCHIDS: LOVE IN BLOOM AND THE ANNUAL WINTER EXHIBITION, FROST. DURING THE SPRING, THE GARDEN COLLABORATED WITH THE LOCAL GALLERY DEEP ROOTS EXPERIENCES TO HOST THE NATURE OF HEALING, A GROUP ART EXHIBITION FOCUSED ON FOSTERING POSITIVE COMMUNITY OUTCOMES THROUGH ART AND MENTAL HEALTH EFFORTS. THE GARDEN ALSO CELEBRATED THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS JAPANESE GARDEN WITH AN OUTDOOR EXHIBIT, BETWEEN WATER & STONE, THAT EXPLORED THE PHILOSOPHIES BEHIND JAPANESE GARDENS AND THE HISTORY OF CBG. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, 61 INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, 40 OF WHOM ARE LOCAL OHIOANS, EXHIBITED THEIR WORK IN FOUR SEPARATE GALLERY SPACES THROUGHOUT THE GARDEN. THE GARDEN HOSTED 27 SPECIAL TICKETED EVENTS AND PROGRAMS THAT WELCOMED OVER 4,500 GUESTS, AS WELL AS SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS AND INFORMAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT DRIVE GENERAL ADMISSION, HELPING TO SUSTAIN THE ORGANIZATION'S OPERATING BUDGET, WHILE ALSO DRAWING IN VISITORS AND PIQUING INTEREST IN THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE AND THE OUTDOOR WORLD. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: IN FY25, HF&G CELEBRATED THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF ITS PEOPLE FOR TREES CAMPAIGN TO PLANT 15,000 TREES IN NORTHEAST OHIO BY 2025. THE COMMUNITY'S ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE ENABLED THE CAMPAIGN TO SURPASS THE GOAL: 19,250 TREES WERE PLANTED AND DISTRIBUTED ACROSS NORTHEAST OHIO IN LESS THAN FIVE YEARS. HF&G "MATCHED" THIS TOTAL BY PLANTING ANOTHER 11,200 TREES WITHIN THE HOLDEN ARBORETUM CAMPUS AS PART OF OUR CONSERVATION EFFORTS. THIS MATCH BROUGHT THE TOTAL IMPACT OF THE PEOPLE FOR TREES CAMPAIGN TO OVE
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
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 September 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 August 1937.
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.
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